LTA Library Technology & Automation 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A library is migrating from one ILS to another. What is the most critical first step?
- Training all staff on the new system interface
- Exporting and cleaning existing bibliographic and patron data (Correct answer)
- Canceling the old system's support contract immediately
- Installing new barcode scanners at all desks
Correct answer: Exporting and cleaning existing bibliographic and patron data
Data migration requires exporting existing records and cleaning them to ensure accuracy before loading into the new system.
Question 2: Which open-source ILS platform is widely used by public and academic libraries in the US?
- Sierra
- Destiny
- Koha (Correct answer)
- Symphony
Correct answer: Koha
Koha is a fully featured open-source ILS used by thousands of libraries worldwide, with no licensing fees.
Question 3: What is 'deduplication' in the context of library catalog management?
- Removing duplicate physical copies from the shelves
- Identifying and merging duplicate bibliographic records in the database (Correct answer)
- Printing two copies of each patron receipt
- Scheduling two staff members for the same shift as backup
Correct answer: Identifying and merging duplicate bibliographic records in the database
Deduplication is the process of finding and consolidating duplicate records in the catalog to maintain clean, accurate data.
Question 4: What does the term 'API' mean and how is it relevant to library technology?
- Annual Program Index, used to plan library events
- Application Programming Interface, allowing systems to share data programmatically (Correct answer)
- Automated Patron Identification, used for self-checkout
- Acquisitions Processing Index, ranking vendor performance
Correct answer: Application Programming Interface, allowing systems to share data programmatically
An API lets different software systems communicate; libraries use APIs to integrate ILS data with websites, apps, and third-party services.
Question 5: Which standard governs the interlibrary loan (ILL) request and fulfillment workflow between library systems?
- MARC 21
- ISO 10160/10161 (Correct answer)
- Dublin Core
- FRBR
Correct answer: ISO 10160/10161
ISO 10160 and 10161 define the interlibrary loan service definition and application protocol for electronic ILL communications.
Question 6: What is a 'knowledge base' in the context of electronic resource management?
- A staff training wiki for library procedures
- A database of which e-resources a library subscribes to and their coverage dates (Correct answer)
- An FAQ page for patron self-service
- A repository of digitized local history documents
Correct answer: A database of which e-resources a library subscribes to and their coverage dates
In ERM, a knowledge base contains metadata about publishers, packages, and titles to help link resolvers and discovery systems work accurately.
Question 7: When a library implements a new self-checkout machine, which existing library system must it integrate with first?
- The digital signage display system
- The integrated library system (ILS) (Correct answer)
- The library website CMS
- The print management software
Correct answer: The integrated library system (ILS)
Self-checkout machines must connect to the ILS via a protocol like SIP2 to authenticate patrons and record loan transactions.
LTA Library Technology & Automation 4
A library is migrating from one ILS to another.
What is the most critical first step?