Definitions

Question 1

AACR2

Answer 1

Anglo-American Cataloging Rules: standardardized rules for creating the bibliographic description of an item of any type and rules governing the choice and form of entry of headings (access points) in the catalog.

Question 2

administrative metadata

Answer 2

Data about an information resource primarily intended to facilitate its management, for example, information about how and when a document or digital object was created, the person or entity responsible for controlling access to and archiving its content, any restrictions on access or use, and any control or processing activities performed in relation to it.

Compare with descriptive metadata and structural metadata.

The concept of administrative metadata is subdivided into:
Rights metadata - facilitates management of legal rights in a resource (copyright, licenses, permissions, etc.)

Preservation metadata - facilitates management of processes involved in ensuring the long-term survival and usability of a resource

Technical metadata - documents the creation and characteristics of digital files

Question 3

Descriptive Metadata

Answer 3

get it

Question 4

Structural Metadata

Answer 4

get it

Question 5

Code of Ethics

Answer 5

A set of standards governing the conduct and judgment of librarians, library staff, and other information professionals in their work.

The ALA Code of Ethics sets standards for equitable access, intellectual freedom, confidentiality, respect for intellectual property rights, excellence, accuracy, integrity, impartiality, courtesy, and respect for colleagues and library patrons.

Question 6

Banned Book

Answer 6

A book, the publication and/or sale of which has been prohibited or suppressed by ecclesiastical or secular authority because its content is considered objectionable or dangerous, usually for political and/or social reasons (examples: The Grapes of Wrath and Leaves of Grass).

Banned Books Week has been celebrated annually in the United States since 1981. Lists of banned books are available in the reference section of most large libraries.

Question 7

Challenge

Answer 7

A complaint lodged by a library user acting as an individual or representing a group, concerning the inclusion of a specific item (or items) in a library collection, usually followed by a demand that the material be removed. Library programs may also be targeted. Public libraries are challenged far more frequently than other types of libraries because they are supported by public funds and must provide resources and services for a highly diverse clientele (“This library has something to offend everyone”). An unambiguously worded collection development policy is a library’s best defense against such objections.

Question 8

Intellectual Freedom

Answer 8

The right under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution of any person to read or express views that may be unpopular or offensive to some people, within certain limitations (libel, slander, etc.). Legal cases concerning free speech issues are heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Freedom of Information

Question 9

Censorship

Answer 9

Prohibition of the production, distribution, circulation, or display of a work by a governing authority on grounds that it contains objectionable or dangerous material. The person who decides what is to be prohibited is called a censor. Commonly used methods include decree and confiscation, legislation, repressive taxation, and licensing to grant or restrict the right to publish.

The ALA Code of Ethics places an ethical responsibility on its members to resist censorship of library materials and programs in any form and to support librarians and other staff who put their careers at risk by defending library policies against censorship. The Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) maintains a Web page on Internet Censorship.

Question 10

Book Store Model

Answer 10

A philosophy of public librarianship based on the success of large bookstore chains, that focuses on the library patron as customer and seeks to attract users by creating an ambiance that is user-friendly. Libraries operating on the bookstore model typically strive to identify and meet the unique needs of the community served, often through outreach and a marketing plan. More books are displayed face out on bookstore-style shelving, and interiors are designed to please the eye, with comfortable seating, professionally designed signage, attractive book displays, and a coffee shop or cybercafe for people who like to “hang out” at the library. Portions of the collection may be arranged according to reading interest (health, business and finance, genre fiction, etc.). Sometimes used synonymously with customer-driven library.

Question 11

Caldecott Medal

Answer 11

A literary award given annually since 1938 under the auspices of the American Library Association to the illustrator of the most distinguished children’s picture book published in the United States during the preceding year. Donated by the family of Frederic G. Melcher, the medal is named in honor of the Victorian children’s book illustrator Randolph Caldecott.

Question 12

Newbery Medal

Answer 12

A literary award given annually since 1922 under the auspices of the American Library Association (ALA) to the author of the most distinguished children’s book published in the United States during the preceding year. Sponsored by the family of Frederic G. Melcher, the medal is named after John Newbery (1713-1767), the British publisher who first issued books written specifically for children.

Question 13

Call Number

Answer 13

A unique code printed on a label affixed to the outside of an item in a library collection, usually to the lower spine of a book or videocassette (see these examples), also printed or handwritten on a label inside the item. Assigned by the cataloger, the call number is also displayed in the bibliographic record that represents the item in the library catalog, to identify the specific copy of the work and give its relative location on the shelf.

Question 14

Library of Congress Classification (LCC)

Answer 14

A system of classifying books and other library materials developed and maintained over the last 200 years by the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. In LCC, human knowledge is divided into 20 broad categories indicated by single letters of the roman alphabet, with major subdivisions indicated by a second letter, and narrower subdivisions by decimal numbers and further alphabetic notation.

In the United States, most research libraries and academic libraries use LCC, while most school libraries and public libraries use Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC).

Question 15

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)

Answer 15

A hierarchical system for classifying books and other library materials by subject, first published in 1876 by the librarian and educator Melvil Dewey, who divided human knowledge into 10 main classes, each of which is divided into 10 divisions, and so on. In Dewey Decimal call numbers, arabic numerals and decimal fractions are used in the class notation (example: 996.9) and an alphanumeric book number is added to subarrange works of the same classification by author and by title and edition (996.9 B3262h).

Question 16

Carnegie Library

Answer 16

A library facility constructed wholly or in part with grant funds provided by the American steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), who in his later years devoted his considerable wealth to the promotion of libraries and world peace. Between 1881 and 1917, over 2,500 Carnegie libraries were built around the world, the majority in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. The libraries of many small towns in the United States still occupy facilities built with Carnegie funds. The buildings are typically monumental in appearance–to see examples, try a keywords search on the term “carnegie library” in Google Images.

Question 17

Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA)

Answer 17

Legislation passed by Congress in 2000 that makes the E-rate discount on Internet access and internal connection services provided to schools and libraries under the Telecommunications Reform Act of 1996 and eligibility for Library Services and Technology Act funds contingent on certification that certain “Internet safety policies” have been put in place, most notably technology designed to block all users from accessing visual materials that depict child pornography or are considered obscene or harmful to minors. Filtering of text is not required. In March 2001, the American Library Association (ALA) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed separate suits challenging CIPA on grounds that filtering restricts access to constitutionally protected information.

In May 2002, a three-judge panel in federal district court unanimously ruled CIPA unconstitutional, agreeing that current Internet filtering software blocks speech protected under the First Amendment. In June 2002, the U.S. Department of Justice appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court and on June 23, 2003, by a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court reversed the lower court decision, ruling that First Amendment protections are met by the law’s provision that filtering software is to be disabled by the library without significant delay at the request of an adult user. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that public libraries and schools wishing to retain federal technology funding must certify by July 1, 2004 that filtering software is installed and in use on all computers providing Internet access, including those used only by staff. CIPA provides no funds for libraries to implement filtering. Some libraries and library systems have decided to forgo federal library funds in order to maintain local control over Internet access.

In a statement of objectives regarding CIPA issued on July 25, 2003 by ALA president Carla Hayden and the ALA executive board, the ALA pledged to identify technological options that minimize the burden on libraries, continue to develop and promote viable alternatives to filtering, and gather and disseminate authoritative information and research on the effects of CIPA and filtering on libraries and library users, including evaluative information for use in selecting filtering software.

Question 18

Circulating Library

Answer 18

A type of library established by booksellers and other businessmen in Britain in the early 18th century that provided popular reading material to the general public for a limited period of time in exchange for payment of a modest fee (usually no more than a shilling per month), comparable to a modern rental collection.

Question 19

Subscription Library

Answer 19

A type of library that developed in Britain during the second half of the 18th century as a natural extension of private book clubs, in which a group of fairly prosperous readers in a community joined to form a “reading society” that included a library for the exclusive use of members. Michael H. Harris notes in History of Libraries in the Western World (Scarecrow Press, 1995) that dues were usually collected from members on a monthly or yearly basis, and the quality of the reading matter available was generally higher than that provided by circulating libraries of the same period. At first, subscription libraries were usually housed in rented quarters, with a person on duty at certain hours, but by the mid-19th century, many had acquired their own facilities. The London Library, established in 1841 and still in existence, is one of the most successful examples, containing over 500,000 volumes by 1900.

Question 20

Collection Development

Answer 20

The process of planning and building a useful and balanced collection of library materials over a period of years, based on an ongoing assessment of the information needs of the library’s clientele, analysis of usage statistics, and demographic projections, normally constrained by budgetary limitations. Collection development includes the formulation of selection criteria, planning for resource sharing, and replacement of lost and damaged items, as well as routine selection and deselection decisions.

Large libraries and library systems may use an approval plan or blanket order plan to develop their collections. In small- and medium-sized libraries, collection development responsibilities are normally shared by all the librarians, based on their interests and subject specializations, usually under the overall guidance of a written collection development policy.

Question 21

Collection Development policy

Answer 21

A formal written statement of the principles guiding a library’s selection of materials, including the criteria used in making selection and deselection decisions (fields covered, degrees of specialization, levels of difficulty, languages, formats, balance, etc.) and policies concerning gifts and exchanges. An unambiguously worded collection development policy can be very helpful in responding to challenges from pressure groups.

Question 22

USA Patriot Act

Answer 22

Signed on October 26, 2001, by President George W. Bush, the USA Patriot Act, six weeks after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Library issues concerning the USA Patriot Act (PL 107-56) fall into two main categories: (1) civil liberties, especially privacy and confidentiality of patron records, and (2) denial of access to information, such as the removal of information resources from publicly accessible government Web sites and from the Federal Depository Library Program. The Patriot Act redefines “business records” to include medical, library, and educational records. Under Section 215, law enforcement agencies can compel libraries to produce circulation records, patron registration information, Internet usage records, etc., stored in or on any medium, by presenting a search warrant obtained in a nonadversarial hearing before a Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court closed to public scrutiny. The law also includes a “gag order” prohibiting any library or librarian from disclosing the existence of such a warrant, even to the person whose records have been inspected and/or seized.

Question 23

Copyright

Answer 23

The exclusive legal rights granted by a government to an author, editor, compiler, composer, playwright, publisher, or distributor to publish, produce, sell, or distribute copies of a literary, musical, dramatic, artistic, or other work, within certain limitations (fair use and first sale). Copyright law also governs the right to prepare derivative works, reproduce a work or portions of it, and display or perform a work in public.
Such rights may be transferred or sold to others and do not necessarily pass with ownership of the work itself. Copyright protects a work in the specific form in which it is created, not the idea, theme, or concept expressed in the work, which other writers are free to interpret in a different way. A work never copyrighted or no longer protected by copyright is said to be in the public domain.

In 1998, the controversial Copyright Term Extension Act (CTEA) lengthened the period to life of the author plus 70 years for works published on or after January 1, 1978, the same as in Europe.

Question 24

Digital Rights

Answer 24

Ownership of information content published and distributed in electronic format, protected in the United States by copyright law. Digital rights management (DRM) uses technologies specifically designed to identify, secure, manage, track, and audit digital content, ideally in ways that ensure public access, preserve fair use and right of first sale, and protect information producers from uncompensated downloading (copyright piracy).

Question 25

Confidentiality

Answer 25

In the delivery of library services, the right of patrons to have the nature of their research and library transactions remain private. Under the guidance of the ALA Code of Ethics, librarians and library staff members are encouraged to "protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired or transmitted." For this reason, automated circulation systems are designed to delete from the patron record all indication that a specific item has been borrowed once it has been returned to the library and to limit access to borrower accounts to authorized personnel.

Question 26

Infringement

Answer 26

The use without permission of material protected by copyright or patent in a manner reserved under law to the holder of rights in the work. Such use may be subject to legal action at the discretion of the copyright owner.

Question 27

Intellectual Property

Answer 27

Tangible products of the human mind and intelligence entitled to the legal status of personal property, especially works protected by copyright, inventions that have been patented, and registered trademarks. An idea is considered the intellectual property of its creator only after it has been recorded or made manifest in specific form. Abbreviated IP

Question 28

Digital Preservation

Answer 28

The process of maintaining, in a condition suitable for use, materials produced in digital formats, including preservation of the bit stream and the continued ability to render or display the content represented by the bit stream. The task is compounded by the fact that some digital storage media deteriorate quickly ("bit rot"), and the digital object is inextricably entwined with its access environment (software and hardware), which is evolving in a continuous cycle of innovation and obsolescence. Also refers to the practice of digitizing materials originally produced in nondigital formats (print, film, etc.) to prevent permanent loss due to deterioration of the physical medium.

Question 29

Digital Publishing

Answer 29

The activities involved in the business of preparing, processing, producing, protecting, and preserving information content in digital form, whether the result is delivered in print or electronic format (e-journal, e-book, Web document, etc.). In 2005, the Pennsylvania State University Libraries formed a partnership with Penn State Press to create an Office of Digital Scholarly Publishing which will use new media technology to advance scholarly communication at Penn State and within the wider academic community. One goal of the new Office will be to make research publications available online by moving existing print journals and monographs to a digital environment.

Question 30

Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA)

Answer 30

Legislation passed by Congress and signed into law in October 1998 to prepare the United States for the ratification of international treaties protecting copyrights to intellectual property in digital form, drafted in 1996 at a conference of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The bill was supported by the software and entertainment industries and opposed by the library, research, and education communities. Click here to learn more about the DMCA, courtesy of the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

Question 31

Coretta Scott King Award

Answer 31

Chosen by a seven-member national jury and presented by the Coretta Scott King Task Force of the American Library Association's Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table ( EMIERT), the annual Coretta Scott King Awards are made to an author and an illustrator of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of "the American Dream." The Awards commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honor his widow, Coretta Scott King, for her continuing work for peace and world brotherhood. Winners receive a framed citation, an honorarium, and a set of the Encyclopaedia Britannica or World Book Encyclopedia.

Question 32

Digitization

Answer 32

The process of converting data to digital format for processing by a computer. In information systems, digitization usually refers to the conversion of printed text or images (photographs, illustrations, maps, etc.) into binary signals using some kind of scanning device that enables the result to be displayed on a computer screen. Mass digitization is the conversion of texts or images to digital format on a very large scale using robotic equipment capable of scanning hundreds of pages per hour (see this example). After raising billions of dollars in an initial public stock offering, Google and five major research libraries (the University of Michigan, Harvard University, Stanford University, Oxford University, and the New York Public Library) announced in December 2004 plans to digitally scan over 10 million unique books over the next decade and make them searchable online, the largest digitization project ever attempted.

Question 33

Digital Reference

Answer 33

Reference services requested and provided over the Internet, usually via e-mail, instant messaging ("chat"), or Web-based submission forms, usually answered by librarians in the reference department of a library, sometimes by the participants in a collaborative reference system serving more than one institution. For an example, see Ask a librarian... from the Library of Congress. Synonymous with chat reference, e-reference, online reference, real-time reference, and virtual reference.

Question 34

Digital Rights

Answer 34

Ownership of information content published and distributed in electronic format, protected in the United States by copyright law. Digital rights management (DRM) uses technologies specifically designed to identify, secure, manage, track, and audit digital content, ideally in ways that ensure public access, preserve fair use and right of first sale, and protect information producers from uncompensated downloading (copyright piracy). The Copyright Clearance Center (CCC) provided one of the earliest solutions used by libraries to obtain permissions. Since the late 1990s, a variety of models have emerged to facilitate the complex relationships and transactions among rights, works, and the parties that produce and use information, including encryption schemes and plug-ins. ContentGuard has based its software approach on XrML (eXtensible rights Markup Language), originally developed at Xerox PARC, which the company hopes will become the open standard for interoperability, giving customers a common platform for receiving content under conditions that protect copyright.

Question 35

Disaster Plan

Answer 35

A set of written procedures prepared in advance by the staff of a library to deal with an unexpected occurrence that has the potential to cause injury to personnel or damage to equipment, collections, and/or facilities sufficient to warrant temporary suspension of services (flood, fire, earthquake, etc.). In archival records management, securing vital records in the event of disaster is one of the highest priorities. An effective disaster plan begins with a thorough risk assessment to identify the areas most vulnerable to various kinds of damage and to evaluate measures that can be taken in advance to ensure preparedness. Both an initial action plan and a recovery plan should be included.

Question 36

Fair use

Answer 36

Conditions under which copying a work, or a portion of it, does not constitute infringement of copyright, including copying for purposes of criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.

Question 37

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)

Answer 37

FOIA guarantees right of access to unclassified government information to any American who submits a written request to see copies of specific records or documents. The Act exempts from disclosure information that might prove harmful to national defense, foreign relations, law enforcement, commercial interests of third parties, or personal privacy. The intent behind FOIA is to make government more transparent and accountable to citizens and to prevent secrecy from being used for illegitimate purposes.

Question 38

Document Delivery Service (DDS)

Answer 38

The provision of published or unpublished documents in hard copy, microform, or digital format, usually for a fixed fee upon request. In most libraries, document delivery service is provided by the interlibrary loan office on a cost-recovery basis. The patron is usually required to pick up printed material at the library, but electronic full-text may be forwarded via e-mail. Also refers to the physical or electronic delivery of documents from a library collection to the residence or place of business of a library user, upon request.

Question 39

e-book reader

Answer 39

A lightweight, portable battery-operated electronic device, similar in form to a tablet computer, designed primarily for reading books and periodicals downloaded in digital format (example: Kindle from Amazon.com). Although tablet computer screens are generally faster, e-book readers have superior text readability, achieved by the use of electronic paper display technology. Some e-book readers come with an internal dictionary, built-in Wi-Fi, text-to-speech capability, and a Web browser. Price depends on storage capacity and special features. Library compatible e-book readers, which can be used to borrow e-books from public libraries, typically support EPUB and/or PDF formats with digital rights management (DRM) protection.

Question 40

Google Books

Answer 40

Digitally scan millions of books held in the collections of five major research libraries and make the contents searchable online.

Question 41

Open Book Alliance (OBA)

Answer 41

A group of library associations, nonprofit organizations, and commercial companies (including Amazon.com, Microsoft, and Yahoo!) who together filed, on antitrust grounds, an amicus curiae brief in opposition to the $125 million settlement reached in January 2010 in the class action suit by the Author's Guild and the Association of American Publishers (AAP) against Google concerning that company's mass digitization project for books.

Question 42

Freedom to Read Foundation (FTRF)

Answer 42

A nonprofit organization founded in 1969 by the American Library Association (ALA) in support of the First Amendment right of all Americans to read and hear the ideas of others without government interference. The FTRF also fosters libraries in which the individual's First Amendment rights can be fulfilled and supports the right of libraries and librarians to include in their collections any work that can be legally purchased in the United States, despite objections from individuals and groups with an axe to grind.

Question 43

Grant

Answer 43

Funds received from a private foundation (example: Council on Library and Information Resources) or government-sponsored organization (National Endowment for the Humanities) by an individual, group, or institution in support of a worthy project or cause. In most cases, the recipient must compete for such funds by submitting a proposal. The art of obtaining grants is called grantsmanship. Guides to proposal writing are available in academic libraries and large public libraries.

Question 44

Freedom to Read Statement

Answer 44

A formal declaration originally issued in May 1953 by the Westchester Conference of the American Library Association and the American Book Publishers Council (now the Association of American Publishers) affirming the First Amendment right of every American to choose without interference whatever he or she wishes to read.

Question 45

Grantsmanship

Answer 45

The art of successfully obtaining and administering grants and grants-in-aid, including the ability to recognize when an idea is fundable, locate funding sources, research the information necessary to fill out the application, establish a realistic timetable, write the proposal, and manage the grant process once funding is approved. When grant funding is a high priority, a college or university usually employs a trained and experienced grants administrator to help teaching faculty and librarians negotiate the process.

Question 46

Homeless Patron

Answer 46

A library user who lives in a homeless shelter or on the street, with no permanent address. Homeless patrons may cause problems for libraries by bringing personal possessions into the library, occupying seating for long periods of time, and offending other users with strong body odor. Some libraries restrict the borrowing privileges of patrons who lack a permanent address.

Question 47

Homework Help

Answer 47

Services provided by a public library or library system that are specifically designed to assist public, private, and home-schooled students, usually in grades 4-12, with their take-home assignments.Some libraries have opted to use Tutor.com as a live homework help (LHH) service. Homework help centers (HHC) - space set aside for study in a public library, usually with established hours and assigned staff trained to provide clearly defined services to students in need of assistance with their homework assignments.

Question 48

Information Commons (IC)

Answer 48

A new type of technology-enhanced collaborative facility on college and university campuses that integrates library and computer application services (information, technology, and learning) in a single floor plan, often equipped with a wireless network and, in some cases, equipment for multimedia production (see these examples). Most ICs are designed to support librarians assisting individual students and teaching research skills to groups; tutors and teaching assistants helping individuals and groups of students with class assignments; and individual students and groups independently accessing information in print and online. An IC may also include staff and resources for faculty development, a writing center, adaptive services, cafe service, gallery space, and a copy center.

Question 49

Government Documents

Answer 49

Publications of the U.S. federal government, including transcripts of hearings and the text of bills, resolutions, statutes, reports, charters, treaties, periodicals (example: Monthly Labor Review), statistics (U.S. Census), etc. In libraries, federal documents are usually shelved in a separate section by SuDocs number. The category also includes publications of other governmental bodies (state, local, territorial, foreign). Abbreviated govdocs.

Question 50

Information Literacy (IL)

Answer 50

Skill in finding the information one needs, including an understanding of how libraries are organized, familiarity with the resources they provide (including information formats and automated search tools), and knowledge of commonly used research techniques. The concept also includes the skills required to critically evaluate information content and employ it effectively, as well as an understanding of the technological infrastructure on which information transmission is based, including its social, political, and cultural context and impact.

Question 51

Matching Grant

Answer 51

A grant made by a foundation, government agency, or individual, contingent on the recipient raising sufficient funds to match the donor's contribution. Although the ratio of grant funds to contributions may vary, most are dollar-for-dollar up to a fixed amount, with a time limit imposed on fund-raising activities. Some federal LSTA grants-in-aid are structured in this way.

Question 52

Information Ethics

Answer 52

The branch of ethics that focuses on the relationship between the creation, organization, dissemination, and use of information, and the ethical standards and moral codes governing human conduct in society. In the United States, the ALA Code of Ethics is the leading statement of ethical standards for the library profession.

Question 53

Information Management

Answer 53

The skillful exercise of control over the acquisition, organization, storage, security, retrieval, and dissemination of the information resources essential to the successful operation of a business, agency, organization, or institution, including documentation, records management, and technical infrastructure.

Question 54

Information Need

Answer 54

A gap in a person's knowledge that, when experienced at the conscious level as a question, gives rise to a search for an answer. If the need is urgent, the search may be pursued with diligence until the desire is fulfilled. Persons with information needs often end up at the reference desk of a library where it is the responsibility of the reference librarian to determine the precise nature of the need, usually by conducting an informal reference interview, as a basis for recommending relevant sources. To to search the online catalog or bibliographic databases, the need must be expressed in the form of a query. It is the job of collection development librarians to anticipate the information needs of a library's clientele, sometimes with the aid of survey research, in order to select materials to meet those needs. Patrons with questions that cannot be answered using the resources of the library may be referred to other information providers in the local community or elsewhere.

Question 55

Information Science

Answer 55

The systematic study and analysis of the sources, development, collection, organization, dissemination, evaluation, use, and management of information in all its forms, including the channels (formal and informal) and technology used in its communication.

Question 56

Information System (IS)

Answer 56

A computer hardware and software system designed to accept, store, manipulate, and analyze data and to report results, usually on a regular, ongoing basis. An IS usually consists of a data input subsystem, a data storage and retrieval subsystem, a data analysis and manipulation subsystem, and a reporting subsystem. Widely used in scientific research, business management, medicine and health, resource management, and other fields that require statistical reporting, information systems can be broadly classified as spatial or nonspatial, depending on whether the data refers to a system of spatial coordinates.

Question 57

Information Technology

Answer 57

A very broad term encompassing all aspects of the management and processing of information by computer, including the hardware and software required to access it.

Question 58

Intellectual Freedom

Answer 58

The right under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution of any person to read or express views that may be unpopular or offensive to some people, within certain limitations (libel, slander, etc.). Legal cases concerning free speech issues are heard by the U.S. Supreme Court. Click here to connect to the homepage of the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association (ALA). Compare with freedom of information.

Question 59

Freedom of Information

Answer 59

The statutory right of public access to official information compiled and maintained by federal government agencies, embodied in the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) passed by the U.S. Congress in 1966 and subsequently enacted in most European and UK countries. Under FOIA, applicants who request in writing specific information must be supplied with copies of the requested documents or records within a designated period of time. Disclosure of information that might prove harmful to national defense, foreign relations, law enforcement, commercial activities of third parties, or personal privacy is exempted. Compare with intellectual freedom.

Question 60

Library of Congress

Answer 60

An office created in 1802, two years after the Library of Congress was established, for which no qualifications were specified. The position is filled by presidential appointment for no fixed term. In 1897, the Senate acquired the power to approve the president's nomination, and the Librarian of Congress was given the authority to appoint the staff of the Library of Congress and to establish its rules and regulations. In the 20th century, a precedent was established for appointing the Librarian of Congress for life.

Question 61

Librarianship

Answer 61

he profession devoted to applying theory and technology to the creation, selection, organization, management, preservation, dissemination, and utilization of collections of information in all formats. In the United States, often used synonymously with library science. A person formally trained or certified to perform such services is a librarian. Librarianship is a very old profession.

Question 62

Library Advocate

Answer 62

A person who appreciates libraries and their role in society to the extent of speaking and acting publicly in their support, especially when funding and the freedom to read are at stake. The American Library Association takes an active role in training library advocates by maintaining an Issues and Advocacy section at its Web site.

Question 63

Library Bill of Rights

Answer 63

A formal statement adopted by the American Library Association in 1948 and amended in 1961, 1990, and 1996, affirming the right of libraries in the United States to provide, to all members of the communities they serve, materials expressing diverse points of view and to remain free of censorship. Implementation of the Library Bill of Rights is the work of the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the ALA. The American Library Association affirms that all libraries are forums for information and ideas, and that the following basic policies should guide their services. I. Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. II. Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval. III. Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment. IV. Libraries should cooperate with all persons and groups concerned with resisting abridgment of free expression and free access to ideas. V. A person’s right to use a library should not be denied or abridged because of origin, age, background, or views. VI. Libraries that make exhibit spaces and meeting rooms available to the public they serve should make such facilities available on an equitable basis, regardless of the beliefs or affiliations of individuals or groups requesting their use.

Question 64

Licensing Agreement

Answer 64

A formal written contract between a library and a vendor for the lease of one or more proprietary (copyrighted) bibliographic databases or online resources, usually for a fixed period of time in exchange for payment of an annual subscription fee or per-search charge. Vendors typically charge libraries on a sliding scale based on number of registered borrowers or FTE enrollment, number of institutions or facilities served, and number of simultaneous users. Most licensing agreements limit remote access to authorized users.

Question 65

Library of Congress (LC)

Answer 65

Established by Congress in 1800 to function as a research library for the legislative branch of the federal government, the Library of Congress eventually became the unofficial national library of the United States. Located in Washington, D.C., LC houses a collection of over 120 million items and administers the U.S. copyright system, serving as the nation's copyright depository. LC is also the primary source of original cataloging in the United States. The machine-readable cataloging (MARC) and cataloging-in-publication (CIP) programs originated at the Library of Congress.

Question 66

Medical Library

Answer 66

A type of special library maintained by a university medical school, hospital, medical research institute, public health agency, or medical association to serve the information needs of students, researchers, and practitioners in the health sciences (medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, etc.), with collections that include print and online resources related to medicine and allied health. The largest medical library in the United States is the National Library of Medicine, located in Washington, D.C. Medical librarians are organized in the Medical Library Association (MLA).

Question 67

Metadata

Answer 67

Literally, "data about data." Structured information describing information resources/objects for a variety of purposes. Although AACR2/MARC cataloging is formally metadata, the term is generally used in the library community for nontraditional schemes such as the Dublin Core Metadata Element Set, the VRA Core Categories, and the Encoded Archival Description (EAD). Metadata has been categorized as descriptive, structural, and administrative. Descriptive metadata facilitates indexing, discovery, identification, and selection. Structural metadata describes the internal structure of complex information resources. Administrative metadata aids in the management of resources and may include rights management metadata, preservation metadata, and technical metadata describing the physical characteristics of a resource.

Question 68

Library Science

Answer 68

The professional knowledge and skill with which recorded information is selected, acquired, organized, stored, maintained, retrieved, and disseminated to meet the needs of a specific clientele, usually taught at a professional library school qualified to grant the postbaccalaureate degree of M.L.S. or M.L.I.S. The term is used synonymously in the United States with librarianship. Compare with information science.

Question 69

Lifelong Learning

Answer 69

One of the goals of bibliographic instruction and information literacy programs is to help library users obtain the skills they need to pursue knowledge at any age, independent of a formal educational institution. Public libraries play an important role in meeting this need because they provide access to materials in a wide range of subjects at various reading levels, not only for students enrolled in a formal curriculum but for anyone interested in reading and learning.

Question 70

Outsourcing

Answer 70

The contracting of library services formerly performed in-house to an outside service provider, usually a for-profit enterprise. Part of a recent trend in the United States in the direction of privatizing government services, outsourcing has affected technical services to a greater extent than public services in libraries. Cost-effectiveness is the justification most often heard for this controversial management practice. One disadvantage is that in decisions requiring judgment an outside contractor may lack familiarity with local conditions and practices. Outsourcing has generated the least amount of controversy in conservation and preservation (particularly binding and reformatting), purchasing catalog records in machine-readable form, acquisitions plans (approval plans, blanket order plans, subscription services, etc.), physical processing, retrospective conversion, and library automation systems. However, proposals to outsource cataloging and selection and to privatize federal and public libraries have met greater resistance.

Question 71

Precensorship

Answer 71

he restriction of materials from a library collection during the selection process by a collection development librarian or other person authorized to select, based on conscious or unconscious bias. Although the Library Bill of Rights of the American Library Association (ALA) charges librarians to "provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues," some studies have found that librarians tend to avoid selecting potentially controversial books and media. The prefix "pre" added to the term "censorship" indicates that restriction occurs before library materials are made available to patrons. Compare with censorship.

Question 72

Public Domain (PD)

Answer 72

Works not protected by copyright, or for which copyright has expired, which may be printed for distribution and sale, quoted, excerpted, reproduced, and made available online to the public without infringement, for example, a government document over which an agency decides not to exercise copyright in order to make its content widely known. Project Gutenberg is an example of a service that provides online full-text of literary works in the public domain. Lolly Gasaway of the University of North Carolina provides a chart of When U.S. Works Pass into the Public domain. The term also applies to computer software (freeware and shareware) made available by the designer(s) at no charge as a public service.

Question 73

Readers Advisory (RA)

Answer 73

Services provided by an experienced public services librarian who specializes in the reading needs of the patrons of a public library. A readers' advisor recommends specific titles and/or authors, based on knowledge of the patron's past reading preferences, and may also compile lists of recommended titles and serve as liaison to other education agencies in the community. The same type of information is provided by reference works such as Reader's Adviser: A Layman's Guide to Reading published by Bowker. Readers' advisory for juveniles is usually provided by a librarian specializing in services for children or young adults, based on the patron's age, interests, and reading level.

Question 74

Reference Interview

Answer 74

The interpersonal communication that occurs between a reference librarian and a library user to determine the person's specific information need(s), which may turn out to be different than the reference question as initially posed. Because patrons are often reticent, especially in face-to-face interaction, patience and tact may be required on the part of the librarian. A reference interview may occur in person, by telephone, or electronically (usually via e-mail) at the request of the user, but a well-trained reference librarian will sometimes initiate communication if a hesitant user appears to need assistance.

Question 75

Privacy

Answer 75

The right of an individual (or group) to keep information about personal and professional life from disclosure, especially to government and commercial enterprises, and to remain free from surveillance except as authorized under provisions of law. In the ALA Code of Ethics, librarians and library staff are encouraged to "protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted." Many libraries in the United States have decided as a matter of policy not to retain circulation records for materials returned by the user to prevent misuse of such information. See also: Privacy Act and USA Patriot Act.

Question 76

Special Library

Answer 76

A library established and funded by a commercial firm, private association, government agency, nonprofit organization, or special interest group to meet the information needs of its employees, members, or staff in accordance with the organization's mission and goals. The scope of the collection is usually limited to the interests of the host organization. Special librarians are organized in the Special Libraries Association. Information on special libraries in the United States and Canada is available in the Directory of Special Libraries and Information Centers published by Gale.

Question 77

Standards

Answer 77

Criteria established by professional associations, accrediting bodies, or agencies of government for measuring and evaluating library services, collections, and programs. The ALA Policy Manual defines standards as policies that "describe shared values and principles of performance for a library." They tend to be comprehensive, covering a broad range of programs and services, defining both qualitative and quantitative criteria and presenting goals toward which the profession aspires.

Question 78

Privacy Act

Answer 78

Passed by Congress following revelations of serious abuse of privacy by government during the administration of President Richard Nixon, the Privacy Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-579) states that, "No agency shall disclose any record which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains..." Although the law includes exceptions allowing the use of personal records under specific circumstances (e.g., in law enforcement), it requires that each federal agency have in place an administrative and physical security system to prevent the unauthorized release of personal records. The Privacy Act also gives citizens and permanent residents the right to: 1) access and make copies of records about themselves; 2) request that the record be amended if it is inaccurate, irrelevant, untimely, or incomplete; and 3) sue the government for violations of its provisions.

Question 79

Self-destructing e-book

Answer 79

In February 2011, HarperCollins announced a new policy limiting access to library e-books to 26 circulations per copy in the United States. The decision prompted some libraries and library consortia to suspend purchase of e-books published by HarperCollins. It also added fuel to the ongoing debate over e-book acquisition models for libraries.

Question 80

Wikipedia

Answer 80

A multilingual, collaborative, free illustrated hypertext encyclopedia, launched in 2001 by Jimmy Wales and Larry Sanger. Articles are written by unpaid, self-selecting volunteers, operating on the principle that expertise is not solely a matter of credentials but of willingness to share what one knows. Editorial decisions are made transparent in edit history pages and open contributor discussions. Citing sources is strongly encouraged, and alerts are posted on articles which may contain bias or unsupported facts. The low-budget project has weathered highly publicized incidents of vandalism, but malicious editing is usually detected quickly and corrected. One advantage of Wikipedia is that it contains articles on far more subjects than traditional encyclopedias, often providing unique coverage of topics in popular culture and developments too recent to be covered in any other reference work. Updating within minutes of an event is common. In an article published in Library Issues in January 2007, Barbara Fister describes Wikipedia as "an unusually successful example of participatory culture enabled by technology that provides low-barrier methods for creating and sharing content." However, reliance on Wikipedia by students writing research papers is generally discouraged by librarians and instructors, due to lack of editorial control over content.

Question 81

Technical Services (TS)

Answer 81

Library operations concerned with the acquisition, organization (bibliographic control), physical processing, and maintenance of library collections, as opposed to the delivery of public services. Technical processing is performed "behind the scenes," usually in a technical services department.

Question 82

Technology Plan

Answer 82

A carefully developed strategy for identifying, evaluating, acquiring, and implementing technological systems and services to fulfill a library's mission and optimally serve the needs of its users, usually over a multiyear period. In addition to determining the hardware, software, telecommunication, technical support, and training the library will need, a technology plan addresses how objectives will be accomplished with reference to the goals of the library's overall service program and the environment in which it operates, particularly institutional priorities and funding. Basic components of a technology plan include: A summary providing a synopsis of the plan's primary recommendations and conclusions Background information, including an overview of the library, its mission, the community or user group served, and the process used to develop the plan A description of the existing technological resources A complete description of the technology plan, including goals and objectives, needs, action plan, and proposed budget An evaluation process for monitoring progress toward the achievement of goals and objectives, including a timetable and specific measures of success Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (TCA), public libraries are required to provide a technology plan when applying for E-rate discounts on telephone, telecommunication, and Internet services and for funding to purchase equipment and wiring. Applications for LSTA technology grants must also include a technology plan