ALLAMA IQBAL OPEN UNIVERSITY, ISLAMABAD

(Department of Library & Information Sciences)

WARNING

1. PLAGIARISM OR HIRING OF GHOST WRITER(S) FOR SOLVING THE ASSIGNMENT(S) WILL DEBAR THE STUDENT FROM AWARD OF DEGREE/CERTIFICATE, IF FOUND AT ANY STAGE.
2. SUBMITTING ASSIGNMENTS BORROWED OR STOLEN FROM OTHER(S) AS ONE’S OWN WILL BE PENALIZED AS DEFINED IN “AIOU PLAGIARISM POLICY”.

Course: Modern Information Retrieval Systems (9214)

Level: BS-LIS Semester: Spring, 2025

Please read the following instructions for writing your assignments. (AD, BS, B. Ed, MA/MSc, MEd) (ODL Mode).

1. All questions are compulsory and carry equal marks but within a question the marks are distributed according to its requirements.

2. Read the question carefully and then answer it according to the requirements of the questions.

3. Avoid irrelevant discussion/information and reproducing from books, study guide or allied material.

4. Handwritten scanned assignments are not acceptable.

5. Upload your typed (in Word or PDF format) assignments on or before the due date.

6. Your own analysis and synthesis will be appreciated.

7. Late assignments can’t be uploaded at LMS.

8. The students who attempt their assignments in Urdu/Arabic may upload a scanned copy of their handwritten assignments (in PDF format) on University LMS. The size of the file should not exceed 5MB.

Note 1: Use your own words while working on your assignment. In case of quoting any fact or statement from any source, always remember to provide full reference of the source according to “APA 6^th ed

available at: https://ijolis.aiou.edu.pk/?page_id=251.

Note 2: Students at this level are expected to use multiple sources in solving this assignment. All questions carry equal marks.

Note 3: Study guide of this course and links to free resources to solve this assignment are available at LIS Department website: https://lis.aiou.edu.pk/

Total Marks: 100 Pass Marks: 50

Assignment No. 1

(Units 1-5)

Q.1 What key elements should a well-designed information retrieval system include to efficiently manage bibliographic records? (20)

Q.2 What are the key advantages of expert involvement in creating metadata that meets international standards and how does accurate and detailed metadata enhance the discoverability of library resources? (10+10)

Q.3 What are the advantages and disadvantages of using the probabilistic retrieval model compared to the Boolean search model for complex queries? (20)

Q.4 Why is it important to consider user perspectives when revising controlled vocabularies and how can user feedback help identify gaps or inconsistencies in existing vocabularies? (20)

Q.5 What are the fundamental principles of user-centred design, and how can they be used to create an intuitive and efficient interface for information retrieval systems? (20)

Total Marks: 100 Pass Marks: 50

Assignment No. 2

(Units 6–9)

Q.1 What are some common challenges libraries face when adapting their search services for mobile platforms, and how can these challenges be addressed? (20)

Q.2 How can libraries effectively integrate AI-driven tools with their existing information retrieval systems to improve user experience and search accuracy? (20)

Q.3 In what ways can text mining improve the accuracy of search results and recommendations for library users and how can libraries use text mining to identify trends and emerging topics within digital collections? (20)

Q.4 What legal frameworks and data privacy regulations are relevant for digital libraries, and how do these frameworks impact the management and availability of digital resources, including issues related to user data protection and copyright compliance? (20)

Q.5 How can libraries and information professionals reduce biases in automated text mining tools to make sure the information they extract is fair and accurate? What can they do to keep these processes transparent and accountable? (20)