Glossary of Library Terms
- ABRIDGED
- A shortened version of a book, document, etc.
- ABSTRACT
- An objective summary of an article, book, or other written publication.
- ACE
- The web version of the computerized card catalog, introduced in Summer 2000.
- ACRONYM
- A word formed from the initial letters of a series of words. (e.g., IEEE is an acronym for Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).
- ALMANAC
- An annual publication containing useful facts and statistical data.
- ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
- A bibliography in which each citation is followed by an annotation containing a brief descriptive and/or evaluative summary, synopsis, or abstract.
- ANNOTATION
- A brief, critical or evaluative summary of the content of an article accompanied by a bibliographic citation.
- ANNUAL
- A yearly publication.
- ANTHOLOGY
- A collection of published works (poems, plays, essays, etc.) by one or more authors.
- ATLAS
- A book of maps.
- AUDIO VISUAL MATERIALS
- Library materials in non-print form, such as audio cassettes, video cassettes, compact discs, filmstrips, and phonograph records.
- BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION
- The information which identifies a book or article. It may include the author, title of the article, title of the periodical, volume, pages, and date.
- BIBLIOGRAPHY
- A listing of bibliographic citations to books, articles, and other materials that are related to a topic; usually found at the end of the book or article.
- BOOK REVIEW
- An evaluation of a book, usually published in a periodical or newspaper.
- BOOLEAN LOGIC
- Use of operators AND, OR, NOT to combine search terms (see KEYWORDS/KEYWORD SEARCHING) .
- BOUND PERIODICAL
- Issues of a periodical grouped by year and collected together in hardcover to preserve for long-term use. Bound periodicals are located with the books in the library. (See PERIODICALS).
- CALL NUMBER
- Letters and numbers arranged in combination and assigned to a book to indicate its location in the library. Systems organized by subject include: Dewey Decimal; Superintendent of Documents and Library of Congress. UE uses the Library of Congress System.
- CD-ROM
- (Compact Disc Read-Only-Memory). Storage of information on a compact disc. CD products include periodical indexes, images of newspapers, magazines and census statistics.
- CIRCULATING MATERIALS
- Any library materials which can be checked out of the library. (Some materials do not circulate; i.e., periodicals and reference materials).
- CITATION
- (See BIBLIOGRAPHIC CITATION).
- CURRENT PERIODICAL(S)
- Recent, unbound journals or magazines that are located in a special area marked "Current Periodicals". (See PERIODICALS, BOUND PERIODICAL).
- DISSERTATION
- Publication reporting original research that is a requirement for a Ph.D. degree.
- DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM
- Most school and public libraries use this system. Call numbers begin with numbers. (See CALL NUMBER).
- HOLD
- A HOLD guarantees that when a book is returned to the Circulation desk it will be kept for you. A request can be made electronically from ACE.
- ILL
- INTER-LIBRARY LOAN is the department responsible for obtaining materials not available at UE.
- INDEX
- A reference tool used to identify citations to library materials. There are indexes to help you identify periodical articles, newspaper articles and books. Indexes may be in print or electronic format.
- INTERNET
- An electronic network providing access to millions of resources worldwide. University Libraries provide access to many periodical indexes through the Internet. Internet access is available on all floors of the Libraries.
- JOURNAL
- (See PERIODICALS).
- KEYWORDS/KEYWORD SEARCHING
- The most significant words in a topic, book or article title, etc. Keywords are used as terms when searching databases.
- LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUBJECT HEADINGS (LCSH)
- Terms used by the Library of Congress to describe and classify areas of knowledge, listed in a four volume set of books located near the public service Help desks.
- LOAN PERIOD
- The length of time allowed for the use of an item checked out of the library.
- MAGAZINE
- (See PERIODICALS).
- MEDIA
- (See AUDIO-VISUAL MATERIAL).
- MICROFORM
- Printed items which have been reduced in size by photographic methods. The types are: FICHE, FILM & CARD and are located on the 1st floor of Bower-Suhrheinrich Library.
- MONOGRAPH
- A book.
- NETWORK
- Connection between two or more computers which allows them to share the same software and information.
- NON-CIRCULATING MATERIALS
- Items that must be used in the library, i.e., reference books, periodicals and some reserve materials.
- ONLINE CATALOG
- (See ACE).
- ONLINE DATABASE
- A computerized file, often of periodical indexes.
- OVERDUE MATERIALS
- Items not returned to the library by the due date.
- OVERSIZE
- A book too large to fit in its normal shelf space and therefore placed in a designated area marked "OVERSIZE".
- PERIODICAL INDEX
- (See INDEX).
- PERIODICALS
- Publications issued at regular intervals of less than a year.
A SCHOLARLY JOURNAL usually contains articles on research and development, news, proceedings, or transactions in a particular field.
A MAGAZINE contains news stories or articles on various subjects and written for a general audience.
A TRADE JOURNAL is published for particular business/industry. Typically includes a great deal of advertising. Often the subscription is free. Subscriptions to association journals are usually included in the price of the association membership.
- RECALL
- The request that a book already checked out be returned to the library prior to its due date.
- REFERENCE COLLECTION
- Non-circulating current or heavily used books containing key sources of information. Many are shelved in the reference areas on the first floor of Bower-Suhrheinrich Library.
- RENEW
- To extend the due date for a book.
- RESERVE MATERIALS
- A selection of specific books, periodical articles, and other materials which faculty require students to read for a particular course. These materials are set aside for short term use in the library and are available at the Reserve desk.
- SCHOLARLY JOURNAL
- (See PERIODICALS).
- SERIAL
- (See PERIODICALS).
- STACKS
- Book shelves containing the principal book collection of the library. These are open for browsing.
- SUBJECT HEADINGS
- Terms used to describe and classify areas of knowledge. ACE uses Library of Congress subject headings. (See ACE).
- THESIS/THESES
- Publication(s) reporting original research that are a requirement for a Masters Degree.
- TRADE JOURNAL
- (See PERIODICALS)
- UNIVERSITY OF EVANSVILLE LIBRARIES HOME PAGE
- The University of Evansville Libraries maintain a Home Page on the World Wide Web. The Internet address (URL) is: http://libraries.evansville.edu/. From this page students and faculty may log on to ACE to find a book or journal, locate information about the Libraries, request items through Interlibrary Loan (ILL), and search the World Wide Web.
- WWW
- An acronym which stands for "World Wide Web".
Adapted with permission from http://www.lib.vt.edu/research/libinst/glossary.html on 11 July 2002.
Last update: 11 Feb 05
