MLS Collection Development and Management 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which principle states that a library should collect materials based on community needs rather than personal preferences of librarians?
- Demand-driven acquisition
- User-centered collection development (Correct answer)
- Evidence-based selection
- Patron-of-record model
Correct answer: User-centered collection development
User-centered collection development prioritizes the needs, interests, and demographics of the community served over librarian preferences.
Question 2: A library discovers that 40% of its print monograph collection has not circulated in 10 years. The MOST appropriate first step is to:
- Immediately withdraw all uncirculated items
- Conduct a use study and shelf-read to assess condition and relevance (Correct answer)
- Transfer all items to offsite storage
- Rebind and re-catalog old items to stimulate use
Correct answer: Conduct a use study and shelf-read to assess condition and relevance
A use study combined with physical assessment provides data needed to make informed weeding or storage decisions rather than acting arbitrarily.
Question 3: In the context of collection development, what does 'just-in-case' collecting refer to?
- Purchasing items only when requested by patrons
- Building broad holdings in anticipation of possible future need (Correct answer)
- Maintaining emergency backup copies of high-demand titles
- Acquiring digital backups in case print is damaged
Correct answer: Building broad holdings in anticipation of possible future need
Just-in-case collecting is a traditional model of acquiring materials broadly to anticipate future patron demand, contrasted with just-in-time or demand-driven models.
Question 4: Which standard tool helps librarians evaluate the scope and depth of a collection using a five-level scale from 'out of scope' to 'comprehensive'?
- LibQUAL+
- Conspectus (Correct answer)
- WorldCat Collection Analysis
- MARC 21 Holdings
Correct answer: Conspectus
The Conspectus is a collection assessment tool developed by RLG that uses a standardized five-level scale to describe collection depth by subject area.
Question 5: A library's collection development policy should include which of the following to address potential censorship challenges?
- A list of banned subjects and authors
- A formal reconsideration process with review committee (Correct answer)
- Automatic removal of challenged titles pending review
- Deferral of all decisions to local government officials
Correct answer: A formal reconsideration process with review committee
A formal reconsideration process ensures challenged materials receive fair, documented review rather than being removed due to informal complaints.
Question 6: When evaluating a vendor's standing order plan, a collection development librarian should PRIMARILY consider:
- The vendor's physical warehouse location
- Approval rates, return policies, and subject profile accuracy (Correct answer)
- Whether the vendor offers free shipping only
- The number of years the vendor has been in business
Correct answer: Approval rates, return policies, and subject profile accuracy
Approval rates, return flexibility, and how well the subject profile matches the library's collecting scope are the key functional criteria for evaluating approval plans.
Question 7: Which type of collection analysis compares a library's holdings against a standard bibliography or peer institution's catalog?
- Circulation analysis
- Shelf-reading audit
- Comparative or benchmarking analysis (Correct answer)
- Cost-per-use analysis
Correct answer: Comparative or benchmarking analysis
Comparative analysis benchmarks a library's collection against external standards, bibliographies, or peer collections to identify gaps or strengths.
