Comprehensive Examination Questions
July 1994
1. Information retrieval from large computerized
databases has become a research frontier of information science.
Efficient and effective subject searching in on-line resources
takes particular skills and knowledge. What is the requisite knowledge
you consider necessary to be an outstanding information retrieval
intermediary?
2. Choose a type of library, an information
center, or an archive. Select an aspect or a function characteristic
of this organization and describe how it would be evaluated. For
example, discuss the evaluation of a materials collection in an
elementary school library media center, the evaluation of a bibliographic
instruction program in an undergraduate library, the evaluation
of a summer reading program in a public library, or the cataloging
of a newly-acquired special collection in a university library.
Why is evaluation essential? What are some of the problems associated
with evaluation?
3. The recent availability over the Internet
of Fanny Hill: Memoir of a Woman of Pleasure raised concerns over
access by children to this erotic classic. Other controversies
have arisen over a discussion of the existence of the Holocaust
on a Prodigy bulletin board and a reading of the novel Ulysses
over the radio. Discuss the issues posed to collection developers
by material of all sorts that is not obscene but that is offensive
to some library users. What additional issues are posed when the
material is available in a non-print format? How should libraries
decide about adding such materials to a collection? How should
they handle challenges to such materials?
4. Over the past hundred years the Library
of Congress has played a significant role in the development of
cataloging codes and has influenced American cataloging practices
in various ways. Which of LC's contributions will be of continuing
importance in the on-line environment? Which will no longer be
relevant? Discuss.
5. The U.S. Department of Education has recently
published a July 1993 survey showing how the general public evaluates
the major roles of the public library. The results are shown below:
- - Educational support center for students
of all ages (88%);
- - Learning center for adult independent
learners (85%);
- - Discovery and learning center for preschool
children (83%);
- - Research center for scholars and researchers
(68%);
- - Center for community information (66%);
- - Information center for community business
(52%);
- - Comfortable, quiet place to read, think,
or work (52%); and
- - Recreational reading center of popular
materials (51%).
Discuss the implications of this survey in
terms of the public library's budget, acquisitions, staffing,
and public services.
6. In light of advances in technology, information professionals
have debated how best to organize information. Some have argued
that bibliographic control is no longer necessary if we present
the full text of works electronically and the image of pictorial
works electronically. Others have argued that bibliographic control
is more important now than before. Discuss your position on this
issue. Pay special attention to how users and information professionals
will be affected by your approach.
7. A resurgence of interest in reader's advisory service was noted
recently by Dr. John Richardson, Jr., faculty member of UCLA's
School of Library and Information Science, and Mary K. Chelton,
nationally known young adult services specialist. In a discussion
of reader's advisory service, define your understanding of this
concept; account for the renewed interest in this service; consider
the impact of this responsibility on current staffing patterns;
and note the skills and knowledge required of an effective reader's
advisor. In your judgment, is the need for reader's advisory service
more acute in serving adults, young adults, or children? Why?
8. Imagine that you have just been appointed to the position of
Head, Collection Management. Define and discuss the major functions
and areas of responsibility of this position; include some of
the established methodologies applicable to carrying out your
work effectively. Observing the latest trends in collection management,
what are some of the ways in which you will be able to incorporate
and utilize computer systems to organize collection management
functions? What do you anticipate will be the major challenges
of your new position?
9. What are the characteristics of a profession? To what extent
does either the library profession, the archival profession, or
records management (choose one) adhere to these characteristics?
In your discussion, compare the information profession you chose
with other professions such as accounting, nursing, law, medicine,
or clergy.
10. A recent National Public Radio Marketplace report concluded
that librarians were apt to become "Internet Navigators,"
whose primary service was to help individuals locate and obtain
electronic information. Describe the role(s) you anticipate the
Internet and "National Information Infrastructure" (NII)
will play in libraries of various types over the next 10 years
as use of the Internet or NII grows. How will librarians function
differently from today?
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