MLS MLS - Master of Library and Information Science Collection Development and Management Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the primary purpose of a collection development policy in a library?
- To guide selection and deselection decisions consistently (Correct answer)
- To set the library's operating budget
- To determine staff hiring priorities
- To establish building maintenance schedules
Correct answer: To guide selection and deselection decisions consistently
A collection development policy provides a framework for consistent decisions about acquiring, retaining, and withdrawing materials.
Question 2: Which evaluation method involves comparing a library's holdings against standard bibliographies or peer collections?
- Circulation analysis
- List checking (Correct answer)
- Cost-per-use analysis
- Shelf reading
Correct answer: List checking
List checking compares a library's holdings against authoritative bibliographies or similar libraries to identify gaps.
Question 3: What does the term 'conspectus' refer to in collection assessment?
- A budget forecasting tool
- A standardized method for describing collection strengths by subject on a defined scale (Correct answer)
- A vendor approval plan
- A patron-driven acquisition model
Correct answer: A standardized method for describing collection strengths by subject on a defined scale
The conspectus is a standardized assessment tool that rates collection depth and intensity across subject areas using a numerical scale.
Question 4: In collection management, what is 'demand-driven acquisition' (DDA)?
- Purchasing materials only after patrons request or use them (Correct answer)
- Buying all new releases in a subject area automatically
- Accepting only donated materials
- Acquiring items based solely on librarian expertise
Correct answer: Purchasing materials only after patrons request or use them
Demand-driven acquisition triggers purchases based on actual patron interest or usage rather than speculative selection.
Question 5: What is the main risk of relying exclusively on usage statistics for weeding decisions?
- It increases processing costs
- It may remove valuable but infrequently used research materials (Correct answer)
- It violates copyright law
- It requires too much staff time
Correct answer: It may remove valuable but infrequently used research materials
Sole reliance on usage data can lead to removing important materials that serve niche research needs despite low circulation.
Question 6: Which federal law most directly affects how U.S. libraries handle challenges to collection materials?
- The PATRIOT Act
- The Digital Millennium Copyright Act
- The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution (Correct answer)
- The Children's Internet Protection Act
Correct answer: The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
The First Amendment protects the right to access information, forming the legal foundation libraries use when responding to material challenges.
MLS MLS - Master of Library and Information Science Collection Development and Management Questions and Answers 2
What is the primary purpose of a collection development policy in a library?