If the Library Management System must support inter-library loans (borrowing books from other branches), which design change best supports this feature without compromising existing loan and reservation logic?

hard🎤 Interviewer Follow-up Q10 of Q15

OOP & Design Patterns - Design a Library Management System - LLD with Relationships & Edge Cases

AMerge all branch inventories into a single global catalog and ignore branch distinctions

BExtend the LoanManager to handle cross-branch loans with additional status and routing logic

CCreate a separate InterLibraryLoanManager that operates independently from branch LoanManagers

DAllow users to directly borrow from any branch without updating the local LoanManager

Step-by-Step Solution

Solution:

Step 1: Identify integration needs for inter-library loans
Inter-library loans require coordination between branches but must integrate with existing loan and reservation logic.
Step 2: Extend existing LoanManager functionality
Adding cross-branch handling within LoanManager maintains consistency and reuses existing logic.
Step 3: Reject global catalog and independent managers
Merging inventories loses branch-specific info; separate managers risk inconsistent state.
Step 4: Reject direct borrowing without updates
Bypassing LoanManager breaks tracking and reservation correctness.
Final Answer:
Option B -> Option B
Quick Check:
Extending LoanManager supports inter-library loans cleanly [OK]

Quick Trick: Integrate inter-library loans into LoanManager [OK]

Common Mistakes:

MISTAKES

Ignoring branch distinctions in global catalog
Creating isolated managers causing inconsistency
Bypassing loan tracking for cross-branch loans

Trap Explanation:

PITFALL

Candidates may pick isolated or naive solutions ignoring system-wide consistency.

Interviewer Note:

CONTEXT

Tests ability to extend complex systems without breaking existing logic.

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If the Library Management System must support inter-library loans (borrowing books from other branches), which design change best supports this feature without compromising existing loan and reservation logic?

Step 1: Identify integration needs for inter-library loans

Step 2: Extend existing LoanManager functionality

Step 3: Reject global catalog and independent managers

Step 4: Reject direct borrowing without updates

Final Answer:

Quick Check:

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