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Research - Topic Guides - Linguistics Used in the Library
Play the Library Lingo Crossword Puzzle! Definitions of some of the "library lingo" you will hear while using Randall Library.
#s | 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
It may be useful to use the "edit and find" feature of your browser to locate a word if you are having trouble (top left of browser).
8mm: Developed to create an even less expensive home movie format, 8mm film is 16mm film sliced down the middle, fitting four times as many frames in the same amount of film. Film Studies Guide.
16mm: 16mm film was initially created in the 1920s as in inexpensive amateur alternative to the conventional 35mm film format. Thanks to the compact size and lower cost, 16mm was quickly adopted for use in professional news reporting, corporate and educational films, and other uses, while the home movie market switched to even less expensive 8mm film. Film Studies Guide.
(Super) 8mm: Super 8mm film was developed as an improvement of the older 8mm home movie format. The film, 8mm wide, comes in plastic cartridges containing a 50-foot reel (about 3 minutes, depending on the film speed). (Definitions from Wikipedia). Here is list of the Super 8mm films in the library's collection. Film Studies Guide.
The film equipment (for the formats above) is stored in the projection booth in the Library Auditorium. If you need to use this equipment you will need to make a request at the AV desk.
Abstract: A summary of a journal article.
Academic Library: A library which primarily serves an academic community; a library serving Higher Education (community college, college, or university).
Acquisitions: The library department that orders, receives, and pays for library materials. (Department website)
Adobe Acrobat Reader: This is the software that is needed to open most course reserves page. All computers in the library already have the software. If you'd like it for your home computer, you can download it for free from the Adobe Website.
Aggregator Databases: Databases that license access to electronic journals, magazines and newspapers and compile these serials in some meaningful way. Then the publishers of the aggregator databases create a common interface to provide access to the information contained in these databases. Examples of aggregator databases are: Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe and the Ebsco databases.
Annotated Bibliography: A list of books, authors, or subjects which includes comments on, or evaluations of, each of the listed items.
Archives: 1.) Collections of valuable materials that are stored and preserved for historical purposes. 2.) The department in libraries that collects valuable historical information. The UNCW Archives makes the history of the university accessible to researchers. This department actively seek university records, artifacts, and other primary source materials. (Department website)
Articles: Writings on a particular topic. Some examples are: newspaper articles, journal articles, and internet articles. Articles can be found using databases.
Assistive Technology: Assistive technology is any tool, equipment or service designed to help develop, maintain or improve your ability to function in all aspects of your life. Assistive technology helps people of all ages who may have a broad range of disabilities or limitations.
Assistive Technology Room: Room on the 1st floor (past the Reserves desk) available to those needing to use assistive technology. (Disabilities webpage coming soon - for now go to this temp site).
Atlas: A collection of maps bound in book form; may depict a variety of information, such as population densities, agricultural products, etc. The main Atlas collection is located in the Reference department (map).
Auditorium: Located on the 2nd floor of the library at the back of the building, the auditorium is used for classes and special events. Each day's schedule can be viewed on the library calendar.
A/V: 1) Audio Visual Department which is located at the Reserves desk (map) 2) Audio Visual Material such as a DVD, VHS video, CD, etc. (map).
Backfiles: Older material than the current files. Databases will often have current files, backfiles, and deep backfiles, each category is related to the publication dates of the material.
Bar Code: The machine-readable number found on library books. The circulation system uses these numbers to keep track what books are checked out and who they are checked out to.
Bibliographic Instruction (BI): Another term for Library Instruction. (Instruction Website)
Bibliographic Management Software: Software that enables you to manage large amounts of citations and to created formated lists with these citations. Examples are: Endnote, ProCite, RefWorks, etc.
Bibliography: A list of books, journal articles, papers, etc., on a particular subject or by a particular author. Each entry (also known as a reference or a citation) gives the facts of publication for each item.
Biographical Source: A publication containing information about a person's life or people's lives and/or indicating where to find such information.
Biography: An account of someone's life.
BI: Bibliographic Instruction. Also known as "Library Instruction."
Book: A bound volume published once (with later editions possible), usually addressing a single subject or containing a single literary work or collection of literary works. Libraries often refer to books as monographs to distinguish them from journals.
Boolean Operators: Words that define the relationship between two or more terms when searching databases or the Internet. For example, AND between two terms means that only items containing both terms are wanted ("nuclear and submarines"). OR between two terms means that items containing either term are wanted ("nuclear or atomic").
Borrower's Card: For UNCW students, faculty, and staff, your UNCW One Card is your library borrower's card. NC residents over the age of 18 may purchase a Borrower's Card at the Circulation desk. (More information)
Bound: a book or journal which has been sewn or otherwise attached between hard covers.
Bound Periodicals: Older issues of periodicals or journals that have been put together between hard covers and are shelved in alphabetical order by title in the Bound Periodicals section on the 1st floor (map).
Call Number: A unique letter-number combination assigned to each book using the Library of Congress Classification System, which classifies library items by topic. This means that library items with similar call numbers will be shelved together or close by each other. An example of a call number is: F1868 .I5 1984 for the book Jamaica located in Reference.
Catalog: A list of all the books, periodicals and other materials owned by the library. Each catalog record, or citation, contains a description of the item and location and call number information necessary to locate it in the library. You may search by various access points such as keyword, author, title, journal title, subject, etc. in the Randall Library Catalog.
CD-ROM or Compact Disc: Some databases, as well as much specialized information such as government documents, are available on compact disc. You may or may not have to handle the disk yourself. Many more are available online. The location field of the catalog record will tell you where the CD can be found in the library.
Check Out: To take a book out of the library in your name for a period of time. To check out books, present your University ID (UNCW One Card) at the Circulation Desk along with the books. When checking out A/V materials such as VHS videos, DVDs, CDs, etc. go to the Reserve/A/V Desk (map).
Circulating: Books that may be checked out of the library, e.g., the books in the General Collection.
Circulation: The library department that handles book checkout, shelving, fines, etc. This department is located on the 1st floor (map). (Department website)
Citation: Bibliographic information about an item: For books, usually the author, title, place of publication, publisher, and date; For articles, usually the author, title, periodical title, volume number, page numbers, and date. Citations are what you find in periodical indexes/databases and the Randall Library Catalog, or they may be in the footnotes or list of references at the end of a book, chapter, article, etc.
Classification Number: See Call Number.
Classification Scheme: A method for arranging materials, such as LC, Dewey, or SuDoc. LC & Dewey define categories by subject while SuDoc is organized by government agency.
CMC (Curriculum Materials Center): The CMC is a specialized section of the William Madison Randall Library. You will find the Center on the second floor of the Library located in the back right-hand corner of the building, adjacent to the auditorium. The purpose of the CMC is to serve as a resource center for students enrolled in the teacher education program and for teachers in the surrounding area. (First Floor of Watson School of Education). (CMC website)
Collection: (1) All materials owned by a library. (2) Any of various subgroups of a library's holdings, such as the reference collection, etc.
Compact Disc: See CD-ROM.
Controlled Vocabulary: A list of official subject headings or descriptors used by a catalog or database. Provide consistency in describing the subjects of publications.
Copiers/Copy Room: Photocopiers are located on the first floor. You may use the UNCW One Card or coins. Change is available from a change machine in the southwest copy room and from the Circulation Desk. Copies are $.15 each, or $.10 cents per copy with the UNCW One Card. Microform copiers are located in the Reference area. Some of the machines use the UNCW One Card and others use dimes only. You can add money to your UNCW One Card near the Circulation desk. (map)
Criticism or Critique: An explanation or evaluation of a literary work.
Cross Reference: Reference to another entry or further information instead of or in addition to what was originally looked up.
Current Journals: Periodicals, usually published within the last 12 months, that have not yet been bound. What is considered current varies depending on the frequency of the periodical. Current journals are shelved in alphabetical order by the title of the journal on the 1st floor. (map)
Database: Searchable list of information (including citations and full-text or articles, Dissertations, books, etc.). An example of a database is Infotrac. List of databases by subject and by name of database.
DE (Distance Education) Classroom: This classroom is housed in the library (but not operated by the library). It's on the 2nd floor (room #2044).
Default: When using databases, refers to the automatic setting for the database. For example the default display of a database may show all fields of each record, but you may be able to change the setting to show only the fields you wish to see.
Descriptors: Official subject headings used in some indexes and databases.
Dictionary: An alphabetical list of words giving definitions and descriptive information. May attempt to define all or most words in one language, to give equivalent terms in another language, or to define in more detail terms related to a specific discipline.
Digital: The representation of information
in the language used by computers, as a series of 0s and 1s, or binary digits.
Digital technology is key to development of advanced information infrastructures
and services.
http://usinfo.state.gov/products/pubs/archive/telecomm/glossary.htm
Directory: A list of people and/or organizations usually along with their addresses, phone numbers or other contact information.
Disability Services: Services and technology to aide anyone with a disability (physical or otherwise). (see site).
Dissertation: A treatise written by a doctoral candidate as part of the requirements for the degree. Randall Libraries owns UNCS dissertations but very few from other institutions. Other dissertations may be obtained through Interlibrary Loan.
Dissertation Abstracts: An index that contains abstracts of U.S. Dissertations, 1861-present, Master's from 1962, and the UK from 1988. This is available in the Index Collection on the 1st floor (call number: Z5053 .D57) (map) or a librarian can search the electronic version through a "mediated search." (ask at the Reference desk).
.doc: This is the file extension for all Word documents. The computers in the Reference area do not have Word installed on them. If you have a .doc (Word document) to open you must use the ITSD computer lab to do so.
Document Delivery: UNCW faculty may request books and articles from journals held in Randall Library, and have those items delivered to their campus addresses or Center for Marine Science through our document delivery service. Requests can be made through an online form (ILLiad form).
Documents: Usually refers to U.S. Government publications. The Government Documents are on the 2nd floor (map). (Department website)
Download: To transfer information from a computer to a disk or folder on a computer. The term "downloading" is interchangeable with "saving."
Drop In Clinic: These clinics are recommended
for new students, transfer students, and those unfamiliar with the library. They
cover many aspects of using Randall Library, including the layout of the
facility, resources available, and basic searching of Library catalog and the
databases.
Due Date: The date you must return any library material you have checked out. You are given a "date due slip" at checkout. You will receive an overdue notice if you have not returned the book by that date. You may renew a book to extend the due date by calling (962-3272) or stopping by the circulation desk or by using "My Library Record" online.
Electronic Index: Index accessed through a computer; may be on CD-ROM or online (such as a database).
E-Mail: "Electronic mail," a system which allows the user to send messages to other E-mail users via computer.
Embargo Period: The time delay that a journal in a database is NOT made accessible. It is referred to as the journal being embargoed by 12 months (or some other time frame).
Encyclopedia: A work covering many general topics or specializing in a specific topic. Encyclopedia entries are usually arranged in alphabetical order and often provide valuable references to further information. Encyclopedias can either be available in print or available electronically.
ERes: Randall
Library uses ERes, developed by Docutek Inc., as its electronic reserves system
to manage and provide access to course reserve materials.
ERes includes lists of books and other physical materials on reserve that
are requested by faculty, provides web access to electronic journal articles and
to other materials in electronic form, gives links to class web sites, and links
to other web sites as requested.
E-Reserves: (see Eres above)
Fiche: Short for microfiche.
Field: A section of a record providing a specific type of information, such as the author field or the title field.
Finding Aid: Used in Special Collections; guides to documents within a specific collection.
Fines: Charges collected for materials kept beyond the due date. (List of fines)
Format: The physical state of information, such as printed format or electronic format.
Free-text Searching: see Keyword Searching.
Full-text: The entire text of an article or other publication (as opposed to just a citation and/or abstract of an article)
Full-Text database: A database that contains the full text of articles and other publications.
General Collection: The main collection of books on the 2nd floor. The collection is divided into 4 sections by call number ranges (A-K, L-N, P, and Q-Z). (map)
General Encyclopedia: An encyclopedia that is typically universal in its coverage and address all branches of knowledge, such as Encyclopedia Britannica. Most general encyclopedias are located Reference (map).
.gif: (Graphic Interchange Format): A common format for image files, especially suitable for images containing large areas of the same colour. GIF format files of simple images are often smaller than the same file would be if stored in JPEG format, but GIF format does not store photographic images as well as JPEG. http://www.easynet.com/investorinfo/investorinfo_glossary.asp
Government Documents: See Documents.
Graduate Computer Lab: There is a small computer lab for graduate students only (ID required for entry) on the 2nd floor of the library at the top of the steps.
Group Study Rooms: Small rooms on the 1st and 2nd Floors where groups of three or more can hold discussions without disturbing others.
Hold: A notice you may give to the Circulation Department so that when a currently checked-out book is returned, you are to be notified, and the book is to be held for you rather than being reshelved. Holds may be placed at the Circulation Desk.
Holdings: The specific volumes or issues of a periodical which are owned by the Library.
Honors Scholars Program: The Honors Scholars Program Office is housed in the library on the 2nd floor. See the Honors Scholars Program website for more information.
HTML: Abbreviation standing for HyperText Markup Language. This is a markup language used to structure text and graphics in order to create webpages and to link to other pages/documents on the World Wide Web.
Hyperlink: In the World Wide Web, a connection to a new Web page; the link can be word(s), picture(s), or other graphic(s).
ID: An official card bearing your name and photograph, usually a driver's license or your UNCW One Card.
ID Number: You may be asked for your "ID Number" in the library. It typically refers to your Social Security Number which is also the same as your "University ID Number." This is different from your library PIN. See "PIN" for more information.
ILLiad: ILLiad is the online system Randall Library's Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery Services has implemented to place and track interlibrary loan requests. The name ILLiad can be thought of as an acronym for InterLibrary Loan internet accessible database.
Imprint: The section of a bibliographic citation for a book that gives the place of publication, publisher, and publication date.
Index: (1) An alphabetical list of subjects or names at the back of a book indicating the pages on which they are discussed. (2) A list of citations to articles in journals or other publications arranged by subject and often by author as well; includes both printed and electronic indexes. One index usually covers publications within a specific subject area.
Index Collection: Shelves on the 1st floor containing the library's printed periodical indexes (map).
Information: A collection of facts or data.
Information Literacy: The ability to locate, evaluate, and apply information to daily life.
Interface: The software used to search a database; determines the appearance of the database to the user and the particular commands, etc., used. It's the gateway between the user and the information contained in the database.
Interlibrary Loan: Interlibrary Loan supports the research needs of current faculty, students, and staff at UNCW. This service locates and provides materials not available or owned by Randall Library. Upon receipt of these materials, photocopies are mailed to campus addresses or delivered electronically via the web. Loans are made available at the Circulation Desk or, for faculty, are delivered to the appropriate department. (Department website) (ILLiad)
Internet: An interconnected system of networks that connects computers around the world providing online access to a variety of information.
Instructional Services: The department in the library that offers library instruction (also refered to as BI (Bibliographic Instruction). (Department website)
Issue: A single, regular printing of part of a periodical, individually numbered for identification; see also Volume.
ITSD Computer Lab: There is a computer lab on the 1st floor of the library. ID is required for entry. The lab is operated by ITSD (Information Technology Systems Division). For lab hours and more information please see the ITSD website.
Journal: A professional type of magazine which presents research performed by scholars in certain fields of study.
.jpg: (Also seen as JPEG; Stands for Joint Photographic Experts Group): This is the file extension used for images designed for compressing either full-colour or grey-scale digital images of "natural", real-world scenes.
Keyword Searching: In a database, searching for your term to appear in several or all fields of a record. Keyword searching is the default in many databases.
Laptop: Students with a valid UNCW One Card may check out laptops at the Circulation desk to be used in the library.
LCSH: Abbreviation for the Library of Congress Subject Headings.
Learning Center: Housed in the library on the 2nd floor (but not operated by the library), the Tutoring and Learning Center aims to help all UNCW students develop the skills necessary to become successful, independent learners. Services include tutorial assistance, Supplemental Instruction (SI), and study skills development. All services are free of charge. (Learning Center Website).
Librarian: A professional who has earned a Master's Degree in Library or Information Sciences in preparation for working in a library.
Library: a repository of information in any format, including resources to help users identify and find the specific information desired, much of which may not be located within the same building.
Library Card: Also known as Borrower's Card (may be purchased at Circulation Desk). All UNCW affiliates use their UNCW One Card.
Library Catalog: A searchable listing of the items owned by a specific library or libraries and giving location information for them. The library catalog for Randall Library is accessible from anywhere through the library homepage: http://library.uncwil.edu/
Library Guides: Online (and in some cases print) guides created to explain how to find information of a certain type or on a certain subject. There are Subject Research Guides and other Instructional Guides.
Library Instruction: Programs and publications designed to help teach patrons how to use library and its resources. (Instruction Website)
Library of Congress Classification: The system many libraries use to assign call numbers to books so that they are arranged on the shelves in logical sequence. Therefore, topics closely related will be shelved next to each other. The classification system is online at: http://lcweb.loc.gov/catdir/cpso/lcco/lcco.html.
Library of Congress Subject Headings: A listing of subjects that is used to organize and catagorize library material the Library of Congress Classification System. The listings are printed in large red books are available at the Reference Desk.
Login: When you are off campus and accessing library resources (such as databases or E-reserves) or using your e-mail account, you will be asked to "Log In" or use your "login" to access the information. You "login" is a combination of a username and password. For library resources, you will use "My Library Record" to "login." This will ask you for your last name, University ID (same as social security number) and for a password that you create. Should you ever forget that password, call the Reference desk (910-962-3760).
Magazine: A type of publication which is meant to be used by the general public and can be purchased in a wide variety of stores.
MARC record or MARC format: MARC is an acronym for Machine-Readable Catalogue or Cataloguing. MARC is widely used by libraries and other information agencies to exchange bibliographic and related information between systems. (The Randall Library catalog contains MARC records as a way to describe every item that the library owns).
Material Types: The various kinds of materials owned by a library: books, serials, microforms, manuscripts, audio and video cassettes, compact discs, maps, slides, pictures, etc.
Metadata: Detailed information about a resource. An example would be MARC records, which includes much more information about an item than a catalog record.
Microfiche: 4x6" sheets of photographic film containing reduced images of text pages, illustrations, etc. Readers and reader-printers are available in Reference and Government Documents. By means of microforms such as microfiche, a large amount of information can be stored in a small space on a non-deteriorating material.
Microfilm: 35mm reels of film containing reduced images of pages of newspapers, periodicals, dissertations, or other documents, illustrations, etc. Readers and reader-printers are available in Reference and Government Documents.
Microform: A term that encompasses Microfiche, microfilms, and other micro-records.
Microform Reader: A device that magnifies microfiche and microfilms texts to legible size. These are located in Reference and Government Documents and cost $0.20 cash or $0.15 with UNCW One Card to print.
Mobile Librarian: Librarians are "mobile" during the week and go to the University Union to help students and faculty. Stop by the tables near the information desk at the UU between 11 - 1 Monday - Thursday for help.
Monograph: A printed item (usually referring to a book) that can be indentified, described and shelved as a single item.
My Library Record: You may access your library account (your record) online using "My Library Record." You can check to see materials you have checked out, renew items, and access databases from off campus. You will need your last name or first name, Social Security number, and a PIN (or password) that you create (this can be any combination of letters and numbers).
NC LIVE: North Carolina Libraries for Virtual Education (NC LIVE) offers the citizens of North Carolina online access to complete articles from over 9,000 newspapers, journals, magazines, and encyclopedias, indexing for over 20,000 periodical titles, and access to over 22,000 electronic books. NC LIVE is available free of charge to library patrons, students, and educators from public libraries, community colleges, the state's university system, and members of the North Carolina Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Some of the databases accessed through NC LIVE include Academic Search Elite, MLA Bibliography, PsycINFO, etc.
Netlibrary: Netlibrary (more
information) is a collection of electronic books (books that can be viewed
online on a computer). Netlibrary books are searchable and accessible through
the library catalog and are marked with this icon: 
Network: The system by which several databases can be accessed on one computer, and one database may be searched by several users at once.
Non-Circulating: Items that cannot be checked out of the library, such as periodicals, reference works, etc.
OED: The Oxford English Dictionary. This dictionary (available in Reference PE1625 .O87 1989 and electronically from the databases page) gives definitions of words as well as traces the origins of uses of words through history.
Off-Campus Access: Access to resources while not in the library or from any UNCW building. You can use almost all of the resources available from the library's website (including databases) as long as you can log in using "My Library Record."
Online or On-Line: Accessible via a computer network (like the Internet).
OPAC: An online library catalog (Online Public Access Catalog)
Overdue Book: A book that has not been returned to the library by its due date. The borrower has been or will be sent an overdue notice.
Outreach Services/Outreach Librarians: Outreach Services promotes the use of libraries in general, and Randall Library in particular. For more information, see the Outreach Services Website.
Oversized Materials: Items that are too large to fit on standard shelving spaces. Oversize materials are kept on the 2nd floor near the Honors Scholars Offices (map).
Patrons:
What libraries generally
call their users, rather than "users" or "customers."
PDF (of .pdf): Stands for Portable Document Format. This is the format of the document that most electronic reserve material is in. Adobe Acrobat Reader (software) is needed to view and print these documents.
Peer Review: Peer review is a process used for checking the work performed by one's equals (peers) to ensure it meets specific criteria. Scholarly journals typically use the peer review process. This is also known as the referee process. Many journals are "peer reviewed" or "refereed."
Periodical: A journal or magazine.
Periodical Index: A list of citations to articles in journals or other publications arranged by subject and often by author as well; includes both printed and electronic indexes. One index usually covers publications within a specific subject area.
Permanent Reserve: The designation for books that are permanently kept across from the Reserves Desk because they are heavily used; many can be checked out of the library.
PIN: Personal Identification Number used with "My Library Record." This number is not assigned to you. It is a number that you create. If you have forgotten your PIN or have questions, call (962-3670) or stop by the Reference Desk. (more information about PINs)
Popular
Journals: See Magazine.
.ppt: This is the file extension for a PowerPoint Presentation. This is a Microsoft software that is used to create presentations. The computers in Reference do not have PowerPoint installed on them. If you need to open a .ppt (PowerPoint presentation) you will need to go to the ITSD Computer Lab.
Primary Contact Librarian: Many librarians at Randall Library have a subject area and/or department assigned to them. These librarians are the "primary contact" for any student of faculty member needing help. For more information, see the Primary Contact Librarians website.
Primary Source: An original document, such as a hand written diary, original manuscripts, or items used to compile a literary document. Copies of works are not considered primary sources.
Proceedings: The published record of a meeting or conference, usually including the papers read.
Public Library: A library serving a given geographic community, usually that pays taxes to support it.
Quiet Study Lounge: There is a quiet study area on the 2nd floor of the library (take a left at the top of the stairs). Please remain quiet in this room as it's the only area in the library designated for no talking.
Randall Library: (William Madison Randall Library) This is the library serving the UNCW campus and UNCW community. The library is named for Dr. William Madison Randall who served as President of UNCW.
Rare Books: Books that are extremely valuable because of a limited printing, their age, or other factors; usually housed in Special Collections with limited access because of their value.
Reboot: Sometimes a computer in the library will freeze up and you can no longer access the applications that are running. To "Reboot" the computer you can push the smaller button on the front of the computer and the computer will restart.
Recall: The process of having a book that is checked-out returned to the library when another patron needs it. If you need to recall a book contact the Circulation department by phone (962-3272) or by stopping by.
Record: Descriptive information about one item; contains several parts, or fields, each of which provides a specific type of information, such as the title field or author field. Often used to refer to a citation.
Refereed: Refers to periodical publications which subject all submitted articles to a group to scrutinize or evaluate the material before it is accepted for publication. Also known as "scholarly" or "peer reviewed."
Reference: 1) A work mentioned or quoted in another work and usually also listed as a citation at the end of the other work. 2) Area of the library on the 1st floor housing the Reference Collection
Reference Book: See Reference Material.
Reference Collection/Reference Material: Non-circulating books, such as periodical indexes, encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, directories, etc. These tend to be books that are consulted rather than read through.
Reference Desk: This desk is on the 1st floor of the library (on the right as you are walking through the library from the main entrance). This is the service point to go to when you are not sure where to begin, are feeling lost or overwhelmed, or have a question. (Reference website)
Remote Access: See "Off Campus Access."
Renew: To check out a book for an additional loan period. You may renew books using "My Library Record" or by calling (962-3272) or stopping by the Circulation desk. (more information)
Research Process: Choosing and focusing a topic; deciding on the type of information to use; developing a search strategy; locating, reading, and evaluating the information; then revising, refining, and synthesizing the work.
Reserve: (Also see ERes and E-Reserves) A type of book or other material with a special loan period and available at the Reserves Desk.
Reserves Desk: The service desk on the 1st floor where you may check out material that have been put on reserve. This includes both Permanent Reserve books and library or personal materials that an instructor has had set aside with limited loan periods so that all the students in a course will have a chance to read them. This is also the desk to check out A/V materials.
Review: Most commonly, a critique of a book appearing in a newspaper or periodical.
Scholarly Resource: Books or Journals whose contents are written by specialists in the field and which are based on high quality research (may also be called "peer reviewed" or "refereed").
Scope: The focus, depth, or breadth of the coverage of an information source.
Scroll: In a Windows-based computer environment or on the World Wide Web, scrolling entails using the mouse or trackball to click on the bar on the right side of the screen. By clicking on the bar or the arrow, the computer screen will move up and down.
Secondary Sources: Works that are not original manuscripts, contemporary records, or documents associated with an event, but which analyze, evaluate, interpret or criticize primary sources.
SENC (Southeast North Carolina Collection): Housed in Special Collections, this collection consists of items, mainly books, monographs and maps relating to the southeastern portion of North Carolina. This collection also includes work written by local authors or UNCW faculty. SENC is given as a location code in the catalog for these materials.
Serial: An item, such as a periodical, journal or newspaper, published indefinitely in continuing issues and/or volumes. Other terms used synomously in some databases are: (1)Source, (2)Magazine, (3)Periodical, and (4)Journal Title.
Series: A succession of related monographs, issued with a common title and numbered continuously.
Source: (1)Databases will often use the term Source to indicate the Journal Title. (2) A provider of information; may refer to a publication in any format, a citation, or a person.
Special Collections: A section of the library that contains rare and irreplaceable materials, archives, manuscripts, etc. These materials must usually be requested individually and may not be checked out. Special Collections is located on the 2nd floor of the library close to the Auditorium (map). (Special Collections website)
Statistical Source: A publication containing only statistics or articles that include statistics, or a publication indicating where to find particular statistics.
Student Assistant: A student who is also a part-time library employee working at a service desk, such as the Circulation Desk or the Reserves Desk.
Style Manual: Publication which provides instruction in how to write papers, usually including format, punctuation, and citation formats. Examples of style manuals include the APA Style Manual and the MLA Style Manual.
Subject Dictionary: A subject encyclopedia, usually with briefer entries.
Subject Encyclopedia: An encyclopedia that discusses topics related to a single discipline or subject, such as The Encyclopedia of Social Work.
Subject Headings: Official subject terms assigned by particular indexes and computer databases. See also Library of Congress Subject Headings.
Subject Research Guides: An online collection of guides for every subject area (every department). Every subject guide has links to resources such as databases, Internet sites, books, etc. that will help with research in a particular subject area.
SuDoc Number: Short for Superintendent of Documents Number. The call number used on a U.S. Government document published by the Government Printing Office. Here is an explanation of the SuDoc classification System.
Suggestions: An online "suggestion box" to request the purchase of a title or to make general comments or suggestions.
Syllabus Plus: An online collection of resources for classes. These resources, when available, include the course syllabus, library reserves, subject resources, guides from library bibliographic sessions, professor homepage, class homepage, department homepage, name, office and telephone number of professor, and the primary contact librarian for the subject.
Symposium: A meeting at which papers on a topic or related topics are presented.
Textbooks: 1) Collection of elementary and secondary school textbooks located on the 2nd floor in the CMC (Curriculum Materials Center). 2) The library does not usually acquire UNCW course textbooks but some copies may be put on Reserve the your instructor at the Reserves desk.
Thesaurus: A list of descriptors often helpful when searching an index or computer database.
Thesis: A treatise written by a master's degree candidate as part of the requirements for the degree. Randall Library only has UNCW theses. One copy is kept in Special Collections and another copy is kept in the General Collection (these are held on shelves at the top of the steps on the 2nd floor). Theses from other institutions may be requested through Interlibrary Loan.
T.O.C. To Go/Service: Randall Library's Table of Contents (TOC) service has been developed to assist faculty in keeping up with literature in their respective fields. This service allows faculty to select up to 25 titles from the library's print collection and up to 50 titles from Ingenta, which is subscribed to by the library. (More information)
Tours: Guided walks through the library. Contact the Reference desk if you or your class needs a tour.
Transactions: The published versions of papers read at a meeting or conference.
Truncation: In an electronic database, replacing the last letters of a term with a specified symbol (usually *, ?, #, or $) to retrieve from a database all items containing words beginning with those letters (e.g., teen*, retrieves teen, teens, teenager, teenagers, etc.)
URL: "Uniform Resource Locator," the address of a World Wide Web page.
Volume: Either a single book or a succession, usually a year's worth, of issues of a periodical.
WebPAC: An interface which uses the World Wide Web protocol to act as an OPAC (an OPAC with a web of graphical user interface).
Web page: Information on the World Wide Web is organized into "pages." One page is the information available at one time on the computer screen; you may have to scroll down the screen to see the entire contents of a page.
World Wide Web: A network system that allows users to access Hypertext Markup Language documents on the Internet.
(The) Writing Place: Housed in the library on the 2nd floor (but not operated by the library), the Writing Place offers help to students with their writing. For more information see their website.
Z39.50: Z39.50 is a national and international (ISO 23950) standard defining a protocol for computer-to-computer information retrieval. Z39.50 makes it possible for a user in one system to search and retrieve information from other computer systems (that have also implemented Z39.50) without knowing the search syntax that is used by those other systems. Z39.50 was originally approved by the National Information Standards Organization (NISO) in 1988.
Last Update: December 20, 2005
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