A

abstract

a brief summary of an article, book, or other document

alphabetical order

in the order of the English alphabet: A, B, C, D, E, .......Z

annotation

a short note that describes or evaluates a publication or web site. For example, the Librarians' Index to the Internet provides annotations for the web sites it recommends. An annotated bibliography similarly includes descriptions.

article index

a work that lists the articles that appear in a selected group of journals or magazines. An index can be searched by title, author or subject. Most article indexes at Langara can be accessed electronically from the web, though some are also available in print. Article indexes are sometimes called periodical indexes or periodical databases.

audiovisual materials

materials you listen to or view, such as videos or audiocassettes. Also called media or multimedia.

authoritative

reliable or dependable. The authoritativeness of a document is based on the credentials and expertise of the author, publisher, and/or the group sponsoring its publication.

 

B

bar code

a small label with narrow vertical bars that encodes information about an item. Most library items have barcodes. A library card also has a bar code on the back. Bar codes are used to quickly scan information into a computer.

bibliography

a list of books, articles, or other documents about a particular subject

browse

look around at what's on a library shelf or what's inside library items

C

call number

a library item's "address" (all the letters and numbers on its label). For a full explanation, see the Niagara University Library's guide to Understanding Call Numbers.

catalogue

a computerized list of items the library owns. The catalogue can be searched by title, author, subject, or keyword.

check out

sign out (borrow) library items to use at home

circulating materials

items that can be signed out from the library

circulation desk

service desk where you can check out and return library materials.

citation

brief, identifying information about a book, article, video, or other document. Citations are used in library catalogues and article indexes, and also in bibliographies or works cited at the end of. There are several citation styles, but in general the following elements are present in a citation:

a book citation includes the author, title, publisher, place and date published

an article citation includes the author, article title, name of the magazine or journal, volume, issue number, pages, and publication date.

course reserves

see reserves

D

database

A computerized list of records. Each record is then made up of fields. For example, in a database such as a library catalogue, each book is described in a record. Particulars about the book such as author and title are provided within specific fields in the record.

descriptors

see subject headings

due date

the date you are required to return a library item

E

electronic databases

A database is a computerized list of records. Each record is then made up of fields. Example: in a library catalogue, each book is described in a record. Particulars about the book such as author and title are provided within specific fields in the record.

Sample record from the Langara College Library Catalogue

Box in middle of screen shot provides the location, the Call number (the number used to find the book on the shelf), and the status column indicates whether or not a book is on loan.

F

full text

describes when the entire content of an article, book, or other document is available electronically. Langara subscribes to a number of full text article indexes and electronic books.

H

hold

a request for a library item that is already signed out or is currently unavailable. When the item is returned to the library, it will be kept at the circulation desk for the person who made the hold request.

I

interlibrary loan

a co-operative arrangement between libraries that allows books or materials from one library to be loaned out to a user from another library. At Langara, students and staff can request items on interlibrary loan from other BC college and university libraries.

J

journal

A scholarly periodical that publishes lengthy and in-depth articles that have often been peer-reviewed. Examples of journals include the Canadian Journal of Sociology, Psychological Reports and British Medical Journal. Sources of information are always cited in a scholarly article. Compare with a magazine.

K

keyword

a keyword is a significant word that appears somewhere in the title, subject, abstract, or elsewhere in the record of a document. Keywords can be used to search a catalogue, article index, or other type of database.

L

library card

a card that indicates a person has borrowing and other privileges at a library. At Langara, your student card is your library card. Library cards are activated by having a bar code attached to the back by staff at the circulation desk.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

a list of standard words used by almost all libraries in North America to describe the subjects of materials in library catalogues. LC subject headings have a specific pattern of subdividing topics and do not always use the same words as those used in common language. For example:
Common Language: Native land claims
LC Subject Heading: Indians of North America - land tenure

M

magazine

a periodical that publishes short articles, generally focusing on
current events and issues. Sources of information are not always cited and stories may be sensationalized to draw readership. Examples of popular periodicals include Psychology Today, Time and Newsweek. Compare with a journal

media

see audiovisual materials

monograph

a book. A monograph is published as a single entity (unlike a periodical).

O

overdue fines

overdue means late; a fine is money you owe when you return a library item late

P

patron

a person who uses a library.

 

peer-review

the process in which scholars or specialists in a field have critically evaluated an article prior to it being accepted for publication. Peer-reviewed journals are also sometimes called referreed journals.

periodical index

see article index

periodical

a magazine, journal or newspaper. A periodical is published at regular intervals in an ongoing fashion (unlike a monograph). The Types of Periodicals table lists examples and distinguishing features of popular, professional, scholarly, and other types of periodicals.

primary source

original writings or research or documentation of an event from the time that it occured. Examples of primary sources include manuscripts, interviews, diaries, letters, and newspaper articles (written at the time of an event). See also secondary source.

R

reference books

books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, almanacs, and handbooks. Use these to get a big view of a topic or to find facts

reference desk

service desk where you can get help to do research in the library

renewal

extending the loan period for an item you have borrowed from the library

reserves

library materials that instructors have "reserved" for a class to use. Reserve items can only be borrowed for a short period of time.

S

secondary source

information written about a primary source. Examples of secondary sources include literature reviews and literary criticism.

subject headings

standardized words used to describe a topic when you are looking for information in a catalogue, article index, or online datatabase. Subject headings are also sometimes called descriptors. See also Library of Congress Subject Headings.