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Image of Question MarkHow to Understand Library Jargon
Baffled by Boolean? Confused about call numbers?
Every field has its jargon. Here is library jargon defined. Still have questions after reading this guide? 

A-F | G-L | N-S | T-Z

A-F 

abstract
A summary of an article, generally a sentence to a paragraph in length.

authoritative
The more authoritative a resource is, the more you can trust that the information is likely to be accurate. Things that make a source more authoritative include: listing of the author's name; author's credentials; listing of the sources the author used; and peer review. The more of these things that included, the more authoritative the resource is. Authoritative resources can be in any format, such as books, journals, or Internet sources. 

Boolean operators
Boolean operators describe a conceptual relationship between search terms and include: "and," "or," and "not." These may be used in the search box of most online databases and Internet search engines. 

AndAnd 
Using "and" indicates that both terms must be present to be retrieved. In an "and" search, only the point where the two circles overlap--the green portion---would be retrieved. "And" should be chosen to narrow the search statement.  
Boolean DiagramOr 
Using "or" indicates that either term may be present to be retrieved. An "or" search would retrieve a set that looks like the entire image-- the yellow circle, the blue circle and the green portion in between would all be retrieved. "Or" should be chosen when using several terms to describe the same or a similar concept, which will broaden the search.
NotNot 
Using "not" indicates that one term is present and the other must not be  present to be retrieved. The "not" search would look like the yellow circle with the overlapping green portion of that circle gone. Use "not" cautiously--frequently more is eliminated than is intended. "Not" should be  chosen to eliminate instances of a term from a search statement. 

call number

Example: Walt Whitman: The Song of Himself
PS 3231 L68 1999
To locate this book, go to the shelves that have the "PS's" in their range.

All COM Library book shelves have the range of call numbers shelved there posted on the end of the book shelves:

shelf range

citation
A citation lists all the information you would need to find an article in a print periodical: the periodical in which it was published, the date of that periodical, the page numbers on which it appeared, the title of the article and the author. Example: 

Kerr, Barbara A. "When Dreams Differ: Male-Female Relations on Campuses." The Chronicle of Higher Education. 5 March 1999: B7-8.

To find the article above, you would need to find the journal, The Chronicle of Higher Education, the March 5th issue, page B7-8.

credentials
An author's credentials include things like degrees, achievements, awards, honors, experience, occupation, position, and other publications.

database
Generally, data or information that is entered into a computer program and organized by fields. Microsoft Access is an example of database software. In COM Library databases refer to online databases that list articles and may include abstracts or full text articles. Find out more about Online Databases, or access our online databases (if you are on campus): Databases.

directory
Internet directories are sites that maintain an index of other Internet sites. The data in these directories has generally been input by people. Since the Internet is growing every day, it is not currently possible to have a comprehensive directory to the Internet. Most directories can be browsed by subject, or searched. See search engine and meta search engine.

embargo
When publishers impose a full text delay to their journals in databases. The length of time varies by publisher. For instance, Consumer Reports embargos its' articles for three months, so even though EBSCO's database, MasterFILE Premier has Consumer Reports available in full text, they will not be available for 3 months after they are actually published.

FAQs
FAQs are Frequently Asked Questions.

field
A database is a collection of records, and records are composed of a series of fields. These fields contain very specific information. For instance, in COM Library's Catalog, every item has a record. Each record includes fields such as author, title, subject, publisher, and call number. 

G-L

hits
The results retrieved from a search in an online database or Internet search engine.

HTML
Hyper Text Markup Language. Code that is transparent to the user that allows the user of a Web page to click on a link and jump to another page.

index
In COM Library, this refers to a print listing of article citations, usually accessible by title, author and subject. Find out more about print indexes, or access a list of our print indexes.

information literacy
The ability to locate, evaluate, and use information to become an independent life-long learner. The Research Tutorial is designed to introduce COM students to the process of becoming information literate. 

interface
An interface allows a user to interact with computer programs. In the case of an online database, it allows a user to retrieve the data or information in the database.

Internet
A global network connecting millions of computers. This includes but is not limited to the Web.

Invisible Web
The Invisible Web refers to content that many directories and search engines can't index. It's not a new problem, but some sites have come up with new solutions. In order to access this information you will generally not be performing a direct search for content but for the resources that may access the content--and you can expect to spend more time doing it. The advantage? You may not be able to access this content any other way.

Access COM Library's collection of Invisible Web search tools on the Search page.

ISBN
International Standard Book Number. A 10-digit number that uniquely identifies books and book-like products published internationally.

ISSN
International Standard Serial Number.

journal
A collection of articles generally written by scholars or experts in their fields. Articles tend to be detailed with references listed and credentials of the author given. Some journals are peer reviewed. Examples: Journal of Applied Psychology, JAMA, Modern Fiction Studies.

Library Catalog
College of the Mainland Library's Catalog is a Web based searchable catalog  of COM Library's books, pamphlets and audio-visual materials. The Library Catalog may be searched anywhere on campus, or at home. In the library, the catalog terminals are located in the center of the main floor, in front of the Circulation Desk. To find out more about searching the catalog, go to COM Library's Guide Find Books.

Library of Congress Classification System
The Library of Congress Classification System is the system COM Library uses to organize its books and other materials. All cataloged materials are assigned title, author and Library of Congress subject headings so they can be retrieved in a search of COM's Library Catalog and organized on the library's shelves in a consistent manner. To see an outline of the system, go to the Library of Congress Classification Outline

Library of Congress Subject Heading
All COM Library materials that have been cataloged have been assigned subject headings from the Library of Congress Classification System. The Library of Congress Classification System assigns all materials cataloged subject headings so that they can be retrieved using that subject. To see more on the subject headings, see the four volume Library of Congress Subject Heading books next to the COM Library Catalog terminals in COM Library.

magazine
A collection of articles generally written by staff or freelance writers and aimed at the general public. Articles tend to be brief with no references listed or credentials of the author given. Examples: Fortune, Reader's Digest, Time.

meta search engine
Meta search engines (also known as All-in-One search pages) allow the user to search multiple engines from one location. Since no search engine or directory of the Internet is comprehensive, you may have to use more than one to find the information you want. Disadvantages? Most meta search engines do not allow the user to take advantage of a search engine's options, which can make a search much more effective; some also require that a search term be entered repeatedly for each engine it searches. See directory and search engine.

N-S

online databases
In COM Library online databases list articles and may include abstracts or full text articles. Find out more about Online Databases, or access our online databases (if you are on campus): Databases

Online Library (OL)
This term is specific to COM Library. The Online Library is where library patrons may do research on computers in the library. This includes access to the Internet as well as databases that COM Library pays to access.

Online Library Classroom (OLC)
This term is specific to COM Library. The Online Library Classroom is where the library provides instruction in how to do research and use library resources, including the Library Catalog, databases, the Internet and more.

patron
In a library setting, a patron is someone who uses the library, such as COM students, faculty, staff and community members.

peer reviewed
Scholars and experts review articles for accuracy and significance before it is published in a journal.

periodical
A periodical is a publication which is issued periodically, such as a magazine, journal or newspaper.

popular magazines
Magazines whose content has been written by staff or freelance writers, although occasionally some popular magazines have contributors who are more authoritative. See a chart to compare scholarly journals and popular magazines, with examples listed below.

primary sources
Primary sources are records recorded at the time such as letters, diaries, government documents, photographs, oral histories, artifacts. For more information on primary sources, go to: Historical Primary Sources: A Guide.

reference
Books in the reference section tend to be frequently used fact based resources such as almanacs, dictionaries and  encyclopedias.

reserve
In COM Library these are frequently used materials placed by instructors. Check out is usually for brief periods of time and sometimes items cannot leave the library. Go to the circulation desk to obtain these materials. 

scholarly journals
Journals whose content has been written by scholars or experts in their field. The most authoritative scholarly journals are peer reviewed. See a chart to compare scholarly journals and popular magazines, with examples listed below.

search engine
Internet search engines are sites that maintain an index of other web sites, as directories do, but the index is obtained in a different manner: search engines have robots or spiders (computer programs) that search other sites on the Internet. Some robots only index the main page of an Internet site, and others index every page of every site they encounter. Search engines are not always as easy to use as directories, but sometimes they can find sites that have not been indexed in a directory. Even search engines cannot keep up with the explosive growth of the Internet, however, so more than one might have to be used to find specific information. Many of these search engines maintain separate pages for simple and advanced searches. Don't be afraid of the advanced searches--usually it just means there are more options to use--so results are frequently better. Most search engines use pull-down or pop-up menus for their search options. Click on them to see what options exist. Most search engines now also include their own browsable directories that are easier to use, but like other directories, do not keep track of as many sites. Google is currently the most popular search engine and is probably the quickest and easiest to use and still get good results. Google search is available from the bottom of every COM Library page.

secondary sources
Secondary sources are accounts of the past written after events have taken place. They generally give overviews or interpret the events.

special collection
Special collections are collections of books by subjects of special interest to library patrons. COM Library has the following special collections: Baker & Taylor, Juvenile, Reference and Texana.

stack
The stacks are the main part of a library's book collection.

T-Z

text box
On a Web page, an area in which a user can input text or terms, as in a a search on a search engine page.

URL
Uniform (or Universal) Resource Locator, or Web address. Example, COM Library's URL is: http://library.com.edu.

vendor
Vendors create interfaces to databases and sell access to the information in the database. They may or may not also be the creators of the database. Many databases are available through multiple vendors. 

Web
A portion of the Internet that uses HTML and can include other types of files such as graphic, audio and video files

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Questions?

If you still have questions after reading this guide, try some of COM Library's FAQs, or you may ask the Reference Librarian for assistance. The Reference Office is located on the ground floor of the library near the Online Library.

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