Library Words: What Do They Mean

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: Brief summary of a book or an article.

Article: Sometimes referred to as a paper. Writings on a particular topic. Some examples are: newspaper articles, journal articles, and Internet articles. Articles can be found using databases.

B

Barcode Number: The library card barcode begin with the numbers "21702." The 14-digit number appearing beneath the barcode found inside the front or back cover of a book, on your student ID or on your community patron card. Barcode numbers for Collin County Community College's Libraries books begin with the numbers "31702" and are used to charge, discharge, and renew books on the online computer system.  The student ID also should have a library barcode on the back.

Bibliography: A bibliography is a list of citations that appear at the end of a paper, article, chapter or book.

Book Return: A place to return items borrowed from the library.

Browser: Software program used to access web pages. Common browsers are Microsoft's Internet Explorer (MSIE), Netscape or Firefox.

C

Call Number: A call number is a combination of letters and numbers that is given to each item held in the library. The letters and numbers assigned to the work describe its subject matter and serves as its address on the shelf. The Learning Resources Centers use the Library of Congress Classification system to assign its call numbers.  For help try Tilt's Tutorial on Finding Books.

Catalog: A list of all the books, periodicals and other materials owned by the library. Each catalog record, or citation, contains a description of the item and location and call number information necessary to locate it in the library. You may search for items by keyword, author, title, subject, etc. in our online catalog.

Circulating Materials: Any material that can be physically removed from the library after being checked out at the circulation desk.

Circulation Desk: The circulation desk is the place to check out, return, or renew books.  Items requested through interlibrary loan and Request Items are delivered to circulation desks and patrons can pick them up from these locations.  Course reserve items are also available at circulation desks.  Overdue fines are paid at this desk, too.

Copyright: Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U.S. Code) to the authors of "original works of authorship," including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. For more information about copyright, see the United States Copyright Office web site.

Course Reserves: In academic libraries, course reserves are library items given a special loan period (one-hour, overnight, one semester) at the request of the instructor, to ensure that all the students enrolled in a course have an opportunity to use them. These materials are usually kept together in a particular area of the library, such as behind the circulation desk.  However, many reserve items may also be accessed electronically (i.e., E-Reserves) through the Docutek Electronic Course Reserves.

Criticism or Critique: An explanation or evaluation of a literary work.

D

Database:   A large, regularly updated file of digitized  collection of information (bibliographic records, abstracts, full-text documents, directory entries, images, statistics, etc.) related to a specific subject or field, searchable through a computer.  Access is provided through fee or subscription based, paid for by the libraries.  Some examples are Academic Search Premier, Grove Art Online, and Lexis Nexis Academic Universe, etc. Click here for our list of databases.

E

EBooks:  An ebook is an electronic (or digital) version of a book. See CCCCD's libraries list of ebooks. 

Embargo:  The period during which the articles published in a periodical are not available in online full-text from a publisher, usually the most recent one to three years. Journal publishers have established such periods to prevent libraries from canceling print subscriptions. In most periodical databases, this restriction applies only to a small proportion of the titles indexed.

E-Reserves: Also known as electronic reserves or ERes. CCCCD libraries uses Docutek ERes, as its electronic reserves system to manage and provide access to course reserve materials. ERes includes lists of books and other physical materials on reserve that are requested by faculty, provides web access to electronic journal articles and to other materials in electronic form, gives links to class web sites, and links to other web sites as requested.

F

Full Text Database: Database, such as Academic Search Premier or Lexis Nexis Academic Universe, that gives the full text of articles online. The user may sit in front of the computer screen and read the article, print off a copy, or email a copy. Graphics may or may not be included. This is dependent on the publisher of the journal.

H

Hold: When a book is currently on loan, the library permits another borrower to place a "request" or a "hold" on it by contacting the circulation desk, via phone, or through "Place Request" on the catalog's website. The patron who has the item checked out will not be permitted to renew it, and the person placing the "request" will be entitled to check it out after it has been returned. The book is to be held for you at the Circulation Desk rather than being reshelved. To request an item, your library barcode number and password is required. Your password is the last four digits of your phone number if you have not changed it to another password of your choosing. Only print books may be "requested."

HTML: (Hypertext Markup Language) Used to create the hypertext documents accessible via the World Wide Web and intranets.  HTML script is a cross-platform presentation markup language that allows the author to incorporate into a web page text, frames, graphics, audio, video, and links to other documents and applications. 

Hypertext:  Transparent linkage of textual documents to other related documents, images, or files on the World Wide Web.

I

Index:  A systematic guide to the contents of a file, document, or group of documents.

Interlibrary Loan: Service whereby a library borrows materials from outside institutions. Students and faculty may request an article or book from another institution to be sent to their campus to support their research needs. To request an interlibrary loan please use this form.

Internet: The largest online system in the world where data is sent or shared among computers over long distances.  A worldwide network of computers that can be accessed via the campus computer network. The Internet allows local computer users to find and use information resources on computers of other academic institutions, research institutes, private companies, and government agencies.

ISBN: (International Standard Book Number) An internationally agreed on standard number (10 digit code) that identifies a book uniquely.

J

Journal: A journal contains peer-reviewed articles written by scholars while a magazine contains more popular articles often written by journalists.

L

Library Instruction: A teaching/learning session where the curriculum is based upon some or all of the components of information literacy, library orientation, research methods, and/or the evaluation of results. Library Instruction may also include instruction tailored to specific course objectives. This instruction provides an introduction to the library resources that support specific course objectives, recommendations on selection and use, and tips on strategies for supplementing standard information access techniques. Library instruction is also known as bibliographic instruction.

Literary Criticism or Critique: An explanation or evaluation of a literary work.

M

Magazine: Although the terms periodical, journal, serial, and magazine have slightly different definitions, they are often used interchangeably. They are published on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, annually, etc.) and contain articles written by various authors.  A journal contains peer-reviewed articles written by scholars while a magazine contains more popular articles often written by journalists. The terms periodical and serial are more generic and refer to all types of these materials.

N

NetLibrary: NetLibrary is a collection of ebooks. NetLibrary books are searchable and accessible through the library catalog. See NetLibrary.

Non-circulating: Items that can not be checked out of the library, such as periodicals, reference works, etc.  Items which must remain accessible within the library at all times.

O

Off Campus Access: Access to resources (such as databases) while not in the library or any other CCCCD building. This restriction can be overcome by using your Collin username and password. For students, this is your Collin CougarMail username and password. For Faculty and Staff, your username and password for library databases is the same as your Collin Novell username and password. For most employees this is identical to your Collin (ccccd.edu) username and password. Click here to see our guide on accessing databases off campus.

P

PDF: (Portable document format) A file format that has captured all the elements of a printed document as an electronic image that you can view, navigate, print, or forward to someone else. This format looks like a copy of an article or the replica of its image.  Adobe Acrobat can be used to view PDFs and can be downloaded for free.

Peer Review: Peer review is a process used for checking the work performed by one's equals (peers) to ensure it meets specific criteria. Scholarly journals typically use the peer review process. This is also known as the referee process. Many journals are "peer reviewed" or "refereed."

Periodical: Although the terms periodical, journal, serial, newspapers and magazine have slightly different definitions, they are often used interchangeably. They are published on a regular basis (weekly, monthly, annually, etc.) and contain articles written by various authors.  A journal contains peer-reviewed articles written by scholars while a magazine contains more popular articles often written by journalists. The terms periodical and serial are more generic and refer to all types of these materials.

Plagiarism: Using another person’s work without giving credit. Click here for examples and help in avoiding plagiarism.

Primary Source: An original document, such as a hand written diary, original manuscripts, or items used to compile a literary document. 

R

Reference Collection: Books not meant to be read cover-to-cover, such as dictionaries, handbooks, and encyclopedias, shelved together in a special section of the library called the reference area. Reference books may not be checked out because they are needed by librarians to answer questions at the reference desk. Their location and circulation status is usually indicated by "Reference Book Shelves" in the online catalog or "REF" on the spine label of the book.

Reference Desk: When a person has a question about how to find specific information or how to use library services and resources, assistance can be obtained from a reference librarian at the reference desk. Professional librarians and reference assistants staff reference desks to assist patrons with their questions.  This is the service point to go to when you are not sure where to begin, are feeling lost or overwhelmed, or have a question.

Reference Librarian: Reference librarians are specialists in the field of information retrieval. Generally they have a Masters degree in library science, and may have other graduate degrees as well.  Reference librarians work in public services answering questions posed by library patrons at the reference desk, by telephone, via e-mail, or through an online chat session. They also provide instruction on the use of library resources and information technology. Click here to use our Ask a Librarian service or you may contact a reference librarian via our directory.

Renewal: An extension of the loan period for checked out library books, CDs, audios and software. Renewals may be handled in person at the circulation desk, by phone, or through the link "Patron Account" on the Library Catalog.  Students, faculty and staff may renew three times provided there are no holds on the material, and the items are not otherwise restricted. Community users may renew once, and the items are not otherwise restricted.

Request: When a book is currently on loan, the library permits another borrower to place a "request" or a "hold" on it by contacting the circulation desk, via phone, or through "Place Request" on the catalog's website. The patron who has the item checked out will not be permitted to renew it, and the person placing the "request" will be entitled to check it out after it has been returned. The book is to be held for you at the Circulation Desk rather than being reshelved. To request an item, your library barcode number and the last four digits of your phone number is required. Only print books may be "requested."

Research Guides: The Online Research Guides provide Collin students with "one-stop shopping" for resources such as full-text database articles, book information, and websites in specific disciplines. The Guides are compiled by our district librarians and accessed through our library Homepage.

Reserve: A collection of material in very high demand due to use in the curriculum. Instructors may request that library materials (or, in some cases, their own materials) be placed on reserve for students to borrow on short loan periods (generally from one hour to two weeks) for the duration of a course.

S

Scholarly Journal:  Also referred to as "Peer Reviewed" or "Refereed," a scholarly journal features articles that usually contain original research (qualitative or quantitative) and have been reviewed and selected by other scholars in order to be published.

Secondary Source:  Interprets and analyses primary sources. Secondary sources are one step removed from the event being described but provide the background necessary to understand the the primary sources. Some types of secondary sources are: textbooks, journal articles, histories, criticisms, commentaries, and encyclopedias.

Style Manual: Publication which provides instruction in how to write papers, usually including format, punctuation, and citation formats. Examples of style manuals include these types of citation styles: APA, MLA, Turabian, and Chicago.

Subject Research Guides: An online collection of research guides for subject areas offered at CCCCD. Each subject guide has links to resources such as databases, Internet sites, books, etc. that will help with research in a particular subject area.