UST Library Research Guide

Library Research 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

A

Abstract

A summary of an article or book.  It may appear at the beginning of an article published in a scholarly journal or in a bibliographic database.

Acrobat

Acrobat software is used to describe a suite of software packages.   The Acrobat Reader software package is required to read any files that have an .pdf (portable document format) extension on the file name.  For more information, see the Adobe's Acrobat page.

Article

A brief essay or research report on a subject. Articles can appear in magazines, journals, newspapers, or other sources such as encyclopedias.

Author

This term refers to the person or persons responsible for the creation of a work.  The author of a work may also be a government agency, a symposium, or a company.

B

Bar Code

A small white label with closely spaced black stripes that can be read by a computer; also, the code and the 14-digit number on the label.  Bar codes on books and on your student identification card are used to check out and renew books from the library, or request books from other libraries in CLICnet.

Bibliography

Do Not Confuse with Biography.  This can be used in two ways: 1) Reference used while doing research for an article or book.  These are gathered together at the end of a research paper, article, or other work, usually arranged alphabetically by author.  2) A publication that consists only of a list of books, articles, and other works on a particular topic.  Some bibliographies are annotated, that is, they include brief abstracts summarizing the important features of the works.

Biography

Do Not Confuse with Bibliography.  A collection of facts about a person.  It may be a short paragraph including such information as his/her date of birth, education and major accomplishments, or it may be an article or book which provides more details about his/her life.

Boolean Operators

Words such as AND, OR, and NOT that are called "logical operators" and are used to combine search terms to either broaden or narrow the retrieval results of a search. Boolean Searching describes the method of searching in which terms are combined to either recall more documents or to retrieve a more precise set of documents.  Named after British mathematician George Boole.

Bound Periodical

Several issues of a journal or magazine that are fastened together between hard covers so that they resemble a book.

Browser

A type of software used to access the World Wide Web.  Examples are Netscape and Internet Explorer.

C

Call Number

Call numbers are combinations of letters and numbers which provide information on where materials are located on the shelves and about the subject of the materials.  Materials in the St. Thomas Libraries are organized by call number into specific groups according to the Library of Congress (LC) classification system.  The books are located on the shelves in alphabetical order, and the additional letters and numbers narrow your search to the particular book that you are trying to locate.  (You may think of it as the book's "address.")

Catalog

A list of materials located in a library, or available through a library.  It can include books, magazines and journals, newspapers, and electronic sources.  Items can be found listed by author, title, or by subject heading.  Some libraries use cards to list items.  St. Thomas has an online catalog called CLICnet.

CD-ROM

Stands for "Compact Disk-Read Only Memory," a computer technology that uses thin disks (holding only 12 cm in diameter) to hold thousands of pages of information.  CD-ROMs are most often used as electronic equivalents of paper indexes and abstracts.

Check Out

To borrow materials from the libraries.  This is done at the Circulation Desk.  You will need your student identification card to do this.

Circulation Desk

The service desk where you check out books, return books, renew books, pick up interlibrary loan items, and so forth.

Citation

Complete information about a specific source of information used in a work that allows an interested reader to find that source.  It may be a reference to a text that has been quoted, or to some source that has been used as an authority.  A single citation is sometimes called a reference.  A group of citations gathered together is usually called a bibliography.  See our useful Citing Sources Guide.

CLIC(net)

An acronym for Cooperating Libraries In Consortium.  This is a group of private college libraries in the Twin Cities that have joined together to share resources and an online catalog of their holdings. The catalog is called CLICnet.

Cross Reference

Directories in an index or other finding aid that direct one to look under a different or related term.  These may also be called "see" or "see also" references.

D

Database

An electronic collection of information, often of citations but increasingly abstracts and full-text as well, to materials on a particular subject.  Lexis/Nexis is one example of an online database the UST libraries subscribe to.  Some databases are in the form of CD-ROMs.

Descriptor

A word or a group of words used as a subject to describe the content in books, articles, and other materials for the purpose of indexing or organizing these items by topic. As an important element of effective research, descriptors are needed to determine the correct headings for a specific database or catalog. See also subject heading and thesaurus.

Directory

A systematically organized list of persons, businesses, organizations, or associations that provides addresses, affiliations, telephone numbers, and similar information.

Due Date

The date stamped in the back of the book that reminds you when it should be returned to the library.  If you need to use the book for a longer time, you may renew it.

E

Electronic Reserve

A service that provides electronic versions of materials which can be accessed through the Internet and printed by users. A UST login is required for access.

Entry

A citation or record in an index or catalog.

F

Field

A specific part of a database record that contains a discrete piece of information.  For example, the title field in a book record.  Common fields in library databases include AU (author), JN (journal name) or SO (source), DE (descriptor), and AB (abstract.)

Firefox

A popular open-source web browser produced by the Mozilla corporation.

Firewall

A system designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. Firewalls can be implemented in both hardware and software, or a combination of both. Firewalls are frequently used to prevent unauthorized
Internet users from accessing private networks connected to the Internet, especially intranets. All messages entering or leaving the Intranet pass through the firewall, which examines each message and blocks those that do not meet the specified security criteria.

Flaming

A slang term used to describe the sending of inflammatory messages through e-mail.

Folio

An oversized volume shelved in a special location for larger books (see Oversize).

Footnotes/Endnotes

When quoting an author's words or using his/her ideas, writers must identify the publication in which the words or ideas were found.  The citation for the item can be listed in two ways: 1) Footnotes -- the citation is located at the bottom of the page on which the words or ideas appear; 2) Endnotes -- the citation is located at the end of the report, article or work before the bibliography.

Full Text

The full article in a database.  It may exclude graphs, photos, charts, illustrations and other images.

H

Holdings

All research materials owned or leased by a library, including books, periodicals, and databases.

Home Page

The default World Wide Web starting point for each Web site.  You may change your home page setting at anytime.  Check your own browser's documentation.

http://

This stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol and is the code attached to a World Wide Web site address.   See also URL.

I

Index

A list of resources grouped by subject, location, etc.  One examples is an index in the back of a nonfiction book that lists topics dealt within the book.   Another example of an index is a list of periodical citations from many different periodicals, arranged by topic.

Interlibrary Loan

This is a service of the University of St. Thomas Libraries whereby you may borrow a book or get a copy of an article from another library if UST does not own what you need.

Internet

A global network of computer networks.  Computers are connected together through a network to exchange information; the computers on a network follow a set of protocols or procedures that are specific to the network.  Computers on the Internet use a set of protocols (TCP/IP) allowing any kind of computer to exchange information with another.

Internet Explorer

A web browser produced by Microsoft.

Intranet

A network based on TCP/IP protocols (an internet) belonging to an organization, accessible only by the organization's members, employees, or others with authorization.  An intranet's Web sites look and act just like any other Web sites, but the firewall surrounding an intranet fends off unauthorized access. Like the Internet itself, intranets are used to share information. Secure intranets are now the fastest-growing segment of the Internet because they are much less expensive to build and manage than private networks based on proprietary protocols.

Ireland Library

One of the four libraries that constitute the University of St. Thomas Libraries, located on the South Campus in St. Paul.  Also called the Archbishop Ireland Memorial Library and named after Archbishop John Ireland (1838-1918.)  This library includes theological materials, supporting  the School of Divinity.  Books in CLICnet that list this location may be found in that library.

J

Journal

Generally, a periodical that contains scholarly articles written either by professors, researchers, or other experts in a subject area.  See also magazine and periodical.

K

Keffer Library

One of the four libraries that constitute the University of St. Thomas Libraries.  Located in downtown Minneapolis and named after Charles J. Keffer, former Provost of St. Thomas.  Serves the graduate College of Business, School of Education, and School of Professional Psychology.

L

Librarian

An expert in the use of materials found in the library.  A reference librarian will help you learn to use and to find materials in the library.

Library of Congress Classification

A system made up of letters and numbers which divides knowledge (information) into subject areas.  The system was devised by the Library of Congress; it is the call number system used by the UST Libraries.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

A word or phrase indicating a book's subject.

Loan Period

The length of time library materials may be borrowed.

M

Magazine

A periodical intended for the general public rather than for scholars.   Examples include Newsweek, Time, and BusinessWeek.  See also periodical.

Microforms

Books, articles or other items that are printed in miniaturized form on rolls (microfilm), sheets (microfiche) or cards (microcard) of transparent plastic.  Each requires a special machine to use/read.  Some of these machines/readers make paper copies of the microforms (printers).

Minneapolis Campus

The University of St. Thomas' campus located in downtown Minneapolis. 

N

Network

A group of two or more computer systems linked together. There are many types of computer networks.

O

Online

A computerized system that connects a terminal to a large computer found elsewhere, in another building, in another city, or possibly in another state.  Examples are the CLICnet catalog  and the Lexis/Nexis database.

OPAC

Online Public Access Catalog, a library term for the catalog to books and periodicals owned by that library.  The OPAC replaces the older 'card catalog'.

O'Shaughnessy-Frey Library

One of the four libraries that constitute the University of St. Thomas Libraries, located on the north campus in St. Paul.  Named after I. A. O'Shaughnessy, class of 1906, and Mary and Eugene Frey, class of 1952.  Books in CLICnet that list this location may be found in that library.

Overdue

A book (or other library material) that has not been returned by the due date is said to be "overdue."  If it is not returned, eventually the patron will be charged to replace the book.

Oversize

A book that is larger and cannot fit on the average shelves in the library.  These are located in a special section of the library on larger shelves.  The word "oversize" will be listed as part of the call number for books in that area.

P

.pdf

This term stands for Portable Document Format and is used for files that require Acrobat software to read them.

Peer Reviewed Journals

Scholarly journals containing research articles which went through a review process prior to publication.  Articles were reviewed and critiqued (refereed) by experts in particular academic fields.

Periodical

This term is used to describe anything the library receives that is published on a periodical basis.  It includes journals, magazines and newspapers.  Bound periodicals are back issues that have been sent to the bindery, covered with a binding, and placed in the stacks.  See also serial.

Port

Part of the computer where a peripheral device may be connected, like a printer, a modem, etc.

Primary Source

Manuscripts, records, or documents providing original research or contemporary documentation of events. See also secondary source.

Proxy Server

A proxy server is a computer that does two things: it authenticates users and it allows authenticated users access to resources not available to the general public.

R

Record

A collection of fields that together provide the needed bibliographic information for retrieving a book or journal article .

Reference

A term that can be used in multiple ways: 1) to identify the section of the library which contains indexes and reference books, as well as computer workstations that provide access to CLICnet and library databases; 2) a section or department in the library where librarians can provide assistance or help in researching a topic or locating information; 3) a single citation is sometimes called a reference.

Reference Books/Collection

Books that are not meant to be read cover to cover, but instead are meant to be consulted.  The content is usually factual in nature and organized into elements that are discrete rather than continuous.  An encyclopedia is considered a reference book whereas a novel is not.  Many libraries do not allow reference books to be checked out.

Reference Desk

A location in the library where librarians give you directions, answer your questions, and assist you in finding and using library materials.

Reference Librarians

Specialists in the field of information retrieval who hold Masters degrees in library and/or information science. As subject specialists, reference librarians have subject expertise and may have other graduate degrees as well. They are available at the Reference desk, as well as by appointment, to help people find the information they are looking for.

Refereed Journals

Scholarly journals containing research articles which went through a review process prior to publication.  Articles were reviewed and critiqued (peer-reviewed) by experts in particular academic fields.

Renew

To extend a due date for a book (or other library materials).

Request

Asking that a book be delivered to one of the UST libraries if its record is found on CLICnet.  You can request a book online, while searching CLICnet.

Reserve

A collection of library materials set aside by instructors for use by students in particular classes.  Loan periods for reserve materials are short, usually limited to two hours or overnight.

S

Search Strategy

A logical series of steps for planning and preparing an efficient way to collect pertinent information on a given topic. A search strategy varies depending upon the topic, the nature of the subject, and what types of information is needed.

Secondary Source

Materials or sources that contain information that has been cited, translated, or based upon another--primary or original source. See also Primary Source.

"See" or "See also" Reference

Directories in an index or other finding aid that direct one to look under a different or related term. These are also called cross references.

Serial

Publications that are issued in successive parts, usually at regular intervals.  Examples include periodicals, journals, magazines, newspapers, annual reports, series, and annual reviews.

Stacks

The shelves that hold the library's books.  St. Thomas Libraries have "open stacks," where readers have direct access to the shelves.

Subject Heading

A word or groups of words that are assigned to books, articles, and other materials in order to indicate the subject matter and to group or organize similar materials by topic. As an important element of effective research, subject headings are needed to determine the correct headings as indexed within a specific database or catalog. See also descriptor and thesaurus.

T

Telnet

A piece of software that dates back to the earliest days of the internet.  It is sometimes used to provide access to text only databases.

Terminal Emulation

A setting that tells the host computer how to send/display data to your screen.

Thesaurus

A list of words or group of words that can be used as subject headings or descriptors in a particular database, catalog, or index. The Library of Congress Subject Headings book is used as a thesaurus for the CLICnet Library Catalog.

Truncation

The method of using a special symbol at the end of a word to retrieve the stem or the root and all possible endings of that word. To truncate a word while searching Expanded Academic or other InfoTrac databases, use an asterisk (*); entering comput* will retrieve compute, computes, computing, computer, computers, and so on. In other databases, the question mark (?), the pound sign (#), or the dollar sign ($) can be used to truncate terms.

U

URL

This term stands for Uniform Resource Locator.   Basically, it is a web address and often takes a form similar to http://www.institution.com where the suffix indicates the type of institution.  .com is a commercial site, .edu is an educational site, .gov is a government site, .org is a non-profit organization site, etc.

User Friendly

Easy to use format implying the dialogue or interface capabilities between a computer user and the computer is simple to understand.

V

Volumes

Regarding books, a volume refers to a particular book in a larger set of books.  Regarding periodicals, a volume is made up of individual issues of a periodical that are bound together and usually represents one year of publication.

W

World Wide Web

The network of powerful computers on the Internet that support multimedia resources.  Hypertext technology is used to link these resources together.

WWW

The initialism used for the World Wide Web.