Shapiro Undergraduate Library

Library Glossary

This is a list of terms commonly used by library staff, who sometimes forget that library terminology is not common knowledge.

abstract

Summary of an article, book, or other written publication.

acquisitions

Materials which are bought for the libraries, or the department of the library which buys materials.

archives

Public records or historical documents, or the place where such records and documents are kept.

bibliographic citation

The information which identifies a book or article. Information for a book usually includes the author, title, publisher, and date. The citation for an article includes the author, title of the article, title of the periodical, volume, pages, and date.

bibliography

A list of books, articles, or other sources (interviews, films) on a particular subject. Bibliographies may be found at the end of books or articles, or may be separate publications.

bindery

Books that need repair and periodicals are sent out of the library system and are not available to users

bound

Refers to several issues of a peridical which are joined together under one cover.

call number

A group of letters and numbers given to each item which is used to arrange materials in the library The Library of Congress System (LC call number) is used for most University of Michigan materials; an example: GV 836 .A2C72.

CD-ROM

A read-only-memory compact disk, used to store printed information such as periodical indexes. This disk is used with computer.

charge out or check out

The process of borrowing materials to use outside the library. This is done at the circulation desk. A student ID or faculty/staff library card is required.

circulation desk

Also frequently called circ, the area to check out library materials.

citation

Same as bibliographic citation

claimed

Notification that a periodical was not received as expected.

course reserves

Materials that instructors set aside for the students in a class to read. These items may be borrowed for a short period and have very high fines.

cumulative index

An index in which several previously published indexes are combined into one book.

current periodical

The most recent issues of a journal or magazine, often published during the last year, which have not been bound. database searching - using a computer system to list journal article citations on a subject. There is often a fee charged to the patron when a reference librarian searches a commercial database at the request of the patron.

depository

A library which receives the publications of a government. The University of Michigan is a partial depository for publications of the U.S. Government, the State of Michigan, the United Nations, and the Government of Canada.

hold

A hold guarantees that when a book is returned to the circulation desk it will be saved for you.

holdings

The group of items included in a library.

index

A list of subjects, names, titles, etc. that helps you to locate information. A periodical index lists articles by subject or author. A book index is a list at the end of a book which gives pages numbers where names and subjects can be found in the book.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL)

A way to get materials owned by other libraries.

journal

A publication which has scholarly information, usually written by professors, researchers, or experts in a subject area., and not intended for the general public. See magazine.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Four large red books containing the vocabulary, or subject headings, necessary to find information in the card catalog or online catalog.

magazine

A periodical intended for the general public rather than for scholars.

manuscript

A handwritten or typed composition, rather than printed.

microforms

Microfiche (4 by 6 inch cards) and microfilm (a roll of film); printed items which have been reduced in size by photographic methods to save space.

monograph

A book.

online database

A computerized file, often of periodical indexes.

online searching

Using an off-site computer system to find periodical citations on a subject. There is often a fee charged to the library user.

periodical

An item which is published on a regular basis, such as journals, magazines, and newspapers.

reserves

Same as course reserves. Other materials may also be kept on reserve

search

If a book is not on the shelves and it is not checked out, you may place a request at the circulation desk for one of the library staff to try and find the book and hold it for you.

serial

A publication which is intended to continue indefinitely. This includes periodicals such as magazines, journals, newspapers, and books such as almanacs and yearbooks which come out every year.

subject heading

The specific word or phrase used to find a book or article on a specific topic in a catalog or periodical index.

vertical file

A collection of pamphlets, newspaper clippings, or other small published items.

volume

A number of issues of a periodical, usually a year.