PACIFIC WEST
REGIONAL LIBRARY

Glossary

Abstract

A short summary describing the main idea or content of a work such as an article, book or dissertation

Accessioning

The process of assigning numbers to books or other materials as they are added to the library

Bibliographic Citation

SEE: Citation

Bibliography

A list of publications (books, articles, dissertations, etc.) usually on a subject or by a particular author

Call Number

A number used to identify a particular library item and to indicate both its position on the shelves and its position relative to other library materials of its kind

Catalog

List of items owned by a library

CD-ROM

Compact Disk-Read Only Memory. An information technology used for storing and reading large amounts of information which is accessed through a computer. CD-ROMs look like the compact discs from a music store; but instead of storing music, they store text and other data

Citation

Information such as author, title, pagination, and dates that identifies a book or journal

Collection

The entire holdings of a library or the works by one author or items on a particular subject

Copyright Date

The date of the copyright as given in the book, usually on the back of the title page. The most recent copyright date is used. Copyright is the exclusive right to publish, reproduce, and sell a literary or an artistic work

Cover Title

The title printed on the cover of an item; this version of the title may be different from the version printed on the title page; the title page title is the preferred form for cataloging

Database

Generally refers to a collection of electronic records having a standardized format and using specific software for access

ILL

SEE: Interlibrary Loan

Interlibrary Loan

The process of filling patron requests for materials from other libraries

Jobber

A company that handles products from many producers, such as a book jobber, which distributes books from a large number of publishers

Monograph

A book that is complete in one physical piece

Monographic Set

A book issued in multiple volumes

Order Record

A record that identifies items that are on order and indicates when or if they have been received

Periodical

A publication issued at regular or irregular intervals, with each issue usually being numbered consecutively. A periodical is distinguished from other serials in that the process of publication is continuous with no predetermined termination

Primary Source

Original manuscripts, contemporary records, or documents associated with an event

Reference

1) A service provided by the libraries to assist patrons in the retrieval of information and the use of information resources; 2) SEE ALSO: Citation

Serial

A publication in any medium issued in successive parts bearing numerical or chronological designations and intended to be continued indefinitely; includes periodicals, newspapers, annuals (yearbooks, annual reports, etc.), the journals, memoirs, proceedings, transactions, etc. of societies, and numbered monographic series

Series

A number of volumes, usually related to one another in subject or otherwise, issued successively by a publisher. As a rule, these volumes are uniform in style, with a collective title that generally appears at the head of the title page, on the page preceding the title page, or on the cover.

Special Library

A library that is maintained by an individual, corporation, association, government agency, or any other group for the collection, organization, and dissemination of information.

Spine Title

A title appearing on the spine of an item (this version of the title may be different than the version printed on the title page; the title page title is the preferred form for cataloging

Thesaurus

A standard, generally published, source of controlled vocabulary from which terms are drawn for the purpose of providing subject access to bibliographic, catalog, or other types of database records

Title Page

A page at the beginning of an item bearing the title and usually, though not necessarily, data relating to publication

Title Page Verso

The back of the title page, usually containing the copyright date and other publication information
SEE ALSO: Verso

Verso

The left-hand page of a book or the "reverse" side of a page
SEE ALSO: Title Page Verso

World Wide Web

The part of the Internet that contains text, graphics, video, or audio format, and is viewed/heard by using a browser such as Netscape