MLS - Master of Library and Information Science Master of Library & Information Science 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What cataloging standard replaced AACR2 as the primary standard for bibliographic description in libraries?
- MARC 21
- RDA (Resource Description and Access) (Correct answer)
- FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records)
- Dublin Core
Correct answer: RDA (Resource Description and Access)
RDA (Resource Description and Access) was introduced in 2010 and fully adopted by major North American libraries in 2013, replacing AACR2. It is designed to support digital environments and is based on the FRBR conceptual model.
Question 2: The conceptual model FRBR organizes bibliographic entities into which four levels of abstraction?
- Work, Expression, Manifestation, Item (Correct answer)
- Author, Title, Subject, Format
- Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary
- Physical, Digital, Hybrid, Archival
Correct answer: Work, Expression, Manifestation, Item
FRBR (Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records) defines four Group 1 entities: Work (intellectual creation), Expression (realization), Manifestation (physical embodiment), and Item (single exemplar). This model underpins modern cataloging standards like RDA.
Question 3: Which document did the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education replace in 2015?
- The Big6 Information Skills Model
- The Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education (Correct answer)
- The ALA Core Competencies of Librarianship
- The AASL Standards for the 21st-Century Learner
Correct answer: The Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education
The ACRL Framework (2015) superseded the Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education (2000). The Framework introduced threshold concepts and metaliteracy, shifting from a checklist approach to a more holistic, flexible model.
Question 4: Which metadata schema, developed by the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative, provides 15 standardized elements for describing digital resources and promotes interoperability?
- MODS (Metadata Object Description Schema)
- EAD (Encoded Archival Description)
- Dublin Core (Correct answer)
- TEI (Text Encoding Initiative)
Correct answer: Dublin Core
Dublin Core offers 15 simple, interoperable elements (e.g., Title, Creator, Date, Subject) designed to describe a wide range of digital resources. Its simplicity makes it broadly adoptable across disciplines and systems.
Question 5: What is the primary function of an interlibrary loan (ILL) system?
- To allow patrons to borrow materials not held by their local library (Correct answer)
- To share cataloging records between member institutions
- To track overdue fines across a library consortium
- To provide remote database access to affiliated institutions
Correct answer: To allow patrons to borrow materials not held by their local library
Interlibrary loan (ILL) enables a library to request materials from another library on behalf of a patron when the item is not part of the local collection. It is a cornerstone of resource sharing and expands access beyond individual library holdings.
Question 6: In library collection development, what does the term 'weeding' refer to?
- Adding new materials based on community demand
- Systematically removing outdated or underused items from the collection (Correct answer)
- Reorganizing call numbers to improve shelf browsability
- Digitizing older print materials for preservation
Correct answer: Systematically removing outdated or underused items from the collection
Weeding (also called deselection) is the systematic process of removing items from a collection that are outdated, inaccurate, worn, superseded, or rarely used. It keeps the collection current, relevant, and usable, and is a standard part of collection management.
MLS - Master of Library and Information Science Master of Library & Information Science 1
What cataloging standard replaced AACR2 as the primary standard for bibliographic description in libraries?