| Glossary of Library Terms The following terms apply specifically to Lovejoy Library's collection and services. For a more comprehensive list of library-related terms and definitions, consult Western Connecticut State University's Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science at http://lu.com/odlis/. | A | B | C | D | E | F | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | R | S | T | UVWY | - Abstract
(1) Source that lists articles and other materials (e.g. a periodical article or a book) by subject, author, or title and gives a brief summary of the work.
(2) Short summary of an article in a scholarly journal that appears at the beginning of the article.
- Almanac
Annual publication that contains useful data and statistics relating to calendars, countries, personalities, events, subjects, or other miscellaneous information.
- Annual
Materials that are published once a year.
- Anthology
(1) Collection of extracts from the works of various authors, usually in the same genre or about the same subject.
(2) Sometimes refers to a collection from the works of an individual author.
- Archives
(1) Public records or historical documents.
(2) Location where records or documents are housed.
- Article
Written essay or report on a subject usually located in magazines, journals, newspapers, and encyclopedias.
- Atlas
Volume of maps, plates, engravings, tables, etc.
- Audio-Visual
Information in any form other than words printed on paper. Examples include films, slides, audiotapes, compact discs, videocassettes, and computer software.
- Autobiography
Account of one's life, composed by one's self. -
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- Bibliography
Systematically arranged list of books, articles, documents, or other materials related to a particular author or a specific subject that may include some of the following information: author, title, date of publication, place of publication, publisher, details of edition, and page numbers.
- Bindery
Area in the Library or at a remote location where books or periodicals (magazines or journals) are temporarily sent for repair or to be bound. When materials are at the bindery, it may be necessary to submit an Interlibrary Loan request to get a copy from another library.
- Biography
Source that provides a written account of a person's life or a group of literature concerned with people's lives.
- Boolean Operators
Words such as AND, OR, and NOT that are used to combine terms to broaden or narrow the results of a search. Combining terms using these operators is often referred to as Boolean searching.
- Bound Periodical
Issues of a journal or magazine that are gathered and bound within a hard cover to resemble a book. At Lovejoy Library, all bound volumes are located on the second floor and shelved in alphabetical order by the title. -
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- Call Number
Number given to each book acquired by the Library. Every book has letters and/or numbers assigned to place it in a specific location (subject area) within the collection. Books in Lovejoy Library are given call numbers according to the Library of Congress Classification System. Government Documents are given Superintendent of Documents call numbers (see SuDocs). Some materials are simply given media-related accession numbers.
- Circulate
Process of allowing materials to be checked out of the Library. For more information, please consult Lovejoy Library's Circulation Policies.
- Circulation Desk
Service area in the Library where users check out books and other materials, return or renew items, or inquire about fees assessed to items when materials are not returned by the due date.
- Citation
Reference or footnote about an item such as a book or journal article. A citation for a book includes the author, title, publisher, place of publication, and date of publication. A citation for an article in a journal includes the author, title of article, title of periodical (also referred to as the source), volume and issue number, page number(s), and date of publication. A single citation is called a reference; a group of citations is a bibliography. For more information about types of citations, consult the "Understanding and Interpreting Citations" research guide.
- Controlled Vocabulary
Standardized words that may be used to search an index, abstract, or database. Many reference sources have a listing or thesaurus of preferred terms. An example of controlled vocabulary is the Library of Congress Subject Headings. (See also Thesaurus)
- Copyright
Legal right to control the production, use, and sale of copies of a literary, musical, or artistic work in any tangible format.
- Cross Reference
Term used in catalogs, thesauruses, and indexes to lead users from one form of entry to another (e.g. American poets see Poets--American).
- Current Periodical
Latest or most recent issue of a journal or magazines that has not been bound or obtained on microform. Current periodicals are located in the red boxes on the second floor near the bound periodicals. Some of the most frequently used current periodicals are located on Reserve at the Circulation Desk. Many current periodicals are also available in electronic formats through the Library's website at www.siue.edu/lovejoylibrary. -
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- Database
Collection of information arranged into individual records to be searched by a computer.
- Descriptor
Term or symbol used to designate the subject of a work. Descriptors are generally used when searching electronic indexes.
- Downloading
Transferring electronic information to a floppy disk or hard drive.
- Due Date
Date that borrowed materials must be returned to the Library. -
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- Encyclopedia
Compilation of articles on subjects in many areas of study or in a specialized field. Encyclopedias may be in print or electronic formats.
- Fiche
Abbreviated term for microfiche. (See Microfiche)
- Film
Abbreviated term for microfilm. (See Microfilm)
- Fine
Fee charged for an item returned to the Library after the due date. The amount of the fine varies depending on the source. For more information on fines, consult the Library's Circulation Policies.
- Folio (Oversize)
Book that is too large to fit in the general collection shelves and therefore is placed in a designated area marked "Oversized" or "Folio" Collection. These books are arranged by Library of Congress call numbers.
- Full Text
Many of the online databases available at Lovejoy Library provide the complete text of articles. Some full text articles may not include graphics or photographs included in the print articles.
- Full-Page Image
Many online databases include full images of articles. A software application such as Acrobat Reader may be required to view these images. All graphics or pictures associated with the article are included and even the original pagination remains the same.
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- Handbooks
General information sources that provide a quick reference to a given subject. Handbooks may be general or subject specific.
- Hold
Status applied to an item being held at the Circulation Desk. A valid borrower may request that a circulating book or other material be held upon its return to the Library. The patron will be notified when the material becomes available.
- Holdings
Materials owned or held by the Library.
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- I-Share (OPAC)
Online public access catalog or database that is used to identify and locate materials in the libraries and is searchable by author, title, subject, or keyword. I-Share includes the 65 academic libraries in Illinois. The SIUE Online Catalog is a subset of I-Share.
- Index
List of subjects discussed in a book. List of journal articles arranged by subject.
- Information Desk
Primary service point in the Library where users can ask questions and consult with Library personnel about locating resources or conducting research.
- Interlibrary Loan (sometimes referred to as ILL)
Service through which one library lends a resource or provides a photocopy of material from its collection to another library for registered students.
- Issue
Single uniquely numbered or dated part of a periodical or newspaper. -
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- Journal
Type of periodical containing scholarly articles that describe research in a particular profession or academic discipline. Articles are based upon research and usually have extensive references. For more information about various types of periodicals, consult the "Identifying Scholarly Journals" research guide.
- Keyword
Word or combination of words from the author, title, or subject field of an item. Keyword searching is usually available in online databases and catalogs.
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- Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
List of standard terms created by the Library of Congress that are used to locate resources on a specific topic. Volumes of the LCSH are kept near the Information Desk at Lovejoy Library.
- Location
Physical place where an item is housed in the Library. In I-Share, the location is described by the call number. To determine where in the library items are located at Lovejoy Library, consult the Material Location Guide.
- Loan Period
Length of time allowed for the use of material borrowed from the Library. The time varies depending on the type of material and borrowing privileges. For more information, consult the Library's Circulation Policies.
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- Magazine
Type of periodical containing popular articles which are usually shorter or less authoritative than a journal article on the same subject. Magazine articles usually do not contain references or bibliographies. For more information about various types of periodicals, consult the "Identifying Scholarly Journals" research guide.
- Menu
Choices and commands that are displayed on screen and can be selected by the user when searching a database.
- Microfiche
Photographic format of reduced images that is reproduced on a small
4" x 6" flat sheet of film. The microfiche collection at Lovejoy Library is housed in the Microforms Area on the second floor.
- Microfilm
Photographic format of reduced images that is reproduced on a roll of 35mm or 16mm film. Past issues of newspapers are often microfilmed because newsprint deteriorates rapidly. The microfilm collection at Lovejoy Library is housed in the Microforms Area on the second floor.
- Microforms
Generic term that refers to the medium, either microfiche or microfilm. Area where microfiche and microfilm are housed. In Lovejoy Library, the Microforms Area is located on the second floor. This area provides several reader/printers to read and/or copy documents from either fiche or film. A Vendacard is required for printing at the cost of $.08 per page. The Library also offers a custom copying service in this area.
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- Non-Circulating
Materials that must be used in the Library (e.g. reference books, periodicals, and other resources designated "Building Use Only").
- Online Database
Electronic index containing citations, abstracts, or full text documents or other images. Lovejoy Library has access to a large number of general and subject-specific online databases.
- OPAC
Abbreviated term for the Online Public Access Catalog. (see I-Share)
- Periodical
Magazine, journal, or newspaper published at regular intervals. For more information about various types of periodicals, consult the "Identifying Scholarly Journals" research guide.
- Primary Source
Fundamental or original document relating to a particular subject, experiment, time period, or event. Autobiographies, journals, diaries, and creative works are considered primary sources.
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- Recall
Process by which an item that has been checked out may be requested by another person. The current borrower will be notified, and must return it by the Recall date. No renewals are then possible, ensuring that the user placing the request will be next to receive the material.
- Record
Unit of information in a computer database identifying a specific item. A record may include data such as author, title, date of publication, publisher, and subject headings.
- Refereed Journal
Publication, usually scholarly, in which articles are reviewed by a panel of professionals in the respective field before being accepted for publication. For more information about various types of periodicals, consult the "Identifying Scholarly Journals" research guide.
- Reference Books
Materials created specifically to help people find information or do research. Reference collections contain many sources of information, such as atlases, dictionaries, directories, encyclopedias, handbooks, and indexes that contain facts, statistics, biographical or other sources that aid in answering reference questions. Reference books generally do not leave the Library.
- Renew
Extension of the loan period for a charged library item. If no one has requested the item, renewals are possible. Renewals for SIUE Library materials may be handled in person at the Circulation Desk, by phone at 650-2172, or by accessing your borrower information using the "My Account" option in I-Share. |
