Library Glossary

Abstract . A paragraph or two condensing an article or book. Some databases and indexes abstract documents for you; a help if the title of the document is unclear.

Bibliography . A list of sources (articles, books, interviews, etc.) used in a paper, article, or other work. Sometimes called Works Cited or References.

Call Number . The "address" of a book that allows books on the same topics to be shelved together. The CDS library uses the Dewey Decimal system, but there are others. Others include the Library of Congress system (most college and university libraries use the LC system) and the SuDoc or Superintendent of documents system (used for US government documents; UNC-A has a Government Documents collection).

Catalog . A listing of books, maps, or other items arranged in some type of order. Lists the resources of a collection, library, or group of libraries. The CDS library catalog is available online.

Circulating Book . A book that can be checked out and taken from the library. At CDS, the circulation period is 2 weeks for most materials in the US library and 4 weeks for materials from the LS/MS library.

Citation . Information (author, title, etc.) that helps you locate a book, an article, an essay, or other data. Citations (or references) are often listed at the ends of articles, encyclopedia entries, book chapters, or in the library's online catalog and lead you to more information.

Database . Information stored on computer files or CD-ROM. The library's online catalog, The Student Resource Center, Opposing Viewpoints , and the resources available in NCLive are databases, to name a few. Many databases were formerly available in paper format and were called indexes.

Dewey Decimal . See Call Number.

Directories and Search Engines . Tools that help you navigate the Internet. A directory has already selected and categorized sites and humans have evaluated them for you. A search engine searches the web mechanically for the terms you select. Both of these tools, however, only search the freely accessible section of the web and not the higher quality subscription databases such as The Student Resource Center or Opposing Viewpoints .

Full-text . A database option in which the entire text of the article is available online. Graphics, charts, photographs, etc. are not available.

Full-image . A database option in which the article appears in the same format as if it were printed, with charts, graphics, photographs available.

Government Documents . The US government publishes an immense amount of reliable material in book, periodical, CD-ROM, web, and microform formats. Statistics, history, public health, etc. are some of the government's strong points. UNC-A has a good documents collection.

Index . An alphabetical list or subjects treated in a book or set of books or database that tells the reader on which pages in the book s/he might information on that subject. OR … Lists subjects, people, places, etc. where a researcher might find information. For example, a student looking for information on "drug abuse" in The Student Resource Center would be led to articles in Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, Business Week , etc.

Journals . See Periodicals.

Keyword . A method of searching a database and retrieving citations containing a word appearing anywhere in the citation. The advantage of keyword searching is that you don't have to know the "proper" subject heading, author, or title under which the material is filed.

LC or Library of Congress . See Call Number.

Magazine . See Periodicals.

Microform, microfilm, and microfiche . A type of document storage in which the articles, books, periodicals, etc. have been photographed and greatly reduced. A specialized machine is necessary to read and copy material stored in micro format. Microform is the generic term for both fiche and film. In microfiche, the storage is on cards; microfilm, on rolls of film.

Periodicals or Serials . A publication that appears periodically or serially, such as a newspaper (daily) or a magazine (weekly, monthly, etc.). Magazines are considered popular material (such as Sports Illustrated , Reader's Digest , or Consumer Reports ). Journals are scholarly (such as The American Journal of Psychology , or Studies in English Literature ).

Primary Sources or Documents . First-hand account or direct evidence of an event, person, or any topic under investigation. Examples of primary sources are diaries, speeches, letters, newspaper reports, paintings, photographs, artifacts, scientific studies or data, etc. See also "Secondary Sources."

Reference Book . Books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, etc. which are referred to for information rather than intended to be read cover to cover. Reference books cannot be checked out, but photocopying is available. See also Subject encyclopedia. The library's Reference area is usually the best place to start research on a topic.

Secondary Sources . Material or documents that interpret events or topics, such as history books. See also "Primary Sources."

Serials . See Periodicals.

Subject Encyclopedia . An encyclopedia devoted to a particular topic, such as Encyclopedia of Bioethics , the Encyclopedia of the Reformation , or the Encyclopedia of American Social History .

Subject Heading . The word or group of words assigned to materials in a catalog or index.

Subscription Database . An online resource which is not freely available: the library pays for access. The information (often periodical articles, statistics, primary documents, government studies, etc.) is therefore much more reliable than that found on the free World Wide Web.