Preparation Manual

Domain I—Teaching, Learning and the School Library Environment

Competency 001—(Teaching and Learning in the School Library Program): The school librarian understands teaching and learning processes and promotes the integration of curriculum, resources and teaching strategies to ensure all students’ success as creators and users of ideas and information.

1. Each year, an elementary school librarian arranges for students to hear a local storyteller. This is most likely intended to develop students'

1. visual literacy.
2. discussion skills.
3. imaginative abilities.
4. reasoning skills.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option C is correct because a primary purpose of storytelling is enabling the listener to experience a story through imagination. Option A is incorrect because storytelling is oral. Option B is incorrect because discussion does not occur during storytelling. Option D is incorrect because reasoning requires students to apply logic to form conclusions. This skill would not be developed by listening to a storyteller.

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2. Which of the following themes is most commonly found in realistic contemporary fiction for middle school students?

1. Survival
2. The struggle between good and evil
3. Overcoming obstacles
4. Coming of age

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct because most popular books for children and adolescents are about struggling toward adulthood. Options A through C are incorrect because these themes, although sometimes present, are not the most commonly found in fiction for middle school students.

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3. A school library benefits by participation in a consortium by

1. gaining access to a union catalog.
2. increasing the availability of items for interlibrary loan.
3. increasing access to technical support for library management software.
4. sharing the expense of a large purchase.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct because the individual budget of a school library may not support the purchase of an expensive service, such as an online database. Libraries belonging to a consortium have increased buying power. Options A and B are incorrect because a library does not need to belong to a consortium to have access to the services described. Option C is incorrect because the amount of technical support offered is determined by the vendors of individual products.

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4. A librarian knows that a seventh-grade science class will soon begin a unit on forensics. The best way for the librarian to establish a collaborative relationship with the science teacher is to

1. work with the teacher to plan lessons that integrate information literacy skills.
2. require the teacher to meet after school a few weeks prior to the unit to plan lessons.
3. schedule all the instruction related to the forensics unit to occur in the library.
4. plan several lessons about forensics and then present them to the teacher.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option A is correct because the teacher and the librarian each contribute their expertise in planning the lesson. Option B is incorrect because a librarian cannot require a teacher to meet outside school hours. Option C is incorrect because much of the unit can effectively be taught in the classroom, with library use integrated when appropriate. Option D is incorrect because acting independently to plan lessons is not an example of collaboration.

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5. Which of the following is the best way for a school librarian to inform the principal of the activities going on in the library?

1. Supply the principal with the daily circulation records
2. Provide a monthly report showing collaborative lessons that have taken place in the library
3. Post the library's daily schedule on the school website
4. Schedule periodic meetings with the principal to review library needs

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct because to determine the effectiveness of the library program, a principal must know the extent to which the program is serving the information needs of students and staff. Options A and C are incorrect because they would not provide any information a principal is likely to find meaningful. Option D is incorrect because it does not serve to inform the principal of library activities.

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Competency 002—(Library Environment): The school librarian establishes a library environment that enables and encourages all members of the learning community to explore and meet their information needs.

6. Which of the following practices restricts students' access to information?

1. Putting items on overnight loan when demand is high
2. Creating separate grade-level collections
3. Purchasing the majority of new items at the reading level of the students in the school
4. Requiring students to present library cards to check out items

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct because labeling items by grade level restricts their use for students in grade levels above and below. Option A is incorrect because limiting circulation is occasionally necessary to ensure the availability of materials. Option C is incorrect because it is reasonable for a school library to align its collection to the grade levels of its users. Option D is incorrect because the use of library cards is necessary for keeping track of library materials and does not limit students’ access.

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7. Which of the following is the best argument for extending a school library's hours to include hours before and after school?

1. Students will be able to choose reading materials without teacher guidance.
2. Students will have more items available for checkout.
3. Students will have greater Internet access because filters will be turned off.
4. Students will be able to access information at their point of need.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct because longer hours will allow students increased access to the materials in the library. Options A and B are incorrect because students can both access all materials and select materials without guidance during regular school hours. Option C is incorrect because computer filtering systems are not turned on and off according to school hours.

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8. A school librarian has limited display space in the library classroom. To use the display space most effectively, the librarian should display

1. posters featuring celebrities who read for pleasure.
2. materials produced by students in library classes.
3. flyers promoting activities in the public library.
4. the jackets of newly purchased books.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct because the display area is not in the library, but in the library classroom where it is both meaningful and appropriate to display the work of students and their peers. Options A, C and D are incorrect because they are more appropriate displays for the library itself since they serve to promote reading and the reading materials available in the library.

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9. Mr. Jacobsen, a middle school librarian, discovers that the principal has assigned him to after-school bus duty. The librarian's best response to this duty assignment is to

1. accept that all teachers are rotated in and out of duties and it is his turn.
2. go to bus duty on afternoons he can leave the library.
3. find a faculty member willing to switch duty assignments with him.
4. discuss with the principal the benefits of his being in the library after school.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct because it considers that the principal does not realize that the librarian is needed in the library after school and provides the opportunity for the librarian to be assigned another duty. Option A is incorrect because it reduces users’ access to the library. Option B is incorrect because it would leave students unattended at the buses. Option C is incorrect because duty assignments are made by the principal, not by agreement between teachers.

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10. Which of the following actions is most likely to preserve and extend the life of the print materials in a library?

1. Storing print materials in stacks near a window to allow for the circulation of air
2. Placing print materials on their sides to relieve weight on their spines
3. Covering collections of works not in use with plastic sheeting
4. Maintaining consistent levels of humidity and temperature

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct because fluctuations in temperature and humidity are damaging to print materials. Option A is incorrect because light accelerates the deterioration of paper, and proximity to outside airflow will result in fluctuations of temperature and humidity. Option B is incorrect because the weight of stacked volumes compresses the books’ spines and pages. Option C is incorrect because plastic sheeting may trap moisture, encouraging warping, mold formation, and insect infestation.

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Domain II—Program Management, Leadership and Connections to the Community

Competency 003—(Library Program Management): The school librarian understands library program management and acquires, organizes and manages resources.

11. Each year a school librarian receives a budget detailing the amount of money to be spent in each of several areas. Which of the following would be the most appropriate way for the library media specialist to spend the funds allocated for new books?

1. Divide the funds equally among each grade level
2. Divide the funds equally among the Dewey categories
3. Ask the staff and students to submit titles they would like added to the library
4. Follow a collection development plan based on the library's goals and needs

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct because the purpose of a collection development plan is to guide the growth and management of the library collection by providing a framework for the librarian to spend library funds. Options A and B are incorrect because a collection is developed by identified need, which is not always equal grade to grade, or among the Dewey categories. Option C is incorrect because input from users is one aspect of the collection development policy.

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12. A private school has donated its library collection to the public school library. Which of the following is the school librarian’s most important task after acquiring the collection?

1. Weeding the collection
2. Changing the bar codes and ownership marks
3. Cataloging the donated books
4. Adding the new items to the inventory

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option A is correct because weeding the collection will eliminate the need to mark, catalog and inventory books that will not become part of the school library's collection. Options B through D are incorrect because these will not be done if the book does not become a part of the school library's collection.

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13. A consultant holding a teacher workshop asks the school librarian if she can use a computer in the library to check her email. Which of the following policies will be most helpful to the librarian in responding to the request?

1. Selection
2. Acceptable use
3. Code of conduct
4. Equitable access

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct because acceptable use policies provide guidelines for the use of a district’s technology and would address individual's access to personal email in school. Option A is incorrect because selection policies provide guidelines for the development of the library collection. Option C is incorrect because the code of conduct regulates student behavior. Option D is incorrect because an equitable access policy guarantees equal access to all users to the library's materials, programs and services.

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14. A teacher brings a class to the library to select recreational reading books. While students browse, the teacher sits in the reference section and marks papers. After selecting their books, some students begin joking with each other and socializing loudly. Which of the following is the librarian’s best response to the situation?

1. Asking the teacher to supervise the class
2. Telling the teacher that the students have selected their books and are ready to leave the library
3. Distracting the disruptive students by having them help at the circulation desk
4. Redirecting the students by reminding them of appropriate library behavior

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct because the librarian is a professional educator and is capable of applying the principles of classroom management. Options A and B are incorrect because although the responsibility is often shared with teachers, the librarian is the primary manager of student behavior in the library. The librarian can redirect the students without teacher help or without asking the class to leave the library. Option C is incorrect because the students' purpose in the library is to select and read their books, not to serve as library helpers.

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Competency 004—(Library Program Leadership and Connections to the Community): The school librarian exhibits library program leadership and collaborates within the school and community to promote the success of all students.

15. A school librarian holds a Bluebonnet Breakfast Club where once a week a Bluebonnet book is read aloud. The librarian could best use this activity to build relations with the community by

1. asking local businesses to donate money for refreshments.
2. opening the club to parents and teachers.
3. including information about the activity in the school newsletter.
4. inviting community leaders to be guest readers.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct because inviting community members to participate would serve the purpose of involving them in the school library program in a positive way. Option A is incorrect because it makes use of community resources but does not involve the community. Option B is incorrect because it involves only parents and teachers. Option C is incorrect because community members would not have access to the school newsletter.

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16. The best way for a new library media specialist to connect with the greater community would be to

1. welcome parent volunteers into the library.
2. host a family reading night to be held in the library.
3. solicit donations from corporations within the community.
4. open the library to the public during school hours.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct because it allows the school librarian to meet community members and showcase the library's resources. Option A is incorrect because it will form connections with only those parents who are available to volunteer. Option C is incorrect because it will form connections with only those groups able to provide donations. Option D is incorrect because opening the school building to the public would pose a security risk to students and staff.

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17. Which of the following activities will be most effective in raising awareness for the school library’s programs and services in both the school community and the greater community?

1. Holding an open house in the library showcasing the available resources and services
2. Running an advertisement in the local community newspaper
3. Announcing new materials and services at monthly faculty meetings
4. Hosting an assembly with a visiting author that is open to the public

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option A is correct because an open house exposes a large number and variety of people to the resources, programs and services of the library. Option B is incorrect because it would be an expenditure of funds difficult to justify. Options C and D are incorrect because they would do little to raise awareness outside of a limited group of people.

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18. Which of the following is the most important purpose of the statistics gathered by a school librarian?

1. Managing the internal workings of the library
2. Confirming the value of the provided services
3. Promoting library services to different user groups
4. Forming long-term strategic plans

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct because the overarching purpose of gathering statistics is demonstrating the value of the library's resources, programs, and services to the school and greater communities. Options A, C and D are incorrect because while statistics may be one of several factors used in managing the library, reaching different user groups, or forming long-term plans, none of these actions is their primary purpose.

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Domain III—Librarianship, Information Science and Technology

Competency 005—(Librarianship and Information Science): The school librarian applies knowledge of librarianship and information science to help the school community locate, evaluate and use information to solve problems and to encourage lifelong reading and learning.

19. The athletic coach in a high school seeks advice from the school librarian about how to legally and ethically incorporate a professional team logo into the athletic department's Web page. The librarian's most appropriate response to the coach is to

1. use the logo freely since the school is an educational institution.
2. change the logo slightly so it will no longer be subject to copyright law.
3. include a sentence of thanks to the professional teams for the use of their logo.
4. consider creating their own logo or selecting one from a copyright-free website instead.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct because it is unlikely a professional team would grant the use of their logo to a school team, and there is no legal way to use the logo without the team’s permission. Option A is incorrect because team logos are copyrighted and cannot be used without permission. Option B is incorrect because, although possibly legal, it is not an ethical practice and shows little understanding of the purpose of copyright in safeguarding the artist’s creative property. Option C is incorrect because a sentence of thanks does not protect the copyright owner's rights.

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20. Which of the following will be most helpful to a library technician whose job is to enter bibliographic and descriptive data into the library's computerized catalog system?

1. The work's title page
2. AACR2
3. CIP
4. Sears List of Subject Headings

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option C is correct because Cataloging in Publication (CIP) is a prepared bibliographic record containing most of the information needed to enter data into a catalog system. Option A is incorrect because the work's title page is helpful for doing original cataloging, which is done by the professional librarian. Option B is incorrect because AACR2 is a guide for descriptive cataloging only. Option D is incorrect because Sears is a guide for subject cataloging only.

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21. A group of parents object to the inclusion of stories about ghosts and other supernatural topics in a middle school library. Which of the following documents will be most helpful to the librarian when responding to the parents’ complaint?

1. A summary of the language arts curriculum
2. The library’s materials selection policy
3. The school’s position statement on intellectual freedom
4. Code of Ethics of the ALA

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct because a policy for the selection of materials in the school library exists to explain and support which materials are included in the collection. Options A, C and D are incorrect because they do not provide guidance for the development of the school library collection.

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22. In databases and other reference resources, controlled vocabulary is used to

1. return the most recent search results first.
2. allow the user to search using Boolean operators.
3. make searching more efficient.
4. keep cataloging records consistent.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option C is correct because searching a resource using terms chosen by the author and recognized by the database returns focused and precise results. Option A is incorrect because controlled vocabulary is not related to the chronology of the returned results. Option B is incorrect because controlled vocabulary is not required to use Boolean searching. Option D is incorrect because controlled vocabulary does not relate to the process of cataloging.

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23. In which of the following selection tools will a school librarian find only recommended items?

1. School Library Journal
2. Booklist
3. American Libraries
4. The Horn Book Magazine

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct because Booklist publishes only recommended items. Options A and D are incorrect because both School Library Journal and The Horn Book Magazine publish both positive and negative reviews. Option C is incorrect because American Libraries does not publish reviews.

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24. A teacher consults the school librarian about showing her class a program taped from a commercial television network. Under which of the following conditions is it legal for the teacher to show the video?

1. If students have a signed permission form allowing them to view the program
2. If the subject matter of the program is part of the curriculum presently taught
3. If the program is used for face-to-face instruction and kept for a limited amount of time thereafter
4. If the teacher has previewed the program for appropriateness

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option C is correct because under most circumstances, using a taped television program for face-to-face instruction for a limited amount of time is considered fair use. Options A, B and D are incorrect because they do not serve the purpose of copyright law — the protection of the creator's intellectual property.

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25. Under usual circumstances, the bulk of a school library budget is spent on

1. reference books.
2. newly published works.
3. subscriptions.
4. replacements for lost or damaged items.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct because the bulk of a library's budget is used to add new materials to the collection, and the majority of new materials will be those newly published. Options A, C and D are incorrect because under usual circumstances, those areas of the collection make up a small portion of the yearly purchases.

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26. Which of the following is the primary purpose of conducting an inventory of a library collection?

1. Gathering data on rates of loss
2. Noting items that need repair or replacement
3. Ensuring the accuracy of the library catalog records
4. Returning misshelved items to their proper place

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option C is correct because the primary purpose of an inventory is to ensure that catalog records accurately reflect the library's holdings by bringing to light inconsistencies between actual holdings and the library's official records. Options A, B and D are incorrect because they are actions that result from an inventory, not the purpose of an inventory.

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Competency 006—(Information Access and Technology): The school librarian uses and integrates technology telecommunications and information systems to enrich the curriculum, enhance learning and promote the success of the school community.

27. MARC records are helpful in organizing the resources in a library because they

1. indicate how items are to be arranged on the shelves.
2. provide information about the appropriateness of items.
3. streamline technical services for most libraries.
4. enable many types of statistical analysis.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option C is correct because MARC records provide information such as classification numbers and subject headings that help prepare items for circulation. Option A is incorrect because, although MARC records may indicate how the items are sequenced, they do not determine how individual libraries arrange their shelves. Options B and D are incorrect because MARC records do not provide that information.

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28. A high school student tells the school librarian that his English teacher has given him an assignment on Shakespeare. Which of the following is the first question the librarian should ask the student?

1. What type of assignment are you working on?
2. Which Shakespearean work are you researching?
3. Have you gathered any information so far?
4. Do you know how to access electronic databases?

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option A is correct because knowing the breadth and depth of the assignment will help the librarian determine the appropriate materials and level of support the student will need. Option B is incorrect because the student might be doing biographical research, not literary criticism of a specific play. Options C and D are incorrect because the answers to both questions might be valuable later in the reference interview, but they would not be the first question asked.

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29. A school librarian is teaching a lesson on Boolean operators. Some students are having trouble visualizing the concept. Which of the following representations will be most helpful to these students?

1. Spider web
2. Venn diagram
3. Flowchart
4. T-chart

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct because a Venn diagram is used to depict all possible logical relations between sets, which form the basis of Boolean logic. Option A is incorrect because a spider web is used to cluster details or characteristics around a main topic. Option C is incorrect because a flowchart shows the sequence of a process. Option D is incorrect because a T-chart is used to compare and contrast.

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30. A student researching famous artists typed art*asterik in the search box. The search returned an overwhelming number of results, most of which are unrelated to the topic. The student is most likely to benefit by additional instruction in

1. understanding truncation.
2. using Boolean operators to broaden a search.
3. selecting the appropriate database.
4. searching using keywords.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option A is correct because the student does not understand how to use truncation to both expand and limit results. Option B is incorrect because the overwhelming number of hits is not a result of misunderstanding Boolean operators. Option C is incorrect because there is no indication which database the student has chosen. Option D is incorrect because the overwhelming number of hits is not the result of misunderstanding keywords.

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31. Including a link to the library's online catalog on the school website increases users' access to resources. However, allowing public access to the library catalog may also lead to an increase in

1. overdue materials.
2. network problems.
3. viruses.
4. book challenges.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct because allowing public access opens the school library collection to scrutiny from a greater number of people. Option A is incorrect because there is no correlation between availability of a catalog and overdue materials. Options B and C are incorrect because online catalogs allow users to view and, in some cases, to have limited interaction with the catalog, not to enter its operating system.

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32. A group of teachers from San Antonio have instituted a motivational program that has increased and improved communication between teachers and parents of at-risk students. A principal at a school in Amarillo would like staff members to meet with those teachers and gain insight from their experience and has asked the school librarian for suggestions. The librarian’s best suggestion is to

1. have the participants speak to each other using a video calling service.
2. ask the San Antonio staff to put together a multimedia presentation.
3. arrange for a teleconference with all participants.
4. send representative staff to Amarillo.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option C is correct because teleconferencing results is the greatest and most natural communication between groups of people in different locations. Option A is incorrect because it is appropriate for one-on-one conversation but would not allow the groups to interact with each other freely. Option B is incorrect because it does not allow interaction between the two groups of teachers. Option D is incorrect because it is likely to be cost prohibitive.

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33. A school librarian is completing a request by the principal to receive a periodical through interlibrary loan. Which of the following steps in the interlibrary loan process is the principal responsible for?

1. Supplying information sufficient to identify the periodical
2. Placing the request with the lending library
3. Deciding when the periodical is due back to the lending library
4. Arranging for the return of the periodical to the lending library

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option A is correct because an interlibrary loan cannot be processed without the data necessary to identify the requested item. Options B and D are incorrect because they are the responsibility of the borrowing library. Option C is incorrect because it is the responsibility of the lending library.

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34. Which of the following is the primary advantage of a school library using an online circulation and cataloging system?

1. A certified librarian is no longer needed to manage the library.
2. Users may manage their accounts remotely.
3. Users’ circulation history may be accessed.
4. The technical staff is free to do other tasks.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option B is correct because an automated system can be networked to allow users remote access for browsing the catalog and managing their accounts. Option A is incorrect because a professional librarian performs many duties unrelated to the library management system. Option C is incorrect because the general practice is to keep circulation records for the shortest amount of time to protect users’ privacy. Option D is incorrect because this is not the primary advantage of using these systems.

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35. A librarian should consult the licensing agreement that accompanies a new software program or application to determine

1. the terms of its warranty.
2. the hardware needed for its operation.
3. its grade level and content.
4. its legal use.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Option D is correct because a licensing agreement is a legal contract between a software author or publisher and the end user of the software. It obligates the end user to comply with any use restrictions stated in the agreement. Option A is incorrect because a warranty is a written guarantee, issued to a consumer by a manufacturer that outlines the procedures for repairing or replacing a product. Options B and C are incorrect because hardware requirements, grade levels, and content areas are included in product descriptions, not licensing agreements.

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