LIBRARY LINGO: A Guide
to Library Terminology
Text adapted with permission from the University
of Washington, Bothell / Cascadia Community Campus
Library web site.
Do you sometimes feel that the library staff is
using a different language than you are? Find out the definitions
of some common terms used in the library. Entries are in alphabetical
order, follow the links for further information, or visit the Lemieux
Library Reference Desk if you have questions!
-- A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z --
A
- Abstract A
brief summary that gives the essential points of a book, pamphlet,
or article. Abstracts can help give you an idea of what
the document is about without reading the whole document.
Some abstracts are descriptive, while others are evaluative; check
with your instructor to see which type you need to be identifying
and/or writing.
- Academic
journal - A periodical issued by an institution, corporation,
or a professional or scholarly society containing current news and/or reports
of research activities and work in a particular field. Examples
of academic journals are Harvard Business Review, Film
Quarterly, or the Journal of Family Psychology .
Current hardcopy issues of academic journals can be found in the
periodicals section on the 3rd floor
of Lemieux Library. Some issues may be in storage (requiring
staff assistance to retrieve) or in the microform section on the 2nd floor.
Consult the online "Serials
List" for specific formats and locations. See also electronic journals, peer review, and refereed articles.
- Adobe Reader
- Free software program available for download
on the web to read documents in PDF format.
All Lemieux Library public computer with internet access have
this program installed. To download the program to your personal
computer click here.
- Annotation A note that describes, explains, or evaluates; especially
such a note added to an entry in a bibliography, reading list, or catalog.
- APA American
Psychological Association; The Publication Manual of the
American Psychological Association sets the documentation
style for psychology and other behavioral and social sciences,
as well as nursing, criminology, and personnel management.
Copies of the manual are available
at the Lemieux Library Reference Desk on the 2nd floor.
(Online, see:APA
guides.) Check with your instructor to find out if APA
is the style you are to use for your project. See also CBE, Chicago Manual of Style, MLA, and Style Manual.
- Appendix - A part of a written work, not essential to the completeness
of the text, containing complementary information such as statistical
tables or explanatory material.
- Bibliography - A
list of the works referred to in a text or consulted by the author
in its production. There are also
subject bibliographies. These are publications, sometimes
book-length, consisting of lists of books, articles, and other
works on a particular topic. Bibliographies may also be annotated
with abstracts summarizing the important features of the works.
- Boolean operators - Words such as AND, OR, or NOT that are used to combine
search terms to broaden or narrow a search of an electronic database, index, or catalog.
- Bound journals - Complete or partial run of journals bound together into a single physical piece resembling
a book. The Lemieux Library's bound journals and single issues
are located together in the stacks on the3rd
floor or in storage (requiring staff assistance to retrieve).
Consult the online "Serials
List" for locations.
- Browser see Web Browser.
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- Call
number - A notation used to identify the
placement and location of particular publications in the stacks. The call number is found on the spine of
the book and on the page following the title page. The Lemieux
Library uses the Library of Congress (LC) Classification call numbers.
- Campus Card - a
Seattle University Photo ID Card used in the library for checking
out materials and making debit card photocopies. To see details
click here.
- Catalog -
List of library materials contained in a collection. A catalog
records, describes and classifies the resources of a collection,
a library, or a group of libraries, typically in a computer database.
- CBE - Council
of Biology Editors; The Scientific Style and Format: The CBE
Manual for Authors, Editors, and Publishers lists examples
using the CBE style of documentation. A copy of the manual
is available at the Lemieux Library Reference Desk on the 2nd floor.
Check with your instructor to find out if CBE is the style you
are to use for your project. See also APA, Chicago Manual of Style, MLA, and Style Manual.
- Chicago
Manual of Style - A book describing examples
using the documentary-note or humanities style of documentation.
This style is often used as the standard style of many professional
publishing houses. A modified version of the Chicago style
for student and academic work, Turabian style, is often the preferred
style for History and Humanities scholars. Copies of the
Chicago and Turabian complete manuals are available at the Lemieux
Library Reference Desk on the 2nd floor,
Check with your instructor to find out if the Chicago Manual of Style or
Turabian style is the style you are to use for your project.
See also APA, CBE, MLA, and Style Manual.
- Circulation - Refers
to the checking out and return of library materials. This process
is handled at the Circulation Desk on the second
floor. For more information on circulation procedures
and policies, click here.
- Citation -
Information that precisely identifies a book, article, web site,
video, or map, for example. It
typically includes author, title, volume, publication information,
page numbers, and sometimes an abstract. Other information such as subject headings or index terms may also be included in a citation. Scholars
cite sources in their work so others may verify their work, build
on it, or examine their subject matter in more depth.
- Citation index - A special type of index that lists works cited in later works, including a
list of the sources from which the citations were gathered. Used to locate sources related
by subject to a previously published work.
- Controlled
vocabulary - A standardized lexicon of
words and phrases used by information professionals when creating
subject headings for an item (article, document,
video, or book for example), for a specific index or catalog. This provides consistency and order in the chosen
words and phrases used to catalog the item. Library of Congress Subject Headings
are an example of a controlled vocabulary.
- Course
Reserves Materials
which, upon request by faculty, are shelved separately from the
regular stacks and temporarily assigned a shorter loan period to
ensure that all the students taking a course will be able to share
the materials, as reserves are designed to provide a high
level of access to material that is in demand by a large number
of students. Loan periods and other restrictions are determined
by the faculty placing them on reserve. Fines are set at
a high level to motivate borrowers to return material on time
for use by other borrowers. ALL RESERVE MATERIALS ARE DUE
AT A SPECIFIC TIME OF DAY. Overdue fines are 1.00 per item per
day. For more information ask at the Circulation / Reserves Desk
on the 2nd floor
of the Lemieux Library or click here.
D
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- Database - Collection
of data organized for rapid search and retrieval via computer.
In academic research, databases are commonly used to obtain citation information about articles and other publications
from indexes and abstracts. It is important to note the scope of
the database your are using for your research, as some cover different
time periods or subjects. Items you find in a database will
not always be available at Lemieux Library (or the Seattle
University Law Library) but those that are not can often be
obtained through Interlibrary Loan. Many Lemieux Library
databases provide items in full-text. Most Lemieux Library databases are SU Restricted. To see a list of Lemieux Library
Databases, click here.
- Directory - A
directory provides systematic access to concise factual information
on specific subjects, people, or organizations and contains
lists of persons, companies, publications, or organizations,
systematically arranged, giving names, addresses, phone/FAX
numbers, email addresses, and affiliations. Some directories
may include additional information. Examples of directories
are the Encyclopedia of Associations and the United
States Government Manual. Current editions of most
directories are in the Reference section of the Lemieux Library
on the 2nd floor.
- Dissertation - A formal and often lengthy written discourse or treatise, required by
universities in partial fulfillment of requirements for a Ph.D.
E
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-
Electronic journals -
A journal published electronically and available online. Some electronic
journals have print counterparts while others are only online.
- Email notification - A service where you are notified through your SU email
account when an Interlibrary Loan item has
been received.
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- Field - A
part of a record used for a particular category of data, for example
the title field displays the title for each record in a database. Other
fields include in a library on-line catalog (or database) are:
author, subject, call number, and circulation status.
- Full text
Refers to a database or other electronic resource that provides the
entire text of some or all of the works it contains, and usually
the citation and abstract of each work.
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- Hard copy - A printed document on paper, as distinguished from a microform or electronic copy.
- Holdings - Records of the items the library contains. This
term is often used as a synonym for collection.
- Home page
- Usually the main page of a web site. The home page indexes and organizes the
other web pages that are a part of the web site. The Lemieux
Library's home page is here.
- HTML (hypertext
markup language) - a markup language used to create hypertext
and hypermedia documents on the World Wide Web incorporating text,
graphics, sound, video, and hyperlinks
- HTTP - Hypertext Transfer Protocol; the Internet standard that enables the creation
of hyperlinks between documents on the World Wide Web. Most URLs for Web pages begin: http://.
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- Index - An
ordered list, as in the index of a book, where references or topics
of a book are arranged alphabetically by subject. Reference librarians often use this term to
refer to a list of citations usually arranged by author, title, or subject.
Some indexes are electronic while
others are available in print. An electronic or digitized
index is also called a database. An examples of an index is Reader's Guide:
an index covering popular, general interest magazines published
in the United States and Canada since 1901. Sometimes items
you find in indexes are not always at the Lemieux Library(or the
Seattle
University Law Library), for these items you may be able to
use Interlibrary Loan to obtain them. See also
periodical index.
- Information literacy - A set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information
is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively
the needed information. An information literate individual
is able to: determine the extent of information needed, access
the needed information effectively and efficiently, evaluate the
information and its sources, incorporate the information into
their knowledge base, use the information effectively to accomplish
a specific purpose, and to understand the economic, legal, and
social issues surrounding the use of information, and access and
use the information ethically and legally. If you need help
in this area, try using the library's online "Research
Path".
- Interlibrary
loan - A library service whereby users
of one library may request to borrow materials not owned by their
own library from another library. Read
more about the Lemieux Librarys Interlibrary Loan service here.
- Internet Explorer
(IE)
Microsofts web browser for searching the World Wide Web.
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- Keyword -
A word indicating a subject discussed in a document; used in searching
catalogs and databases. For example, keywords could be people,
places, or topics.
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M
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- Microfilm -
Film bearing a record at a reduced scale, most often copies of
newspapers or journals. It may be negative or positive and of
varying lengths and widths, depending on the number of exposures.
The microfilm in the Lemieux Library is located on the 2nd floor.
See also microfiche and microform.
- Microfiche -
Transparent microform on a single sheet, 4 x 6 inch sheet.
See also microfilm.
- Microform -
An arrangement of photographic or text images in reduced size.
For example, microfilm and microfiche are two different kinds of microforms.
Microforms are used to store material in a compressed form, and
are beneficial to the preservation of materials. The microforms
section of the Lemieux Library is located on the 2nd floor.
- MLA Modern Languages Association; The
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers includes advice
on writing a research paper, the mechanics of punctuation, editorial
principles, the format for research papers, and a sample research
paper. Copies of the manual are available at the Lemieux
Library Reference Desk on the 2nd floor.
(Online, see:MLA
guides.)Check with your instructor to find out if MLA is the
style you are to use for your project. . See also APA, CBE, Chicago Manual of Style, and Style Manual.
- Monograph - A series
of writings on a single subject, complete in one physical piece,
usually written by academic specialists in a given field.
- Monographic
Series - A serial publication of monographs, generally
issued under a collective title by an academic institution or
society.
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- Online - Used in conjunction with computer databases or the internet; generally means that the user
is in direct contact with the electronic content and can interact
with it, usually via a computer terminal.
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- PDF (portable document
format) files -
Document files commonly found in library databases with full-text
articles. These files are generally printable images of scanned
hard copy journal or magazine pages (as opposed to electronic
or HTML text). The Adobe Reader software
is needed to open PDF files. All Lemieux Library public computers
with internet access have this program installed. To download
the program to your personal computer click here.
- Peer review
When documents such as articles or
books are reviewed by those in the authors field of work. Many
scholarly journals are peer reviewed. To be accepted
for publication in a given journal the author of an article must submit his
or her article to be reviewed, usually anonymously, by a panel
of experts in the field or the journal's editorial board. "Ulrich's
International Periodicals Directory" (vol. 5), located
at the Reference Desk of the Lemieux Library on the 2nd floor,
is a directory of serials containing a section of peer reviewed, or refereed
sources. See also academic journal and refereed articles.
- Periodical -
A publication that is issued at regular intervals two or more
times a year containing articles on various subjects. Intended
to continue indefinitely. Examples of periodicals include Time
magazine, New York Times, Film Quarterly, or Hispanic
American Historical Review. Current
issues of periodicals can be found in the periodicals section
on the 3rd floor
of Lemieux Library. Some issues may be in storage (requiring
staff assistance to retrieve) or in the microform section on the 2nd floor.
Consult the online "Serials
List" for specific formats and locations.
- Periodical
index - A cumulative listing of citations, summaries, or abstracts to periodical articles. Most periodical indexes are devoted to a specific field or discipline or
type of periodical (for example, newspapers). They are
available in an electronic database or in print.
To select the most appropriate periodical index or database for your topic by referring to a library
"Subject
Guide", or see "Ask-A-Librarian".
- PIN - A nine digit number allowing online access to one's own library account
information such as: books checked out, fines, due dates, renewals,
and holds. (The PIN is actually your seven digit university ID
# number preceeded by tow zeros.) To learn more about this service
or how to find your university ID # number click
here. An additional (or second) library pin number may issued to patrons by the
Interlibrary Loan Department for obtaining access to web-posted
documents. Email notifications for ILL requests received electronically
contain this special PIN and instructions on how to access documents.
- Primary
source - In history, primary sources are
considered to be materials that originate in the time period you're
studying, such as accounts by eyewitnesses, or the first recorder
of an event in written or other form. Historical primary
sources can include newspapers, interviews, diaries, interviews,
photographs, or speeches.
- Proxy server -
The proxy server will allow you
to search the SU Restricted Library databases from home via an Internet service provider
(ISP) such as Earthlink, AT&T, or MSN. An active SU email ID and password is required to gain access through the
library proxy server. For more on "Off-Campus Access"click
here.
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- Recall
When the library requests the return of a borrowed book for
another patron who has requested it.
- Record - A
collection of related data, often including author or title,
arranged in fields and treated as a unit when searching a database.
- Refereed articles
Articles
that have passed through a rigorous and often anonymous review
process sometimes referred to as a "blind review." To be
accepted for publication in a refereed journal, the author of
an article must submit his or her article to be reviewed by a
panel of experts in the field. "Ulrich's International
Periodicals Directory" ( vol. 5), located at the Reference
Desk on the 2nd floor,
is a directory of serials containing a section of peer reviewed, or refereed
sources. See also academic journal and peer review.
- Reference
book - A book such as a dictionary, encyclopedia,
or directory that contains specific facts, data, or other information.
Reference books are non-circulating, as they are high-demand sources
with multiple applications. Reference materials, like subject
encyclopedias can provide an overview and background to help students
formulate their paper topics. Other ready-reference materials
can provide quick facts, dates, and statistics. The
Lemieux Librarys Reference collection is located on the 2nd floor.
- Reference
librarian - A specialist in the field of
information retrieval, and often in other subject areas as well.
Reference librarians have a Master's degree in Library Science,
and help users find materials needed for research, show them how
to use and evaluate various resources, and teach workshops and
classes about the research process. To consult a specialist,
see "Ask-A-Librarian."
- Reserves -
see Course reserve materials.
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- Scholarly - This
term usually denotes written material or intellectual activity
which is often intended for an academic audience, is based on
rigorous research, makes a unique contribution to the general
body of academic knowledge, and is subject to review, revision,
and interpretation by others in the scholarly community (see refereed or peer reviewed). Most scholarly works use language
typical to that of the discipline covered. For more information
on distinguishing a scholarly work from other works, click here.
- Search engine - Search engines are huge databases
of web page files assembled automatically by machine that are
used to search the Internet, for example, Google.com or Hotbot.com. Whenever
you search the web using a search engine, you're asking the engine
to scan its index of sites and match your keywords and phrases
with those in the texts of documents within the engine's database.
It is important to remember that when you are using a search engine,
you are not searching the entire web as it exists at this moment.
You are actually searching a portion of the web, captured in a
fixed index created at an earlier date. With the wealth
of information search engines are capable of finding, it is also
important to evaluate any internet or web sources you use, for
more information about evaluating web resources, click here.
- Secondary sources - Works that are not original manuscripts, contemporary records or documents associated with an event, but rather
analyze, evaluate, interpret, or criticize other primary sources and/or secondary sources.
- Serial - A publication which is issued in successive parts at regular or
irregular intervals bearing numeric or chronological designations.
Serials are usually intended to continue indefinitely. Serials
can include periodicals; directories; newspapers; annuals (reports,
yearbooks, etc.); the journals (magazines, memoirs, proceedings, transactions,
etc.) of societies; or numbered monographic
series. Most current
hardcopy issues of serials can be found in the periodicals section on the 3rd floor
of Lemieux Library. Others may be in storage (requiring staff
assistance to retrieve) or in the microform and newspaper sections on the 2nd floor.
Issues from a monographic series in Lemieux Library are often
assigned call numbers and housed in the regular book collection.
For specific formats and locations, consult
the online serials list: commonly known as the "Lemieux
Library Journal and Magazine List "
- Stacks -
Shelves on which library materials are arranged.
- Style
manual - A guide that describes conventions
of writing style, usage, manuscript formatting, and citation rules.
Some of the style manuals and handouts available at the Lemieux
Library are the APA, CBE, Chicago, or MLA style guides. Different styles are provided for
differing disciplines, for example the ALA style is used in the
social sciences, and the CBE style is used in the biological sciences.
Professors will provide guidance to students as to which style
manual to use for formatting complete citations.
- SU
Restricted Refers to databases contractually restricted to Seattle University
faculty, students, and staff, or to persons physically present
in the libraries. An active SU email ID and password is required
for remote access. To see more on "Off-Campus Access"
click here.
- Subject
heading - Word or phrase indicating the
subject under which all material dealing with the same topic is
entered in a catalog, bibliography, or an arranged file. The Lemieux Library
uses Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH).
Many databases have specialized subject headings using language
typical to that of the discipline covered.
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- Truncate - To shorten a word; cut off at a given point as opposed
to abbreviation. Used in computer searching to retrieve variants
of a word or a list of items beginning with a phrase or string
of characters. For example,
if you search for librar*, the system will find entries containing
library, libraries, librarian, and librarians. Some database
automatically treat terms as if truncated while others require
a particular symbol to be entered with the root of the word. Common
truncation symbols are: * ? $
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Last update 10/16/2003 |
