Library Technology & Automation Flashcards

A library is migrating from one ILS to another. What is the most critical first step?

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.

Which open-source ILS platform is widely used by public and academic libraries in the US?

Answer: Koha

Koha is a fully featured open-source ILS used by thousands of libraries worldwide, with no licensing fees.

What is 'deduplication' in the context of library catalog management?

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.

What does the term 'API' mean and how is it relevant to library technology?

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.

Which standard governs the interlibrary loan (ILL) request and fulfillment workflow between library systems?

Answer: ISO 10160/10161

ISO 10160 and 10161 define the interlibrary loan service definition and application protocol for electronic ILL communications.

What is a 'knowledge base' in the context of electronic resource management?

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.

When a library implements a new self-checkout machine, which existing library system must it integrate with first?

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.