Library science MCQs

This well-curated collection of Library Science MCQs is designed to aid your preparation for exams, interviews, and assessments in the field of library and information science. Covering a wide range of topics including cataloging, classification, information retrieval, library management, and digital libraries, these questions will enhance your understanding and help you excel in academic and professional evaluations.

1. What is the term for the systematic organization of knowledge in a library?

A) Cataloging
B) Indexing
C) Classification
D) Circulation

View Answer

2. Who is considered the father of library science in India?

A) S.R. Ranganathan
B) Melvil Dewey
C) Paul Otlet
D) Henri La Fontaine

View Answer

3. What is the full form of AACR in library science?

A) American Association of Cataloging Rules
B) Anglo-American Cataloging Rules
C) Association for Academic Catalog Rules
D) Advanced Archival Catalog Rules

View Answer

4. What does OPAC stand for in library science?

A) Online Public Access Catalogue
B) Online Private Access Catalogue
C) Offline Public Access Catalogue
D) Offline Private Access Catalogue

View Answer

5. What is the primary function of a reference librarian?

A) Cataloging books
B) Assisting patrons in finding information
C) Organizing library events
D) Managing library budgets

View Answer

6. Which classification system is widely used in public and academic libraries?

A) Dewey Decimal Classification
B) Universal Decimal Classification
C) Library of Congress Classification
D) Bliss Classification

View Answer

7. What is the term for a collection of periodicals and newspapers in a library?

A) Periodical section
B) Reference section
C) Archive section
D) Catalog section

View Answer

8. What is a thesaurus used for in a library?

A) Finding synonyms and antonyms
B) Searching for books by title
C) Organizing library events
D) Creating catalog entries

View Answer

9. What does ISBN stand for?

A) International Standard Book Number
B) International Standard Bibliographic Number
C) Internal Serial Book Number
D) International Standard Borrowing Number

View Answer

10. Who invented the Dewey Decimal Classification system?

A) S.R. Ranganathan
B) Paul Otlet
C) Henri La Fontaine
D) Melvil Dewey

View Answer

11. What is the term for materials that are not books but are used in libraries?

A) Archival materials
B) Non-print materials
C) Digital resources
D) Non-book materials

View Answer

12. What is the main function of interlibrary loan services?

A) Borrowing and lending books between libraries
B) Archiving books for future use
C) Cataloging books in multiple libraries
D) Preserving rare books

View Answer

13. What is the first law of library science as per S.R. Ranganathan?

A) Books are for use
B) Every reader their book
C) Every book its reader
D) Save the time of the reader

View Answer

14. What does MARC stand for in library cataloging?

A) Machine Accessible Record Catalog
B) Machine Readable Cataloging
C) Metadata and Resource Catalog
D) Manual Record Cataloging

View Answer

15. What is a monograph in library terms?

A) A book or a scholarly piece of writing
B) A collection of journal articles
C) A catalog entry for a rare book
D) A digital resource

View Answer

16. Which section of the library typically houses research papers and theses?

A) Periodicals section
B) Reference section
C) Circulation section
D) Archive section

View Answer

17. What does LCSH stand for in library science?

A) Library of Congress Subject Headings
B) Library Collection Storage Hub
C) Local Cataloging Standards Handbook
D) Library Code for Standard Headings

View Answer

18. Which type of library primarily serves the needs of researchers and students in universities?

A) Public library
B) National library
C) Academic library
D) Special library

View Answer

19. What is a bibliophile?

A) A person who hates books
B) A person who collects books
C) A person who manages libraries
D) A person who writes books

View Answer

20. What is the purpose of a library consortium?

A) To sell books to libraries
B) To facilitate resource sharing among libraries
C) To catalog books across multiple libraries
D) To organize library events

View Answer

21. What does the term “gray literature” refer to in libraries?

A) Unpublished or non-commercially available materials
B) Digitally stored books
C) Archival materials
D) Outdated or damaged books

View Answer

22. What is the primary purpose of a digital library?

A) To store physical books
B) To provide online access to digital resources
C) To archive historical documents
D) To lend e-books to patrons

View Answer

23. What is the term for a book written by hand, especially before the invention of printing?

A) Manuscript
B) Periodical
C) Monograph
D) Anthology

View Answer

24. What is the function of a circulation desk in a library?

A) Cataloging books
B) Organizing events
C) Issuing and returning library materials
D) Archiving rare books

View Answer

25. What is the full form of FRBR in library science?

A) Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records
B) Federal Resource Book Repository
C) Framework for Reading Book Resources
D) Functional Repository for Book Records

View Answer

26. Which library system uses the call numbers that start with letters such as “QA,” “PN,” or “KF”?

A) Dewey Decimal Classification
B) Library of Congress Classification
C) Universal Decimal Classification
D) Colon Classification

View Answer

27. What does the term “metadata” refer to in library science?

A) Data about data
B) Rare book collections
C) Catalog entries
D) Archival materials

View Answer

28. What is an annotated bibliography?

A) A list of citations with additional notes
B) A list of books organized by subject
C) A catalog of rare books
D) A summary of journal articles

View Answer

29. What is the primary role of a technical services librarian?

A) Assisting users with reference queries
B) Managing the acquisition, cataloging, and processing of materials
C) Organizing library events
D) Supervising library staff

View Answer

30. What does IFLA stand for?

A) International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions
B) Indian Federation of Library Associations
C) International Forum of Library Archives
D) Institute for Federal Library Administration

View Answer

31. What is the main function of bibliometrics in library science?

A) To measure the physical size of books
B) To analyze and measure patterns in academic literature
C) To record the number of library visits
D) To organize books by subject matter

View Answer

32. What is the primary objective of open access publishing?

A) To restrict access to scientific papers
B) To make research freely available to the public
C) To sell more books to libraries
D) To increase library subscriptions

View Answer

33. Which law of library science emphasizes that every book has its reader?

A) First law
B) Second law
C) Third law
D) Fourth law

View Answer

34. What is the main feature of a rare book room in a library?

A) It stores popular novels
B) It preserves valuable and rare books
C) It holds outdated library catalogs
D) It contains only non-fiction books

View Answer

35. What is a “union catalog”?

A) A catalog that lists all the books in a single library
B) A combined catalog of holdings from multiple libraries
C) A catalog of union-related publications
D) A catalog created by union workers

View Answer

36. What is the main goal of preservation in libraries?

A) To organize library events
B) To keep books and materials in good condition for future use
C) To increase circulation numbers
D) To create digital copies of all books

View Answer

37. What is the primary purpose of a special library?

A) To serve a specific group or institution

B) To provide recreational reading materials
C) To preserve ancient manuscripts
D) To lend books to the general public

View Answer

38. What is the term for the removal of outdated or damaged materials from a library collection?

A) Archiving
B) Weeding
C) Cataloging
D) Classifying

View Answer

39. Who introduced the Five Laws of Library Science?

A) Melvil Dewey
B) S.R. Ranganathan
C) Paul Otlet
D) John Cotton Dana

View Answer

40. What does RFID stand for in libraries?

A) Radio Frequency Identification
B) Remote Frequency Information Device
C) Reading Frequency Identification
D) Radio File Information Database

View Answer

41. What is the primary function of an archives in a library?

A) To store current fiction
B) To preserve historical documents
C) To lend books to patrons
D) To provide space for reading

View Answer

42. What is the main advantage of using a digital catalog over a card catalog?

A) Requires more physical space
B) Allows for faster searching and access
C) Limits the number of books that can be found
D) Slows down the cataloging process

View Answer

43. What is a peer-reviewed journal?

A) A magazine reviewed by a library committee
B) A scholarly journal reviewed by experts in the field
C) A book review journal
D) A journal that covers peer relationships

View Answer

44. What does ISSN stand for?

A) International Serial Standard Number
B) International Social Science Number
C) International Standard Serial Number
D) International Standard Scientific Number

View Answer

45. What is a library’s collection development policy?

A) A list of events to promote the library
B) A guideline for selecting, acquiring, and maintaining library materials
C) A policy for issuing books to patrons
D) A cataloging procedure

View Answer

46. What is the primary focus of bibliographic instruction in libraries?

A) Teaching users how to find and use library resources
B) Organizing library catalogs
C) Writing bibliographies for academic papers
D) Providing access to digital resources

View Answer

47. What is an e-book?

A) A book published only in print
B) A digital version of a book
C) A book stored in archives
D) A periodical publication

View Answer

48. What does OCLC stand for?

A) Online Cataloging Library Consortium
B) Online Computer Library Center
C) Organization for Cataloging and Library Cooperation
D) Open Collection Library Consortium

View Answer

49. What is the purpose of library classification?

A) To organize books and materials for easy retrieval
B) To write reviews of books
C) To increase the number of books in the library
D) To manage library finances

View Answer

50. What is the fifth law of library science?

A) Save the time of the reader
B) Books are for use
C) Libraries grow organically
D) Every reader their book

View Answer

51. What does the acronym “ICT” stand for in the context of libraries?

A) Information and Communication Technology
B) International Cataloging Technology
C) Information Classification Technique
D) Internet Connectivity Tool

View Answer

52. What is a library consortium?

A) A group of libraries that share resources and services
B) A single, large national library
C) A digital archive of library catalogs
D) A publishing company for academic books

View Answer

53. What is the term for a library that caters to the needs of corporate or business organizations?

A) Public library
B) Academic library
C) Special library
D) National library

View Answer

54. What does the acronym DOI stand for in academic publishing?

A) Digital Object Identifier
B) Document of Information
C) Data and Object Integration
D) Database Online Index

View Answer

55. What is the purpose of user education programs in libraries?

A) To teach users how to read
B) To help users effectively use library resources and services
C) To classify books
D) To lend books to patrons

View Answer

56. What is the function of a reading room in a library?

A) To store digital materials
B) To provide space for reading and study
C) To hold book discussions
D) To issue books to patrons

View Answer

57. What is the term for a detailed description of the physical and content features of a book?

A) Abstract
B) Annotation
C) Bibliography
D) Catalog entry

View Answer

58. What does the acronym ICT stand for in the context of libraries?

A) Information and Communication Technology
B) International Classification Tool
C) Index of Cataloged Titles
D) Integrated Catalog Technology

View Answer

59. What is the term for the systematic organization of library materials by subject, format, or other criteria?

A) Indexing
B) Cataloging
C) Shelving
D) Classification

View Answer

60. Which type of library service allows users to borrow materials from other libraries?

A) Interlibrary loan
B) Library reserve
C) Digital lending
D) Circulation

View Answer

61. What is a pathfinder in library science?

A) A book cataloging system
B) A tool to help users find resources on a specific subject
C) A library management software
D) A digital archiving tool

View Answer

62. What does “metadata” mean in the context of digital libraries?

A) Data about data
B) Outdated library records
C) Digital versions of books
D) Archived library materials

View Answer

63. What is a collection of books and materials that can only be used within the library called?

A) Circulation section
B) Reference section
C) Periodicals section
D) Reserve section

View Answer

64. What is the role of a technical services librarian?

A) To assist patrons with research
B) To acquire, catalog, and process library materials
C) To manage library programs
D) To oversee the library’s physical plant

View Answer

65. What is the Dewey Decimal Classification primarily used for?

A) Cataloging e-books
B) Classifying printed books by subject
C) Managing digital libraries
D) Sorting periodicals

View Answer

66. What is the purpose of a “weeding” process in library management?

A) To remove old or damaged materials from the collection
B) To plant trees around the library
C) To catalog rare books
D) To update book covers

View Answer

67. Which technology has made the tracking and management of physical library books more efficient?

A) RFID
B) Dewey Decimal System
C) MARC
D) AACR

View Answer

68. What is the term for a book that is temporarily restricted for use within the library?

A) Reserved book
B) Reference book
C) Periodical
D) Cataloged book

View Answer

69. What does “serials management” refer to in library services?

A) Managing books in a series
B) Managing periodicals such as journals and magazines
C) Managing cataloged entries
D) Managing archival materials

View Answer

70. What is the primary function of the Library of Congress?
A) To lend books to the public
B) To preserve and catalog all published works in the United States
C) To archive digital resources
D) To manage university libraries

View Answer

71. What is the primary focus of collection development in libraries?

A) Organizing books by genre

B) Selecting, acquiring, and managing library materials
C) Maintaining library furniture
D) Publishing academic papers

View Answer

72. What is the purpose of a library catalog?

A) To increase book sales
B) To organize and provide information about library materials
C) To provide a list of events held in the library
D) To manage user accounts

View Answer

73. What is the ISBN used for?

A) Identifying journals
B) Identifying books and other publications
C) Cataloging periodicals
D) Managing library staff

View Answer

74. What does OPAC stand for in the context of libraries?

A) Online Public Access Catalog
B) Offline Periodical Access Center
C) Organizational Public Archive Collection
D) Online Periodical Access Catalog

View Answer

75. What is the primary responsibility of an acquisitions librarian?

A) Managing circulation
B) Ordering and receiving new library materials
C) Organizing book club meetings
D) Shelving books

View Answer

76. What is the significance of the term “open access” in academic publishing?

A) Books that are free for public borrowing
B) Digital materials freely available to the public
C) Free access to library events
D) Journals and research papers available without subscription fees

View Answer

77. What is the term for a library specifically designed to meet the needs of a university or college?

A) Public library
B) Academic library
C) Special library
D) National library

View Answer

78. What does MARC stand for in library cataloging?

A) Machine-Readable Cataloging
B) Manual Archive Record Control
C) Multi-Access Resource Catalog
D) Metadata and Archive Cataloging

View Answer

79. What is an information literacy program?

A) A program teaching patrons how to read
B) A program teaching users how to find, evaluate, and use information effectively
C) A system for cataloging books
D) A software program for managing library staff

View Answer

80. What is the term for a list of books or other materials recommended for reading?

A) Bibliography
B) Catalog
C) Index
D) Pathway

View Answer

81. What is a Boolean search in a library database?

A) A search that uses keywords combined with operators such as AND, OR, and NOT
B) A search that retrieves only physical books
C) A method for finding e-books
D) A way to search for periodicals

View Answer

82. What is the purpose of interlibrary loan services?

A) To borrow books between different sections of the same library
B) To share resources between different libraries
C) To manage archives
D) To organize library events

View Answer

83. What is the role of a circulation librarian?

A) To oversee the lending and returning of library materials
B) To catalog books
C) To manage special collections
D) To maintain the library’s physical infrastructure

View Answer

84. What does the acronym AACR stand for?

A) Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules
B) Automated Archive Collection Resource
C) Academic Access Catalog Reference
D) Annual Archive Cataloging Record

View Answer

85. What is the purpose of a thesaurus in library databases?

A) To find synonyms and related terms in a search
B) To organize book titles alphabetically
C) To classify books by genre
D) To create bibliographies

View Answer

86. What is the main function of a library OPAC system?

A) To provide patrons with digital reading materials
B) To allow patrons to search the library’s catalog and locate materials
C) To manage library staff schedules
D) To archive digital documents

View Answer

87. What is a retrospective conversion in libraries?

A) Converting printed materials into digital format
B) Converting older card catalogs into electronic format
C) Converting archives into microfilm
D) Rebinding old books

View Answer

88. What is a union catalog?

A) A catalog shared by multiple libraries
B) A catalog of rare books
C) A catalog of books from one specific library
D) A catalog of periodicals

View Answer

89. What is the term for the process of creating a unique identifier for an item in a library collection?

A) Cataloging
B) Archiving
C) Indexing
D) Classification

View Answer

90. What is the role of a library paraprofessional?

A) To assist professional librarians in daily operations
B) To manage digital archives
C) To oversee academic research
D) To develop library programs

View Answer

91. What does the term “accessioning” mean in library science?

A) The process of adding new materials to a library collection
B) Removing old materials from the collection
C) Converting materials into digital format
D) Organizing books by subject

View Answer

92. What is a controlled vocabulary in library indexing?

A) A standardized list of terms used for indexing and cataloging
B) A list of banned books
C) A software program for managing circulation
D) A database of user preferences

View Answer

93. What is a bookmobile?

A) A mobile vehicle that brings books to remote or underserved areas
B) A system for organizing books by genre
C) A new form of digital library software
D) A cataloging system for special collections

View Answer

94. What is the primary focus of information retrieval in libraries?

A) To collect historical documents
B) To locate and access relevant information based on a user’s query
C) To store digital books
D) To maintain library equipment

View Answer

95. What is the meaning of the term “reference service” in a library?

A) A service where librarians assist patrons in finding and using information
B) A lending service for rare books
C) A system for shelving periodicals
D) A program for organizing library events

View Answer

96. What is a “hybrid library”?

A) A library that combines both physical and digital resources
B) A library that operates between two institutions
C) A library that only offers digital books
D) A library that serves both public and private organizations

View Answer

97. What is the purpose of citation management software in libraries?

A) To help users organize and format their references for research
B) To catalog books
C) To manage library finances
D) To schedule library events

View Answer

98. What is a “finding aid” in the context of library archives?

A) A tool used to help researchers locate archival materials
B) A program for organizing book sales
C) A software for cataloging books
D) A system for shelving periodicals

View Answer

99. What is a circulation desk in a library?

A) The location where library materials are checked in and out
B) A study area for patrons
C) A cataloging station
D) A storage area for rare books

View Answer

100. What does “ILL” stand for in libraries?

A) Interlibrary Loan
B) International Library License
C) Internet Library Link
D) Institutional Library Lending

View Answer