GLOSSARY OF LIBRARY JARGON
AV – Audio-Visual –refers to audio cassettes, video cassettes, CD’s, DVD’s,
streaming video, MP3’s and any other recording that is either audio or visual or
both. Other A/V materials include filmstrips, slides, LP’s, flannel graphs,
overhead transparencies and other teaching aides that were visual or aural in
nature.
Abstract – An abstract is a summary of the important points of a text. In the
context of library research “Abstracts” generally refers to periodical indexing
tools that provide a citation to an article as well as an abstract, that is a
summary of the article. For instance New Testament Abstracts, ERIC and
America: History & Life are all abstracting services that simply can be referred
to as “Abstracts”.
Advanced Search – Develop your own search criteria on a fill-in form. Words or
phrases may be combined, expanded or restricted through Boolean operators
such as "and", "or", "not as well as the application of additional limiting options
like publication date, language, material type.
Annual – a work published once a year, every year designed to bring up-to-date a
major work of reference like an encyclopedia.
APA – American Psychological Association. In the context of writing term papers,
APA refers to the style manual prepared by this association for publications in
this field and is used by many in the social sciences.
Archive Article – A literary composition making up parts of a journal, magazine,
encyclopædia, or other collection, but treating a specific topic distinctly and
independently. In the context of library research particularly when
indexes/abstracts are being discussed, the use of the term “articles” is
generally referring to those found in journals and magazines.
Audio/Sound – resources in an aural medium such as musical, spoken, books on
tape, LP’s, CD’s, audio cassettes, and sound files like MP3 generally exclusive of
visuals such as VHS and DVD’s.
Authentication - A security process that typically employs usernames and
passwords to validate the identity of users before allowing them access to
certain information. Using library databases from off campus often requires
authentication.
Basic Search – The usual default search option for most online search engines.
It provides for a single search string with minimal limiting options. See also
Advanced Search
Bibliographic information – The systematic description and history of books,
their authorship, printing, publication, editions, etc.; information about books
and other published materials. The information provided by libraries in their
catalogs describing their collections.
Bibliographic research – Research of or pertaining to the written word.
Bibliography – A list of the books, articles or other literary compositions of a
particular author, printer, or country, or of those dealing with any particular
theme; the literature of a subject. An alphabetic listing of all sources used in a
research paper; distinct from Reference List and NOTES.
Binary logic – used in set theory to study sets. See Boolean logic
Book – a set of pages fastened along one side and encased between protective
covers. “Books” is sometimes used to refer to all the resources contained in a
library even though many of those items are not actually books. See also ebooks.
Boolean logic - The use of AND, OR and NOT applied to retrieving documents
from an online database. Any variable that can have a logical value of true or
false; works with logical rather than numeric relationships. Named for Dr.
Boole who was a mathematician that developed a notational system for
algebraic manipulation of sets which included the use of AND, OR, and NOT as
logical operators.
AND = “both”; “all of these”; each record retrieved must contain all of the
search terms.
OR = “either”; “any of these”; each record retrieved must contain at least
one of the search terms.
NOT = “no”; eliminates records with the term indicated.
Browser - A software program that retrieves and displays content from the World
Wide Web. Some examples of browsers are Firefox, Safari, Chrome, and
Internet Explorer.
Call Number – the address of an item indicating it’s location within the library.
The call number is comprised of the Dewey Decimal number, the Cutter number
and often a date or a volume number or even a copy number. Each Dewey
Decimal number represents a specific area of knowledge. The Cutter number, a
letter/number/letter combination below the Dewey Decimal number, further
identifies the work by the author's surname and the title.
Chat – see Instant Messaging
Check for Full-Text – an online journal link resolver that allows the user to link
from an abstract or citation in an online index to the library's periodical holdings
list of full-text and print journals. From there, you may link directly to the
journal, the article or to the print holdings record in the library catalog. In the
event the library does not have the journal in question, Check for Full-Text also
provides a link to the interlibrary loan service.
Chicago style – A style manual produced by the University of Chicago for the
preparation of dissertations. See also Turabian.
Circulation Clerk – library employees (usually students) whose primary
responsibility is to work at the circulation desk assist patrons by checking
materials in and out and collecting fines and fees.
Circulation Desk – the place in the library from which all materials are checked
in/out including Reserve materials. Contact information: 800-568-6248 ext.
3420 or 661-259-3540 ext. 3420.
Citation – a reference to a book, passage, article, etc., where certain information
may be found. A citation to a book contains the author, title of the work,
publisher, date and page numbers. A citation to an article contains the author,
title of the article, journal title, volume, issue, date, and page numbers.
Citations to online resources generally also require information about the
electronic source like the name of the database or provider, the URL and the
date accessed. The form of the citation (position of data, punctuation, location
within the document, etc) depends on the style being used (APA, MLA, Chicago,
Turabian, CBE, etc).
Controlled Vocabulary – a collection of controlled headings which consists of all
acceptable terms that will provide direct access to records; unacceptable terms
will be cross-referenced to the acceptable ones. Library of Congress Subject
Headings is a controlled vocabulary.
Copyright – one of four types of intellectual property protected by federal law in
the U.S. giving copyright owners the exclusive right to duplication
(reproduction), distribution, derivation, display, and public performance
(directly, digitally or by telecommunications). Many other countries also have
copyright laws. See Copyright for Higher Education for more information
Course Reserves - Reserved materials consist of books, videos, DVD’s, audio
cassettes or any other items a professor wishes to make available to an entire
class for a whole semester or a portion of the semester. These select materials
are located behind the circulation desk and have unique circulation
requirements. Go to Library Services Course Reserves on the Library’s Web
site for more details on policy and procedure for using this service.
Credo - An online reference library that provides access to softcopy reference
books including encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri and books of quotations.
CSE – Council of Science Editors. In the context of writing term papers, CSE
refers the style manual used in preparation of research papers intended for
publication in the field of Biology and other sciences.
Cutter number – an alphanumeric system devised by C. A. Cutter to represent
personal names. It is used by libraries to subdivide works within the same
class by the author's surname and the title of the work. For example, the
Cutter number for John MacArthur’s book entitled “The Book on Leadership” is
M118b. M118 is the numeric value given to the name MacArthur and “b”
represents the first word of the title "Book" (“A”, “An” and “The” in any
language are never considered when they are the first word in a title).
Database – A collection of information stored in an electronic format that can be
searched by a computer. (search engine)
Default – used in computing to refer to a preselected option adopted by the
computer when no alternative is specified by the user.
Descriptor - A word that describes the subject of an article or book and used in
many computer databases.
Dewey Decimal Classification System (DDC) – a hierarchical structure of
classifying all areas of knowledge utilizing a numerical notation with the
broadest classes represented by 000 to 900. For more information on how the
DDC works select “About the Library” on the library Web site and scroll down to
Main Book Collection. The TMC Library uses the DDC for arranging its materials
with these exceptions: periodicals, which are shelved alphabetically; vertical
file materials, which are shelved by LC Subject; TMC chapel tapes which are
arranged according to their dates of presentation (for example TMCC880529 =
year/month/day respectively). For an outline of the DDC go to Summaries
Dissertation - An extended written treatment of a subject (like a book) submitted
by a graduate student as a requirement for a doctorate.
Document Delivery - A service that retrieves or photocopies information sources
for library users. Some libraries restrict document delivery services to distance
education students, faculty members, or graduate students.
Download - To transfer information from one computer or system on a network
to another computer or storage device.
eBook - a book whose text is available in an electronic format for reading on a
hand-held electronic device or on a computer screen; (occas.) a book whose
text is available only or primarily on the Internet. [a proprietary name in the
United States and (in the plural) in the United Kingdom.]
Editor - A person or group responsible for compiling the writings of others into a
single information source.
eIndex – electronic indexes; indexes that are in electronic form like an online
database.
eJournal – electronic magazines, journals, newspapers available through the
public Internet as distinct from those obtained through subscription online
databases. This distinction per the library Web site is not necessarily
universally recognized.
Encyclopedia - A work containing information on all branches of knowledge or
treating comprehensively a particular branch of knowledge (such as history or
chemistry). Often has entries or articles arranged alphabetically.
Endnotes – consecutively numbered abbreviated citations placed at the end of
each chapter of a research paper instead of footnotes or parenthetical
references. Endnotes are listed numerically in the back matter under the
heading NOTES.
eReference – electronic reference books (full-text) as found in Oxford Reference,
xRefer and other databases.
Essay – A composition of moderate length on any subject where coverage of the
topic is not complete or is limited in range.
Field search - A set of one or more characters in a record, which together
represent a single item of information. When searching in an online
environment, these fields can be designated by the user in order to narrow the
focus of the search. For example, in a bibliographic record the title, author and
subject fields contain the title of a work, the author of the work and the subject
heading assign to the work respectively. Examples of fields on a Web site
include the URL, domain, site field, page title, country, file format, date last
modified, image and language.
Footnotes – A citation, note or comment inserted at the foot of the text.
Footnotes become the bibliography at the end of the work.
Full Text – the complete text of a document contained in an online database;
often refers to an article that is available in an online indexing tool.
Hard Copy – the traditional published form of a literary composition printed on
paper such as a book or periodical in contrast to the electronic (full-text)
version of the same material.
Hold – the means by which patrons may put themselves on a waiting list for an
item that is checked out. When the item is returned it is held at the circulation
desk for the person on the waiting list.
HTML - Hypertext Markup Language. The computer language used to create
documents on the World Wide Web so that they are readable by Web browsers.
Icon - A small symbol on a computer screen that represents a computer operation
or data file.
Image/Video –generally speaking refers to visual materials exclusive of sound
such as pictures; filmstrips, slides, photographs, .jpg files; .gif files; MPG files,
AVG files. However, in the context of the library Web site refers to databases
that index visual files that may also contain sound such as videos, DVD’s,
image files, photos, charts, drawings, etc.
ILL – see Interlibrary Loan.
Index – a reference list, usually alphabetical, with an indication of where the
items can be found. In the context of the library, an index is a research tool
that provides information about where research resources can be found like
articles, books, theses/dissertations, reviews, position papers, etc. Strictly
speaking an index only provides a citation to the item. Many online indexing
tools (see eIndex) will also provide an abstract and often even the full-text of
the article. Christian Periodical Index and Guide to Social Science & Religion
are indexes in the strict sense of the word in that they do not provide full-text
or even abstracts.
Instant Messaging - An Internet-based service allowing real-time, text
communication between two or more users. Instant messaging is also known as
chat, especially when more than two people are communicating.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) - a voluntary system of sharing materials between
libraries. ILL provides access to items not currently available in our own library
collection or not available in full-text through our online databases. Details on
the library’s ILL policy and procedures are available on the library’s Web site
under Library Services.
Internet - A worldwide network of computer networks that allows for the
transmission and exchange of files. The World Wide Web is part of the Internet.
Internet Directory – See Subject Directory
ISBN – International Standard Book Number. A standard numbering system used
to provide unique numbers to a physical manifestation of a work.
ISSN – International Standard Serial Number. A standard numbering system use
to provide unique numbers assigned to a specific title of a serially published
work.
Joint Author – a person who collaborates with one or more other persons to
produce a work.
Journal – a periodical containing articles on a particular subject. Distinct from
magazines in that they contain scholarly articles and/or are intended to
disseminate information on current research and development in a specific
field.
Keyword – an online searching option that retrieves every record containing each
search term found anywhere in the record. Although many database search
engines apply keyword to the entire full-text of every document, some will limit
their keyword search to a combination of specific fields like author, title,
descriptor and abstract rather than the entire text.
Left anchored – sometimes represented as “starts with”, is a term used in online
searching (usually limited to a Title field search) which searches the title field
reading the terms from left to right exactly as written. This is distinct from a
Title keyword search which looks for all the terms anywhere in the title field
regardless of position.
Library Catalog – an index of bibliographic information for all the resources
contained in or otherwise provided by a library.
Library of Congress Classification System - a hierarchical structure of
classifying all areas of knowledge utilizing an alpha/numeric notation with the
broadest classes represented by A-Z. See Library of Congress Classification
Outline for a complete outline of this system.
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) – a standard controlled
vocabulary of subject terms that includes a list of unacceptable terms and
references to narrower, broader and related terms. Because many libraries and
even many providers of bibliographic databases around the world use the LCSH
in cataloging their records, researchers are able to find related resources more
easily. Not to be confused with the Library of Congress Classification System.
Limits or Limiters - Options used in online searching that restrict your results to
only information resources meeting certain criteria. Limiting options vary by
database, but common options include limiting results to scholarly publications,
to a specific language, to a specific publication date or date range, or to a
specific type of format (e.g. book, article, thesis, review, etc.)
Hyperlink - Typically, a text or graphic element in a Web page that opens another
document or page on the Web when it is clicked. Textual links are
conventionally underlined and displayed in a different color than other text on a
Web page. Also referred to simply as a "link."
Link - see Hyperlink
Link Resolver –a software package that connects citations in one database to the
full-text document in another database. “Check for full-text” utilizes a link
resolver program.
LPs – Long-Playing phonograph record made of vinyl.
Magazine - A periodical containing articles on a variety of topics written to
provide information to a broad audience, to entertain, to sell products and/or to
promote a viewpoint. (See also Periodical)
Manuscript – writings (including musical scores, maps, etc.) made by hand,
typescripts, and inscriptions on clay tablets, stone, vellum, paper, etc.
MARC records – MAchine Readable Cataloging - a standard format for the
encoding and representation of bibliographic information in machine-readable
form. Most libraries and many bibliographic database providers create their
digital records in MARC format enabling them to be easily uploaded/downloaded
between databases as well as easily searched by the end user.
Medium – format of non-book resources available in a library (e.g. video
recording, sound recording, globe, projected graphic, microform)
Microfiche - flat pieces of film, approximately 4 X 6 inches, containing
microphotographs of the pages of a book, periodical, catalog, etc.
Microfilm - rolls of 16mm or 35mm microphotographs of the pages of a book,
periodical, catalog, etc.
Microform – any microphotographic information storage medium, such as
microfiche and microfilm requiring magnification in order to produce a readable
image.
MLA – Modern Language Association. In the context of writing term papers, MLA
is used to refer to the style manual prepared by this association for publications
in this field and is used by many in the humanities.
Monograph – A bibliographic resource that is complete in one part or is intended
to be completed within a finite number of parts; A book. A detailed written
study of a single specialized topic (distinguished from general studies in which
the topic is dealt with as part of a wider subject).
Multimedia - Any information resource that presents information using more than
one media (print, picture, audio, or video).
Name/Title Search – a Basic search option that retrieves all the resources by a
particular author along with the titles of each work by that author held by the
library.
NetLibrary – a collection of electronic books in five subject areas: Economics &
Business, Education, Religion, Psychology and Social Science from these
publishers: Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Yale University
Press, University of California Press and McGraw-Hill. Incorporated into
EBSCOhost’s ebook collection.
Newspaper - A publication containing information about varied topics that are
pertinent to general information, a geographic area, or a specific subject matter
(e.g., business, culture, education). Often published daily. See also Periodical
NOTES – a references cited list containing the full bibliographic details, placed at
the end of the paper in numbered order corresponding to their respective
endnotes.
Online Articles – the full-text of an article found in an online index or database.
Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC)- A database that lists and describes the
items held by a library, such as books, journals, government documents,
audiovisual and other materials. Catalogs can typically be searched in a variety
of ways, such as by keyword, title, author, or subject.
Oversized Books – See Q (Oversized Books)
Parenthetical cite – an abbreviated citation within a research paper using only
the authors’ name and date of publication set off by parenthesis. Parenthetical
citations are then placed in a Reference List at the end of the paper. See also
endnote and footnote)
PDF - An abbreviation for Portable Document Format, a file format developed by
Adobe that allows files to be transmitted from one computer to another while
retaining their original appearance both in electronic and printed forms.
Peer Reviewed - Peer review is a process by which articles or books submitted
for publication are evaluated by other experts in the field (the writer's
professional peers) before being published. The peer-review process helps to
ensure the quality and validity of published information. Peer-reviewed journals
are sometimes also called refereed journals or scholarly journals. See also
Refereed and Scholarly Journals.
Periodical – works published at regular intervals (e.g. magazines, newspapers,
journals). See also Serials.
Periodical Holdings List - indicates which periodical titles are held by the library
as well as inclusive dates and format availability -- Microform, physical,
electronic. . For all periodical titles available through the TMC library go to
library Web site and select Periodical Holdings from the menu on the left. From
this page you can find magazines, journals & newspapers by title or by subject.
There are also links to the online indexes that provide full-text articles.
Plagiarism – the act of taking and using as one's own the thoughts, writings, or
inventions of another.
Portal – in the context of the library’s Web site refers to Web sites that are
gateways to a variety of selected Web sites as distinct from search engines
which find Web sites based on specified search criteria or subject directories
which provide a list of Web sites arranged by subject.
Primary Source - An original record of events, such as a diary, a newspaper
article, a public record, or scientific documentation.
Print Holdings – a list of periodicals in print (hard-copy) available in the library.
Proxy Server - An Internet server that acts as a “go-between” for a computer on
a local network (secure system) and the open Web. Often checks authentication
of user to determine “right of access” to the secure environment. Can also act
as a firewall.
Q (Oversized Books) = books too large to fit on the shelves in the main
collection; generally shelved in a separate location.
Realia – an artifact or naturally occurring entity as opposed to a replica (i.e.
object, toy, game).
Recall - A request for the return of library material before the due date.
Refereed Journals - articles are reviewed by the editors of a journal before being
approved for publication within the journal. See also Peer Reviewed and
Scholarly Journals
Reference - 1. A service that helps people find needed information. 2. Sometimes
"reference" refers to reference collections, such as encyclopedias, indexes,
handbooks, directories, etc. 3. A citation to a work is also known as a
reference.
Reference List – The full bibliographical details for parenthetically cited works
arranged alphabetically by authors.
Relevance Ranking – a programmed algorithm applied to online search engines
which results in displaying first the retrieved records that are most likely to be
relevant to the search query and decreasing in order of likely relevance.
Among the more commonly used ranking criteria are: term frequency (the
number of times the term occurs in the document), document frequency (the
number of documents containing the term), proximity of query words, variant
word forms (stemming), and document length.
Remote access – the use of electronic resources via computer networks when
the user is not directly connected to the network. All subscription databases
are accessible to the TMC community when logged onto a computer that is not
physically located on campus or directly logged into the MasterNet network.
Scholarly Journals – periodicals containing articles whose purpose is to report
original research or experimentation by scholars to other scholars of the world.
See also Peer Reviewed and Refereed.
SCILNET – Santa Clarita Interlibrary Network. A cooperative network of libraries
in the Santa Clarita Valley whose purpose is to permit sharing of resources
among members. See the SCILNET bookmark available on the Reference desk
for more information including a list of participating libraries.
Search Engine – enables searching of the public Internet by keyword as distinct
from Subject Directories and Web Portals.
Search Statement - Words entered into the search box of a database or search
engine when looking for information. Words relating to an information source's
author, editor, title, subject heading or keyword serve as search terms. Search
terms can be combined by using Boolean operators and can also be used with
limits/limiters.
Search Query – see Search Statement
Secondary Sources - Materials such as books and journal articles that analyze
primary sources. Secondary sources usually provide evaluation or interpretation
of data or evidence found in original research or documents such as historical
manuscripts or memoirs.
Serials - the publication of a literary work in successive installments as in a
journal, magazine or newspaper. Includes, series, periodicals, annuals,
yearbooks and the like.
Series - A set of literary compositions having certain features in common,
published successively or intended to be read in sequence (e.g. a periodical, the
publications of a society, etc.) Also, a succession of books issued by one
publisher in a common form and having some similarity of subject or purpose;
usually with a general title, such as ‘Society of Biblical Literature Monograph
Series’, ‘Christ in the Bible Series’.
Stacks - Shelves in the library where materials—typically books—are stored.
Books in the stacks are normally arranged by call number. May be referred to
as “book stacks.”
Starts with – see Left Anchored
Style Manual – a guide to the formatting, mechanics, grammar and
punctuation of formal papers such as term papers, theses, and dissertations.
Included are instructions for margins, spacing, headings, treatment of
numbers, italics, capitalization, presentation of quotations, citations,
bibliographical references and many other issues relating to the general
presentation of a scholarly paper. Commonly used styles in higher education
include APA, MLA and Chicago or Turabian
Subject Browse - in the OPAC’s Basic Search screen searching this field produces
an alphabetic list of Library of Congress Subject Headings.
Subject Directory – enables searching of the public Internet by subject category
Subject Heading – a controlled vocabulary used to denote subjects commonly
used in library catalogs like the Library of Congress Subject Headings listing.
Title - The name of a book, article, or other information source.
Truncate – means to shorten or cut off. In the context of online searching it
refers to using a root word as a search term in conjunction with a prescribed
command determined by the search engine (in the case of our OPAC the “?” is
the command to truncate). The search engine will then search for every
instance of the root word and every possible variation following. For example
truncating “bank” like this, “bank?” will retrieve records containing: bank,
banked, banks, banking or bankruptcy.
Turabian – refers to the style manual written by Kate L. Turabian conforming to
the Chicago style entitled “A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and
Dissertations”. Turabian has become one of the basic styles used by
undergraduate and graduate students in the humanities, social sciences and
natural sciences. It is the required style for the Bible Department, Biblical
Counseling Department and Center for Professional Studies Department of The
Master's College and by The Master’s Seminary.
Tutorial - Any period of training; a printed account or explanation of a subject
intended for private study. In the case of the Library’s Research Guides &
Tutorials, the site will host training on copyright law and perhaps other topics
related to research.
Upload - To transfer information from a computer system or a personal computer
to another computer system or a larger computer system.
URL – universal resource locator; the unique address for a Web page which is
used in citing it. A URL consists of the access protocol (http), the domain name
(such as www.gmu.edu), and often the path to a file or resource residing on
that server.
USB Drive - A portable device used for storing digital files. A USB drive is plugged
into a computer's USB (Universal Serial Bus) port so that files can be
transferred between the computer and the device. Also sometimes called "key
drive," "thumb drive," or "USB key."
User ID - A number or name unique to a particular user of computerized
resources. A user ID must often be entered in order to access library resources
remotely.
Verso – the left-hand page of a book, usually bearing an even page number. The
side of a printed sheet intended to be read second.
Web Sites – a set of interconnected pages on the World Wide Web prepared and
maintained as a collection of information by a person or organization.
Wireless - The name given to any electronic device that sends messages through
space via electric or electromagnetic waves instead of via power cords.
World Wide Web (WWW) - Part of the Internet, the World Wide Web is a
system of interconnected hypertext documents that can include text, graphics,
audio, video, and other media. Also abbreviated as the Web or WWW. Web
content is typically accessed using a browser.
Last updated March 2014 by Janet L. Tillman ([email protected])