Glossary for SA Handbook
Student Handbook 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
Acquisitions - The part of the Acquisitions/Cataloging Department responsible for purchasing new materials for the UST Libraries and cataloging them. Acquisitions and Cataloging are part of Collection Management and Services
Archives - The Archives contain the historical records of permanent value of the University of St. Thomas. They are part of the library's Special Collections Department, located at the north end of the tunnel below the OSF library.
Bibliographic Instruction - Instruction provided by reference librarians on how to use the library. Certain rooms are designated in the library for this purpose.
Book Drops - These are available for after-hours book return or simply for convenience for those not wishing to come into the library to return books. They are located at the northwest corner of the O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library, the south side of the library, and across from the Murray-Herrick Post Office window. Back to Top
Bound Periodicals - Individual issues of journals are bound together in hardbound books for ease of use and shelving. At OSF, bound periodicals are shelved on Sub-Level to Level 4.
Call Number A call number is a unique combination of letters and numbers assigned to each book in the library's collection by Cataloging (part of the Acquisitions/Cataloging Department). A call number represents the subject of the book and also indicates where it is shelved in the library. A book's call number can be found by looking in CLICnet, the online catalog. A typical call number looks like this: HQ 777 .B66 1992 back to top
Cataloging - The part of the Acquisitions/Cataloging Department that assigns call numbers to books and is part of the Collection Management and Services department. back to top
Celtic Collection - A special collection of materials relating to the British Isles (primarily Ireland) located in the Special Collections Department. back to top
Change Machine - Change for $5.00, $10.00, and $20.00 bills is available from the machine next to the photocopier near the southeast corner of the Reference Room on first floor of the OSF Library. back to top
Circulation - Located on the Main Floor lobby area of the OSF Library, this department is responsible for maintaining the book stacks (including reshelving), checking out books to patrons, and maintaining the patron database. back to top
CLIC (Cooperating Libraries in Consortium) - CLIC is a consortium of the libraries of the eight private colleges and universities located in St. Paul and Minneapolis. In addition to the University of St. Thomas, the CLIC libraries include: Augsburg College, Bethel College, the College of St. Catherine, Concordia University, Hamline University, Northwestern College, and Macalester College. Students, faculty, and staff at any of the CLIC institutions can borrow library materials from the other libraries; the combined holdings of the CLIC libraries are listed in CLICnet, the computerized catalog.
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CLICnet - The library's computerized catalog which lists the books and periodicals owned by St. Thomas as well as those owned by the other CLIC libraries (see CLIC for a list of those libraries). [back to top]
Collection Management and Services Department - Located in Rooms 211 and 212 on Level 2 of the OSF library, the Collection Management and Services Department is responsible for ordering, paying for, cataloging and processing all new resources for the library regardless of format. This includes licensing for electronic resources and Media Resource Center.
Copiers - See Photocopiers. back to top
Copy Card - A card sold at the Circulation Desk for $1.00 or $5.00 which has a code number on it to use in library copy machines. The cost for making photocopies with a Copy Card is .10 cents per copy and this cost is deducted from the card as the copies are made. Library users who are not affiliated with UST can use the card for printing from Library computers. Cost for making copies from microform machines is .10 whether using the copy card or not. back to top
Current Periodicals - The library's most recently received periodicals are located on the 2nd floor of the OSF Library in the Great Hall. back to top
Emergency Manual - A manual published by Safety and Security which contains instructions on how to respond to a variety of emergency situations at UST. back to top
Escort Service - Available from the Safety and Security Department by request, the UST Escort Service provides companions for UST faculty, students, and staff who are walking alone at night. back to top
Help Desk - The IRT Help Desk is a service that St. Thomas users can call for help with basic computing questions. The phone number for the Help Desk is 962-6230. back to top
Holds - "Placing a hold" on a book in CLICnet allows a patron to request a book that is currently checked out to someone else. Upon its return to the library, the book will be set aside for the patron, who will be notified of the book's return. back to top
ILL (Interlibrary Loan) - A system whereby libraries share their materials with each other at the request of patrons. The Interlibrary Loan Office for St. Thomas is located on Level .5 of the OSF Library. Patron requests are done online and can be accessed from the Interlibrary Loan section of the UST Libraries Home Page. back to top
Indexes - Indexes are part of the reference collection on the main floor. They are used to find citations to specific journal articles by subject. back to top
Journals - The word "journal" is sometimes used to mean magazine, although it usually refers to scholarly journals, while the term magazine is most often applied to popular titles. Journals and magazines are arranged alphabetically by title (not by call number, like books) in the bound and current periodicals sections of the library. back to top
LC (Library of Congress) - This is the classification system used in the library to designate the call number for each book in the collection (see Call Number). Begins with letters followed by numbers. The system is named after the library that invented it: The Library of Congress. back to top
Library Office - Room 203 -- This suite of offices is where you find the Director of Libraries, the Associate Director for Digital Initiatives, and the Coordinator of Library Services. It is located in the Northwest corner of the second floor of the OSF Library. back to top
Lost and Found - The library's Lost and Found is located at the Circulation Desk at OSF Library. Items are sent to the Public Safety Department once a week, with the exception of valuable items and/or sets of keys, which are sent immediately. back to top
Media Resources Collection - Located in Room 309 on the third floor of the OSF Library. This collection houses audiovisual materials. back to top
Microfiche - Transparent sheets of plastic containing reduced images of pages from journals, books etc. that are read by using microfiche readers, which magnify the images. Paper copies can be made. Microfiche is used instead of paper copies to save shelf space, keep documents complete, and sometimes preserve fragile materials. Located on the Level 2, south side of the OSF library, in the Microform Room. back to top
Microfilm - Like microfiche (see above) but on rolls rather than sheets of transparent plastic. Used most often for back issues of newspapers and stored in the Microform Room. back to top
Microform - General term encompassing both microfiche and microfilm (see definitions above).
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Microform Readers and Reader-Printers - Equipment used for reading microfiche and microfilm. Reader-Printers can make paper copies from fiche or film. Located in the Microform Room, Level 2, south end of the OSF library. back to top
MINITEX - An organization whose purpose is to promote cooperation among libraries in Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota by facilitating interlibrary loan services and promoting other forms of cooperation. back to top
MnLINK (Minnesota Library Information Network) is a statewide virtual library available via the internet (http://www.mnlink.org/.) The MnLINK Gateway provides simultaneous electronic access to the online catalogs of libraries throughout the state of Minnesota, and will include all public college and university library catalogs, many private college catalogs (including CLICnet) all state agency libraries, some special libraries, most public libraries, and some K-12 collections. As its development continues, MnLINK will provide access to a number of other online databases.
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Monograph - An item that is published once in its entirety rather than on an ongoing basis in parts, such as a journal. Commonly called a "book". back to top
Music Resource Center (MRC) located in Brady Educational Center on the south campus.
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New Book Area - This is a bookshelf designated entirely to books that are new to the library. These bookshelves are currently located on the first floor of the OSF library at the southeast end of the Reference room. back to top
Newspapers - Current issues of newspapers are located in the southeast corner of the OSF library next to the Current Periodicals. Older issues may be available on microfilm in the Microform Room. back to top
Oversized - Refers to a collection of larger than standard-sized books located on the east side of Level 3 of the OSF library. back to top
Periodical - Something published on an ongoing basis, as opposed to once (such as a monograph or book). Periodicals are also referred to as journals or magazines. back to top
Photocopiers Self-service photocopy machines are available in OSF Library in the southeast corner of the Reference Room on Level 1, and on Level 2 in the Microforms Room.
Reference - The Reference Desk and Collection are located across from the Circulation Desk on the first floor in the OSF Library. Reference librarians answer patron inquiries, assist users with their research, and provide classroom instruction on how to use the library. Reference librarian offices are located on the main floor and Level 1.5. See also the reference section under "Introduction to the UST Libraries" in this handbook. back to top
Reserves - Reserve materials are selected by instructors for use by students in specific classes. They are shelved behind the Reserves Desk on the first floor at OSF Library and can be checked out for a limited period of time for use in the building. For more information, see the Reserves section under "Introduction to the UST Libraries" in this handbook. back to top
Restrooms - Located by the new elevator on the southwest side of the OSF Library building on the Lower Level and Levels 2, 3, and 4. back to top
Security - The Safety and Security Department provides for the safety and security of UST faculty, students, and staff. It is open 24 hours per day. The non-emergency number is 2-5100; for emergencies, dial 2-5555. back to top
Serial - Any item published periodically, as opposed to one time only, such as a book. A journal, magazine, or periodical is a serial. back to top
Serials Department - Located in Room 211 on the Level 2 of the OSF library, this department is responsible for purchasing new serials, processing incoming issues, binding, electronic serials and maintaining the journal stacks and microform collection. See also the Periodicals section under "Introduction to the UST Libraries" in this handbook. back to top
Special Collections - This is a collection of rare and valuable materials housed in the Special Collections Department, just off the tunnel leading to OEC. See also the Special Collections section under "Introduction to the UST Libraries" in this handbook. back to top
Stacks - Another term for the shelves containing books and periodicals. back to top
Study Rooms - The OSF library has group study rooms for students who need to work together group projects. At present these rooms are 312A, 312B, 321, 322, 409/410, 411/412, 413/414, 421, 422. Sign-up sheets are outside the doors of each of these rooms and reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis for a time period of no more than two hours. back to top
Telephones - A pay phone is located near the vending area off the tunnel in the OSF library. Campus courtesy phones (to be used in cases of emergency and for brief on-campus calls) are located on each level of the library except the main floor. There is also one of these campus courtesy phones in the after-hours study area which is located near the tunnel entrance to the library across from Special Collections. At the phone in the lobby of the library, there is a direct line to the campus escort service. back to top
- Located on the north side of the library on the Lower Level near the tunnel.back to top
Revised 9/08
