Glossary

[ 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 description or summary of an item

B

Boolean operators: Most commonly used are: OR, AND, and NOT. They connect search words togetherto tell a system how to combine those words. Google and some databases automatically insert AND between search words, while in others, you must type connectors between search words. Check the online help for details.

bound volumes: Issues of magazine, journal and other loose publications, sewn or glued together, with front and back covers, like a hardcover book.

C

call number: shelf address and subject classification.
caveat emptor: A Latin expression meaning "let the buyer beware."

citation: A reference to an item which provides enough bibliographic informaiton for someone to locate that item. These items document sources and also serve as evidence for arguments in published materials.

D

database: Organized collection of information which may be placed in a computer's memory, to create an online database.

descriptor: Another word for subject or topic of an item. Important note: The words used to describe items may vary from one database to another.

domain: Provides a general idea of what kind of web site you are viewing, mostly through the use of suffixes, like .edu for educational organization. Want more? Check the Webopedia: <http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/D/domain_name.html>

E

F

G

H

I

invisible web: Comprises Internet resources that search engines cannot discover, such as the results of dynamically generated searches in subscription databases.

J

K

L

M

N

O

official subjects: Specific words carefully selected by librarians and database publishers, to describe a topic. For example, the National Library of Medicine uses the word Neoplasm to represent the topic of Cancer. They can help you find all items on a topic regardless of the words used to describe that topic.

P

PDF (Portable Document Format): Exact copies of items, as they appeared when published in print. You can read PDF files by using Adobe Acrobat Reader, freely available on the Adobe web site <http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html>

peer-reviewed: Items (with authorship removed) which have been examined carefully by experts in a field, in an effort to ensure quality. Experts look for accuracy, completeness, scholarship, and use of appropriate and up to date supporting evidence. (Also called "refereed.")

periodical: An item published at intervals with no end in sight--e.g., magazines, journals and newspapers.

periodical index: Publication or database that lists magazine, journal and newspaper articles, and may also provide some online. Some also list books, book chapters (essays), dissertations, conference papers, etc. Important note: Many online databases are licensed for use by specific groups or individuals and may not be available to the general public.

Q

R

refereed: Items (with authorship removed) which have been examined carefully by experts in a field, in an effort to ensure quality. Experts look for accuracy, completeness, scholarship, and use of appropriate and up to date supporting evidence. (Also called "peer-reviewed.")

S

search statement: Combination of words to look up online.

subject headings: Official word(s) used to describe the topic of an item. (Also called "descriptors.") Important Note: These words may vary from one database to another.

T

truncation: A "wild card" symbol. It tells the system to search for items that begin with or come in the middle of a string of characters--e.g., child* searches for child, children; wom?n searches for woman or women. Important Note: Different databases may use different truncation symbols. Check the online help for details.

U

unbound issues: Loose periodicals which have been published separately, usually with soft paper covers. Libraries often gather them together into bound volumes.

URL: Abbreviation of "Uniform Resource Locator," Web address of a resource or file available on the Internet.

V

visible web: Sometimes referred to as the "surface web," consiting of freely available sites that can be found by search engines such as Google, Yahoo!, etc.

W

X

Y

Z

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