A

Abstract

A summary of an information source, such as an article. Abstracts may be included with citations in an index.

Almanac

Compilations of useful information, often including statistical data. Almanacs are usually updated annually.

B

Blog

Short for "weblog", a blog is a personal online diary that is intended for viewing by the general public.

Boolean logic

A technique that uses sets to include or exclude search terms. Use AND to combine multiple search terms. Use OR to search for either search term. Use NOT to exclude a search term.

Browser

See Web browser

C

Call number

Based on a specific classification system, a call number provides the exact address of an item on the library's shelves.

Citation

All the information necessary to locate a specific information resource. Citations usually include the title, author, publisher, date, page number, etc.

Classification System

A method of organizing information to make it easier to retrieve at a later time. Some examples of classification systems include Library of Congress, Dewey Decimal and MESH (Medical Subject Headings).

Controlled vocabulary

Subject search terms precisely defined by indexers of a given index. Use of a controlled vocabulary permits the searcher to find everything in that database related to the controlled vocabulary term.

Copyright

The legal protection that provides the creator of a work the sole right to publish, reproduce and sell that work.

Cross-reference

A note in an index or document that refers you the main entry or preferred term. Often the note begins with See: followed by the term you should use. For example: Tom Sawyer -- See Adventures of Tom Sawyer.

D

Database

A collection of information stored in electronic format. It may be a collection of words, numbers, sounds, images, or video. Databases are usually created using special software that also enables users to search the database in order to retrieve information according to specific criteria. Research databases generally contain references to published information, such as articles that may have been published in a newspaper or magazine. Some research databases also include the full text of the item. Also called,

F

Fair-use

Fair use is a guideline that allows certain types of users conditional rights to use or reproduce some copyrighted materials if such use meets certain criteria as stipulated in the Copyright Code.

Full text

Full text indicates that a particular database provides the entire textual content of an article or document. Some databases provide only citations or abstracts, while others provide full text.

H

Holdings

A list of the materials a library owns. For periodicals, it is usually expressed as a range including the volume numbers and years (i.e., 65-74, 2000-2009).

I

Index

A tool listing resources included in a book or electronic resource used to locate information found in it by author, title, subject or other fields.

Interlibrary Loan

Also called ILL, Interlibrary Loan is a service which allows library patrons to borrow books not owned by their library.

Issue Number

Issue number is used in conjunction with the volume number to indicate a specific magazine or journal issue.

J

Journal

A subject-specific scholarly periodical which usually includes peer-reviewed articles. (Journal of Speech-Language Pathology)

K

Keyword

A word or phrase you think describes your topic. Searching by keyword is less specific that using subject headings, but can be useful if you do not know a subject heading.

L

Library of Congress Classification System

Also referred to as LC, a system of organizing library materials by subject, so that all materials on the same topic are stored together. LC is often used in academic and other large libraries. Dewy Decimal is another classification system.

Limiter

A limiter is a search technique used to narrow search results, by selecting various options, i.e., peer-reviewed, full-text, or specifying a date range.

M

Magazine

A popular periodical, usually glossy with lots of images and advertising. Magazlines reflect the popular culture.

Monograph

Another term for book.

Multi-disciplinary

A resource that includes many different subjects.

O

OPAC

Online Public Access Catalog - a computer system containing all the materials held by a library (also sometimes called a webPAC as it can be acces through a web page)

P

Peer-reviewed

A process where journal articles are read and evaluated by the authors' peers before being published. Also called refereed or scholarly articles.

Periodical

Any publication printed on a regular, predictable schedule - daily, weekly, quarterly, etc.

Periodical Index

A listing of published articles that includes the title of the article, the journal it was published in, and other information to help the reader locate the article. Periodical indexes can be subject-specific or multi-disciplinary (covering many subjects).

Plagiarism

Stealing someone else's ideas or words and presenting them as your own.

Primary Sources

Recorded in some format by an eyewitness to the event - as in an autobiography, a diary or the notes from a scientific experiment.

R

Refereed

An article that has been reviewed by one or more peers in the author's field to insure that the information meets certain standards of excellence and quality. Also called scholarly or peer-reviewed.

S

Scholarly Sources

Research articles written by and for scholars and reviewed by peers before being published.

Search Strategy

A plan for conducting an information search. It includes a list of databases and indexes to search, a list of relevant keywords and subject headings and the knowledge of how to utilize available resources.

Secondary Sources

Sources that compile or critique original works or primary sources. Secondary sources include biographies, literary criticism, and encyclopedia articles.

Serial

Any publication printed on an ongoing basis. Magazines, journals, almanacs and newspapers are examples of serials.

Subject Headings

Agreed upon terms to use when searching for information. Subject headings are assigned to all materials that are cataloged or indexed, making it easier to find all materials relevant to the subject.

Subject-specific

A resource that pertains to only one subject (i.e., ARTstor, Business Source Premier)..

T

Trade Publications

Periodicals written by and for people in a specific industry, trade or occupation.

Truncation

To use the root of a word followed by a special symbol to search for all variations of the word. For example, child* will return childhood, children, child's, etc. Truncation symbols vary from database to database.

V

Volume Number

Used with periodicals, a volume number refers to all the issues of a periodical for a specified time period, usually a year.

W

WebPAC

Another term for a library's Online Public Access Catalog.