Glossary of Common Library Terms

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ABSTRACT: This term is used in two different ways: (1) A short summary of an ARTICLE in a scholarly JOURNAL. It usually appears at the beginning of the article. (2) A reference tool, like an INDEX, used to locate articles in JOURNALS and MAGAZINES. The abstract will provide you with a CITATION to the article and give you a brief summary of that article.

ARTICLE: An essay or research report on a subject. Articles appear in MAGAZINES, JOURNALS, newspapers and other sources such as encyclopedias.

ASK 24/7: This is live chat reference service that is available round the clock throughout the year. The ASK 24/7 service is provided by the Boston Library Consortium and is available as a link from the Tisch Library webpage.

AT THE BINDERY: This is the designation given to an item in the CATALOG that has been sent out of the library to be bound or repaired.

AUTHOR: Generally, this refers to the writer of a book or an ARTICLE. However, author more generally means the "creator" of material, for example the composer of music. When searching in the CATALOG, directors, actors or performers are also considered authors.

AVAILABLE: This is the designation given to an item in the CATALOG when it is in the library available for CHECK OUT.

BARCODE: Small label of closely spaced bars that can be read by a computer. Barcodes on books and on your Tufts University ID cards are used to CHECK OUT books from the library. You will also use your barcode number when checking your borrowing information in MY ACCOUNT.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: (1) A list of items gathered together while researching a paper that will appear at the end of the paper as a list of works cited. These materials are usually arranged alphabetically by AUTHOR'S last name. (2) A publication, frequently a REFERENCE book, which lists sources on a particular subject or person.

BOOK RETURN: A place to bring books borrowed from the library. There is an exterior book return slot on your left as you are entering Tisch Library and another one inside Tisch Library to the left of the CIRCULATION desk.

BORROWING: Being able to take books and other materials from the library. It is the same as CHECK OUT.

BOUND PERIODICAL: Several issues, often a year's worth, of JOURNALS or MAGAZINES that are fastened together (bound) between hard covers.

CALL NUMBER: The identifying number given to each book acquired by the library. Every item in the library, with very few exceptions, has a call number. Call numbers begin with letters that stand for a specific subject category and indicate the item's location on the shelf, much like an address identifies a building's location on the street. Call numbers are found by using the CATALOG.

CATALOG: This is a DATABASE of all the items a particular library owns (such as books, journals, or videotapes). Catalogs are generally searchable by subject, AUTHOR, title, and keyword. The catalog includes the items owned by all the Tufts libraries, with some exceptions, such as government documents and maps.

CHECKED OUT: If an item is marked Checked Out in the CATALOG, it means that it is in circulation and not available. The date that the item will be returned is marked in the CATALOG.

CHECK OUT: To borrow books from the library. Books can be checked out at the CIRCULATION desk.

CIRCULATION: The service desk located in the Tisch lobby. This is where you CHECK OUT books, return books, RENEW books, pay fines, request RECALLS for books that are checked out, request searches for books that you cannot find in the library, and keep your library card up to date.

CITATION: A reference to, or information about, an item. Typically citations have three parts: AUTHOR, title, and publication information. A list of citations is often referred to as a BIBLIOGRAPHY.

DATABASE: An electronic collection of information. A database may contain CITATIONS or it may have full-text articles. Databases that the Tufts libraries subscribe to may be found by using the databases link on the Tisch Library webpage.

DOCUMENT DELIVERY SERVICES: You may request materials not owned by Tisch Library, such as photocopies of articles or books, from other libraries using document delivery services. Requests can be made using the online form on the Tisch Library webpage or directly from certain DATABASES such as Ovid, FirstSearch, and Cambridge Scientific Abstracts.

DUE DATE: The date a book is due for return to the library. That date is stamped in the back of the book to remind you when to return the book. Due date appears on the screen of the CATALOG if the book has been CHECKED OUT. If you need to use the book for a longer time, you may RENEW it. If a book is returned after its due date, you will have to pay a fine.

ELECTRONIC JOURNAL: Journals that are available online. Electronic journals that the Tufts libraries subscribe to can be found using the Electronic Journals link on the Tisch Library webpage or the CATALOG. Check both for the most accurate information.

FULL TEXT: Many of the library’s databases link directly from online search results to the article in its entirety, or to the "full text" of the item.

GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS: This refers to an area on level 1 in Tisch Library that contains materials produced by the federal government on a wide variety of topics. Government publications are also available from the Tisch Library webpage under Government Information.

HOLD: RECALLS may be placed on currently checked out books at the CIRCULATION service desk. The book will be placed on hold for you when it is returned.

INDEX: An index is a tool used to locate information such as JOURNAL and newspaper articles (and sometimes books or book chapters). Some indexes are general, covering many topic areas, others cover only one topic but in great depth. Indexes can be in online or paper format. Generally a person searches the index using subject words, AUTHOR'S name or words from the title. The index may retrieve a list of CITATIONS (the information necessary to find the item such as dates and page numbers) or it may retrieve the actual text of the resource.

INTERLIBRARY LOAN: This department is now known as DOCUMENT DELIVERY SERVICES. Also referred to by the initials ILL.

JOURNAL: Scholarly journals contain articles considered to have a higher academic content or value for research purposes than regular "magazines," such as Time and Newsweek.

LIBRARY CARD: Your Tufts University I.D. card is your library card and is used to check out library materials. It has a BARCODE that the Circulation staff will link to your library account in the automated system. Your Tufts I.D. number is on the front of the card. This number is needed to log in to electronic databases and to access your library account online.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUBJECT HEADINGS: Use these terms to search the CATALOG by subject. These terms were devised by the Library of Congress and are used by to divide knowledge into related subject areas. These terms are published in large red volumes, often called LCSH, and are located near the reference desk.

LOAN PERIOD: The length of time library materials may be borrowed. The time period varies depending on the borrower's STATUS.

MAGAZINE: An ongoing publication (weekly or monthly) that contains ARTICLES written by journalists or freelance writers. These publications tend to be of general interest and will cover a variety of topics.

MEDIA CENTER: The Media Center is located on level 3 of Tisch Library. It contains viewing rooms and thousands of videos and DVDs that may be viewed in the center or checked out. All Media Center materials are listed in the CATALOG.

MICROFORMS: This word refers to different technologies used to film or copy a printed work in a much smaller size. Examples of microforms are microfilm and microfiche. Newspapers, MAGAZINES and JOURNALS are sometimes stored on microforms. You can make copies, on paper, from the microforms. Microforms are located on level 1 of Tisch Library.

MY ACCOUNT: Your library account that lists materials checked out to you, due dates, fines owed and current requests.

ONLINE RENEWAL: Books can be renewed online using MY ACCOUNT. In order to renew a book online you must have a valid, current LIBRARY CARD, and the book cannot be over due, recalled for another user, or have reached its renewal limit.

ON ORDER: This is the designation in the CATALOG for an item that has been ordered from a book dealer but has not yet been received.

OVER DUE: An item that has not been returned by the DUE DATE.

PERIODICAL: A publication that appears on a regular basis more than once a year. Newspapers, MAGAZINES, and JOURNALS are examples of periodicals. Current periodicals are located on level 2 of Tisch; BOUND PERIODICALS are on level 1, with older volumes on level G.

RECALL: To request that a book which has already been CHECKED OUT be returned to the library prior to the DUE DATE. You may ask for a recall by filling out a form at CIRCULATION. You will be notified when the book is returned.

REFERENCE: The reference desk and the reference and collections department are located on level 2 of Tisch Library. Librarians at the reference desk can help you with your research and with using library resources. The library keeps reference materials apart from the regular collection. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and indexes are examples of reference materials. You cannot CHECK OUT reference materials.

RENEW: To extend the DUE DATE for a book. This is taken care of at the CIRCULATION desk in person or by telephone, or by ONLINE RENEWAL.

RESERVES: The "reserve lists" feature can be found in the CATALOG. Check here to find the call number(s) of the item(s) placed on reserve for your class. You may search by the name of the course or your professor's name. Printed materials "placed on reserve" may be requested at CIRCULATION. Media reserve items must be used in the MEDIA CENTER. You will need a valid LIBRARY CARD and your CALL NUMBER. Reserve materials are usually available for short LOAN PERIODS.

SPECIAL COLLECTIONS: A location that houses rare and unique materials that cannot be used outside of the library. Access to Special Collections is through Digital Collections and Archives, which is located on level G of Tisch Library.

STATUS: (1) This message appears on the CATALOG screens and indicates whether or not a book has been CHECKED OUT. If the screen indicates AVAILABLE, the book should be on the shelf. However, the book may be in use in the library by some one else or it may be waiting to be reshelved. If you cannot find a book that should be on the shelves, go to CIRCULATION and ask them for a trace form. (2) Status refers to a person's standing as a library borrower, for example: student, staff, faculty, and community user.

TRACE: A search by library staff for a book or periodical that the catalog indicates is on the shelf but you cannot find there. Request a trace for a book or other item at the circulation desk. Request a trace for a periodical at the microforms/current periodicals desk. You will be notified when the item is found.

Glossary of Common Library Terms

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