1. Confidentiality of information about library users is an ethical value that appears in the codes of many library associations. Discuss the reasons why confidentiality is a basic professional value and why the protection of confidentiality may sometimes pose difficulties. Use examples from a variety of library settings.
2. Describe typical problems that patrons have in trying to find what they need in a library. How do these problems compare with the problems people have in trying to find things in electronic collections? What lessons can we draw from these problems to design more effective electronic libraries?
3. Define and describe an effective program of bibliographic instruction and information literacy for a specific type of institution. What methods have librarians used to develop, implement, and evaluate these programs?
4. Describe how Internet resources have been organized and compare these methods with library catalogs and indexes by discussing their similarities and differences.
5. Both society and the information industry change rapidly, and this means that libraries must be willing to change as well. For a particular type of library and/or library function, identify and discuss two areas in which you think that a change in traditional programs, policies, or procedures is needed to accommodate social change or changes in the information industry.
6. Outsourcing, subcontracting, and privatization continue to be of concern to library professionals and paraprofessionals. Discuss the impact of these practices on library personnel and services and the problems associated with them.
7. Discuss the differences between OCR scanning and imaging for converting older, printed materials into digital form. Your discussion should include the benefits and limitations of both processes for digital library development, management, and use. You may focus your arguments on a particular type of collection.
8. Librarians in all types of libraries need to "create an audience," demonstrating the value of library services to actual and potential users and funders. Select a type of library. Discuss the reasons why such promotional activities are necessary in this type of library, and describe techniques that might be used to "create an audience."
9. Discuss the ways that library and information professionals can help users in retrieving and evaluating Internet information sources to meet their information needs.
10. Describe the elements of collection building in print and electronic formats, and discuss how these elements might differ in various institutional contexts.
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