MLS Library Technology and Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which protocol is used by library systems to exchange bibliographic records between institutions?
- Z39.50 (Correct answer)
- HTTP/2
- FTP
- SMTP
Correct answer: Z39.50
Z39.50 is the ANSI/NISO standard protocol specifically designed for searching and retrieving bibliographic information across library systems.
Question 2: What does the acronym OPAC stand for in library technology?
- Online Public Access Catalog (Correct answer)
- Open Protocol Access Control
- Organized Public Archive Collection
- Online Publication and Cataloging
Correct answer: Online Public Access Catalog
OPAC stands for Online Public Access Catalog, the publicly accessible interface that allows users to search a library's holdings.
Question 3: Which MARC field contains the main entry for a personal name as author?
- 100 (Correct answer)
- 245
- 020
- 650
Correct answer: 100
MARC field 100 is the Main Entry—Personal Name field, used to record the primary responsible party when it is an individual.
Question 4: A library wants to implement linked data to connect its catalog to the broader web. Which vocabulary is most commonly used for this purpose?
- Schema.org and BIBFRAME (Correct answer)
- Dublin Core only
- MARC 21 only
- HTML meta tags
Correct answer: Schema.org and BIBFRAME
BIBFRAME (Bibliographic Framework) combined with Schema.org vocabularies is the standard approach for exposing library linked data on the web.
Question 5: What is the primary function of an ERM (Electronic Resource Management) system in a library?
- Managing licenses, access rights, and lifecycle of e-resources (Correct answer)
- Digitizing physical collections
- Tracking patron borrowing history
- Generating MARC records for new acquisitions
Correct answer: Managing licenses, access rights, and lifecycle of e-resources
ERM systems handle the complex workflows of acquiring, activating, managing licenses, and monitoring usage statistics for electronic resources.
Question 6: Which standard defines the framework for interoperability between library systems through a service-oriented architecture?
- NCIP (NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol) (Correct answer)
- SRU/SRW
- OpenURL
- OAI-PMH
Correct answer: NCIP (NISO Circulation Interchange Protocol)
NCIP is the NISO standard that enables communication between self-service devices, ILS systems, and other library applications for circulation transactions.
Question 7: In the context of ILS (Integrated Library Systems), what does the acquisitions module primarily handle?
- Ordering, receiving, and invoicing of library materials (Correct answer)
- Indexing full text of digital content
- Managing patron accounts and fines
- Generating reading lists for courses
Correct answer: Ordering, receiving, and invoicing of library materials
The acquisitions module manages the purchasing workflow including purchase orders, vendor records, fund accounting, and receiving of new items.
