Glossary of Library Terms

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

abstract

A brief summary of the content or essence of a book, article, speech, report, or dissertation. (usually no more than a few sentences)

Academic / Scholarly Journal

Also known as a peer-reviewed or refereed journal. Articles are written by academics for academic audiences (researchers, professionals and students). An editorial board of subject experts critically analyse draft articles to ensure they meet certain standards before they are accepted for publication.

annotation

A critical or explanatory note, usually included in a bibliographical reference or citation.

annual

Published once a year, every year.

anthology

A collection of stories, plays, or poems, selected by an editor.

article

A brief composition on a topic, usually published in a magazine or journal.

atlas

A book of maps.

author

A writer of a book, essay, story, play, poem or other work. Some works have two or more co-authors. In library catalogues authorship is sometimes attributed to an organisation, conference symposium, or institution. Other individuals such as editor, playwright, director, composer, performer, or other, may also be considered an author.

autobiography

An account of one's life written by oneself. See also biography.

bibliographic information

Information about published items. This information generally covers four basic elements. (1) Author/Editor/Publisher/Producer (2) Date of publication (3) Title of item (4) Publication information (Place of publication, URL, Address etc. )

bibliography

A list of references at the end of a book or article. Long bibliographies may be published separately in a book form.

biannual

Published twice a year.

biennial

Published every two years.

biography

An account of a person's life, written by another. The person who writes a biography is the biographer. The person written about is known as the biographee. See also autobiography.

borrow

To check out or charge out library materials.

bound periodical

Older issues of periodicals that have been bound together between hard covers so they look like a book. This is done to preserve them and to make storing them easier.

call number

A unique location code that appears on the spine of a book or bound periodical.

catalogue

A catalogue contains records, with detailed descriptions and location information, of the materials in a library collection. In this Library the catalogue is online i.e. stored on a computer.

CD-ROM

An abbreviation for "Compact Disc Read-Only Memory;" A computer with a CD-ROM drive is needed to read this kind of disc.

circulation desk (also known as the issues desk)

The area where users have books issued to them, return, or renew books and other materials, and use Desk Copies.

citation

A brief description of a text (book, article, report, World Wide Web page, or other) that has been quoted, or used as an authority.

A complete citation for a book includes author, title, place of publication, publisher, and year.

A complete citation for a periodical or magazine article includes author and title of the article, title of the periodical, volume number, page numbers, and the dates.

The elements of a complete citation for other types of publications are different. Furthermore, even for the same type of publication, the exact arrangement and formatting of a citation is dictated by a style manual. The choice of style manual depends on the discipline or subject matter. Lecturers and librarians will provide guidance to students as to which style manual to use for formatting complete citations.

classification

Classification is used in libraries to keep like subjects together on the shelves. The major classification scheme used in this library is the Library of Congress (LC) Classification. Books and journals are assigned a classification number (which in LC Classification is a combination of letters and numbers) that represents the general subject of the item. Additional letters and numbers are added (usually the first two letters of the author's last name and the date of publication) to form a call number. The use of classification allows library users to browse shelves to find additional items close by on the same or related subjects.

collected work

A book of works by different authors (essays, stories, poems, plays) selected for publication by an editor.

conference paper

The print version of a talk or presentation given at a conference or meeting.

conference proceedings

The official record of the things said and done at a conference or meeting. Usually available as a booklet containing the print versions of the papers delivered at a particular conference

copyright

The official record of the things said and done at a conference or meeting. Usually available as a booklet containing the print versions of the papers delivered at a particular conference

course reserve

Materials which are in heavy demand and are stored separately behind the Circulation Desk. These items are available on request for use in the Library only. Historically known as Desk Copy.

cross reference

In a catalogue or index, a direction that leads a user from one entry or subject heading to another.

current periodicals

The most recent issues of a journal or magazine that a library has received. The current issues of a periodical are bound when enough have accumulated to constitute the size of an ordinary book (usually about a year's worth or less).

database

A comprehensive collection of related data organised for convenient access, generally in a computer.

desk copy

Formerly used term for Course Reserve. See Course Reserve.

dictionary

A book of alphabetically listed words in a language with generally accepted definitions, etymologies, pronunciations, and other information. Some dictionaries are specialised; for example, Dictionary of Sociology, Dictionary of Literary Terms.

directory

A book that lists the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of a specific group of persons, companies, organisations, or publications. Most directories are shelved in the Quick Reference Collection.

dissertation

An extended scholarly essay submitted for a degree or other academic qualification. See also Thesis

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

The preferred method of identifying online material such as journal articles, books and reports. A DOI is made up of letters and numbers and is unique to each document, like a digital finger print. Click here to see what a DOI looks like.

edition

Some books are revised and republished, particularly reference books. The new version may be called a "revised" or "second" edition. Subsequent editions are numbered sequentially. The latest edition is the most current, but older editions may contain useful information deleted from later editions.

editor

A person who selects and prepares the works of other writers for publication, by selection, arrangement, and annotation.

encyclopedia

A reference book containing information on all subjects, or limited to a special field or subject (sometimes in more than one volume).

electronic information resources

Any of several different categories of databases and machine-readable files, including, but not limited to electronic journals, online databases, World Wide Web sites, and CD-ROM databases.

fine

A fee charged for keeping a book or other library materials longer than the time allowed.

glossary

An alphabetical list of words related to a specific topic, with definitions, often placed at the end of a book.

government document

A publication of a government. Government documents include hearings, reports, treaties, periodicals, and statistics.

handbook

A reference book that provides concise, useful data and other information on a specific subject.

hardcopy

Printed material, as opposed to information in microform or digital (computerised) format.

holdings

All the materials (print, nonprint, and electronic) owned by a library.

index

i) A back-of-the-book index is an alphabetical detailed list of the names, places, and subjects discussed in a book and the numbers of the pages on which each subject is treated.

ii) A periodical index is an alphabetical listing of magazine or journal articles by subject, and sometimes by author. Most periodical indexes cover a specific topical area or discipline.

information desk

The main service point for users to ask for directions to collections or other service points in the Libraries, guidance in using the online catalogue or help with information problems. May also be called the Reference Desk

interloan

A library service in which libraries loan books and other materials to each other. If this library does not have the item you need we may be able to borrow for you from another library.

ISBN

Abbreviation for International Standard Book Number. A unique 10-digit number that is given to every book or edition of a book before publication to identify the publisher, the title, the edition, and volume number. The ISBN is usually printed on the reverse side of the title page of a book.

ISSN

Abbreviation for International Standard Serial Number. A unique 8-digit number that identifies a specific periodical title.

issue

All the copies of a specific periodical title published on the same date. A subscription entitles the subscriber to receive one copy of each issue.

journal

A publication published periodically (monthly, quarterly, or other), devoted to a specific field or subfield of knowledge, that contains scholarly articles written by researchers or experts in a subject area. Articles usually contain at the beginning an abstract summarising the main points, and a bibliography at the end to show other works cited. Journals are stored in the Serials Collection.

keyword

A word indicating a main term or concept or subject discussed in a document; used in searching catalogues and databases.

Library of Congress (LC) Classification

The classification system used in the Library of Congress, and used for arranging most of the University of Waikato Library collections

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)

A standard list of words or groups of words under which books and other material on a subject are entered in a catalogue. These subject headings can be helpful when searching the online catalogue. The full list of LCSH is kept near the online catalogue in three large red volumes.

magazine

A periodical intended for the general public rather than for scholars. Examples are Newsweek, Time, Business Week.

microfiche

A 4x6 inch sheet of film, used for storage of miniaturised text. Microfiche and reader/printers are stored in Microforms Room on Level 2 of the Central Library.

microfilm

A continuous roll of film, used for storage of miniaturised text (usually journals or magazines). Microfilms and reader/printers are stored in the Microforms Room on Level 2 of the Central Library.

microform

Film medium for storage of miniaturised text. Includes both microfiche and microfilm.

monograph

A publication that appears one time only. Books or reports are monographs; periodicals or serials are not.

newspaper

A serial publication printed and distributed daily or weekly containing news, opinions, advertising, and other items of general interest.

non-print

Materials published in a format other than print on paper. e.g. audio cassettes, compact disks, videocassettes.

online

Accessible via a computer or computer network. Also called "automated," "computerised," or "electronic."

online catalogue

A computer database that lists most books, serials, and non-print items owned by a library. Also referred to as the Library catalogue and at the University of Waikato the WWW version is called Webcat.

outsize

Shelving areas in the library holding items taller than 28 cm. Usually these exist where space is at a premium.

overdue

An item has been kept by the borrower past its due date. There are usually fines for overdue items.

oversize

Something that will not fit on the regular or outsize shelves

periodical

Journals or magazines which are published at regular intervals longer than a day but shorter than a year (weekly, monthly). See also Serials

periodical index

A cumulative listing of citations to periodical articles, arranged alphabetically by subject and by author's last name. Most periodical indexes are devoted to a specific field or discipline or type of periodical (for example, newspapers).

plagiarism

An unacceptable practice of using other people's work or ideas without acknowledgement.

publication date

Year in which a book or periodical was published. The publication date usually can be found on the back of the title page of a book or on the cover of a periodical. This is usually an essential part of a citation.

quarterly

Published four times a year. Many scholarly journals are published quarterly.

Quick Reference Collection

Frequently-used books such as telephone directories, English dictionaries, encyclopedias and other materials used by librarians and staff to look up quick answers to enquiries. Most quick reference books may not be borrowed because they are needed on a daily basis to answer questions by and for library users.

recall notice

If a user requests a book which is issued to someone else, library staff will request that the borrower return the material, whether finished with it or not. This procedure helps to share library materials among all users.

reference book

A book such as a dictionary, encyclopedia, or directory, that contains specific facts, data, or other brief bits of information. Most reference books may not be borrowed because they are needed on a daily basis to answer questions by reference librarians and library users.

reference librarian

A specialist in the field of information retrieval, and often, in other subject areas as well. Reference librarians have a qualification in librarianship and usually other graduate degrees also. Based at the Information Desks, they help users find materials needed for research, and teach users how to use library resources.

Reference-only

Materials which can be consulted in the library, but may not be borrowed.

renew

To extend the loan period of a book.

serials

Also known as periodicals. A term that describes a wide range of publications that are issued in successive parts with no predictable end in sight. Periodicals, magazines, journals, newspapers, annual reports, series, some conference proceedings, and annual reviews are all examples of serials.

style manual

A guide that provides rules and formats for arranging footnotes, citations, and bibliographies. Various style manuals are available in the Library. The choice of style manual depends on the discipline or subject matter. Departments will provide guidance to students as to which style manual to use for formatting complete citations.

subtitle

The portion of a work's title following the semicolon or colon.

Table of contents

A list of the chapter or article titles in a book or journal. This is usually found at the beginning of a book after the title page. The University of Waikato Library online catalogue lists the table of contents for some recent books. The table of contents for a journal may sometimes be found on the cover (back or front) of each issue, inserted in one issue of the volume (but covering all issues of a volume) or issued separately. The online catalogue does NOT list the table of contents for journals. There are databases which do this however.

thesaurus

Note two distinct meanings:
(i) a book of synonyms, sometimes including contrasting words (antonyms). The most well-know thesaurus of this type is Roget's.

(ii) An alphabetical list of terms and concepts representing the specialised vocabulary of a particular field. An example of one among many hundreds of this type is Thesaurus of Psychological Index Terms. Thesauri of this type are used by librarians and others to conduct focused searches of online periodical indexes.

thesis

A dissertation to maintain or prove a proposition, especially one written as the principal requirement for a degree.

title

The name of a book, essay, story, play, poem, picture, statue, piece of music, film, etc.

weekly

Published once a week. Many popular magazines, and some newspapers, are published weekly.

yearbook

An annual documentary, historical, or memorial publication containing information about the previous year.