The Catholic University of America

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
July, 2005

  1. Careful planning is required in developing digital libraries, to augment existing library collections and to expand the range of services to users. With reference to the literature, discuss four major issues and challenges in developing digital library collections and user services.

  2. What is owned in "intellectual property"? How do the issues involved in protecting such property rights differ from those involved in protecting rights to other types of property?

  3. Efficiency, effectiveness and user satisfaction are three key criteria for assessing the performance of information systems. Use a scenario to discuss the importance of each criterion, and describe how each criterion may be operationally measured.

  4. For the library setting of your choice, draw on the literature to discuss the issues around "library as a place." Why is this particularly important in the digital age?

  5. Our professional commitment is to design library or archive services and collections based on a needs assessment. Choose a client group and explain how you would identify their information needs. Explain how this would influence your design of a collection, reference services, or services related to information literacy.

  6. Compare and contrast face-to-face reference services and computer-mediated reference services in terms of:
    a) how the services are provided,
    b) how users' behavior and expectations may vary in these two modes of services, and
    c) the knowledge and skills librarians must possess to provide reference services effectively.

  7. Define metadata and describe four types of metadata. Discuss the similarities and differences between metadata and cataloging as methods for organizing information resources in libraries.

  8. As information technology is integrated into most library functions, information professionals should be monitoring technology trends that impact libraries or information centers. Identify three current technologies and discuss the impact of each of these technologies on serving users and delivering information.

  9. Identify five criteria for evaluating Internet resources. Discuss in detail how to apply these criteria in the selection of resources, and describe how you would teach a specific user group (of your choice) to use these five criteria in evaluating Internet resources.

  10. An article in a professional journal for our field states, "In 2004 the digital v. print debate is over, and digital has won; some of us just refuse to believe it." Take a position on this statement. You may agree or disagree, but you must explain your rationale for the position you choose. Your discussion should reflect the literature you've read, the classes you've taken, and your own assumptions about the field of librarianship.
    In addition, discuss how you will work with others who support the other position.