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ABSTRACT - a summary of a book or journal article. If the abstract is interesting,
use the citation to find the book or full article.
ANNOTATION - a note that describes, explains, or evaluates a particular
document. For tips, try Preparing
An Annotation.
BIBLIOGRAPHY - The list of works cited at the end of an article, paper,
book, or other research-based writing. There are also specialized subject
bibliographies, published separately as books.
BOOLEAN OPERATORS - The words AND, OR, and NOT are used to combine search
terms to broaden or narrow search results.
CALL NUMBER - The letters and numbers assigned to a book to give it a unique
location in the library. The call number relates to the book's subject heading.
Prescott College, and most academic libraries, uses Library of Congress call
numbers; most public libraries use the Dewey Decimal System.
EXAMPLE: Call # = BF637.C6S85 = Subject Heading = Cross-cultural counseling
CATALOG (or Online Catalog) - a database containing records for a specific
library or group of libraries. Our Online Catalog contains the holdings (books
and periodicals) not only for Prescott College, but for other libraries in
Yavapai County as well.
CITATION - The information that allows a reader to find a particular book
or article. Citations usually include the author or editor name, the book
or article title, journal volume and issue number, page number, the place
and date of publication, and the publisher. Citations are arranged in very
specific formats according to a style manual. Some style manuals used at
Prescott College are APA, MLA, and CBE (McMillan).
DATABASE - A collection of information, usually searchable online.
EXAMPLE: EBSCOhost is a database containing articles from over 12,000 journals,
covering many academic disciplines. Some articles are full-text.
INDEX - A systematic, searchable guide to the contents of a database. Also,
a subject/author/title listing in the back of a book.
EXAMPLE: EBSCOhost indexes over 12,000 journal titles, with articles searchable
by author, title, subject, or natural language.
INTERLIBRARY LOAN - A means of borrowing books and/or articles from libraries
outside of the Yavapai County Library Network.
INTERNET - A worldwide network of computers that allows access to information.
E-mail and research via the World Wide Web are two popular examples of using
the Internet to find materials from academic institutions, government agencies,
and more.
JOURNAL - A periodical that is scholarly or academic in content and purpose.
Compare this with magazine.
EXAMPLES: Conservation Biology, Ecological
Applications.
LC (Library of Congress) CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM - The system of letters and
numbers used to assign a call number to books and other materials. The LC
system is usually used in academic libraries.
MAGAZINE - A general interest, non-scholarly periodical.
EXAMPLES: Time, Psychology Today.
MICROFORM - Printed matter is sometimes transferred onto film in either
MICROFICHE (rectangular sheets) or MICROFILM (rolls) format. Special readers
are required to view this material.
ONLINE - Refers to using a computer to access information. You might read
a journal article online, as opposed to reading the print version of the
journal. You're online when you're checking your e-mail, or visiting an organization's
home page.
ONLINE CATALOG - The electronic equivalent of a card catalog. At the Prescott
College Library, the online catalog is accessed via the Find Books link.
PERIODICAL - A generic term for anything published periodically, including
magazines, journals, and newspapers.
PLACE A HOLD - Prescott College students may Place a Hold on books from
other libraries within Yavapai County, and on books that are currently checked
out from our library. The student will be notified when the book is ready
for them to check out. This differs from Interlibrary Loan, which involves
materials from outside the county.
PRIMARY SOURCE - A manuscript or other document providing original research
or documentation.
REFEREED JOURNAL - Scholarly journals whose articles are reviewed and evaluated
by subject specialists prior to publication.
REFERENCE - The process of answering the questions of library patrons, or
helping them to find information.
REFERENCE BOOK - A book that contains facts, statistics, biographical or
bibliographical information, or in some way is a valuable tool for answering
reference questions. These books are shelved apart from the rest of the collection,
by LC classification system, and are not available to be checked out.
RENEWING BOOKS - an extension of the loan period. Students may renew books
online, or at the Circulation Desk. Books will not be renewed if another
patron has placed a hold on the book.
RESEARCH - A thorough investigation of a subject, using all appropriate
print and electronic resources. A Research Paper is not a report; be sure
you understand the difference!
RESERVES - A selection of specific course readings selected by a faculty
member for all class members to read. The books and/or articles may be checked
out for 5 hours, and must be read in the Library. Ask for these materials
at the Circulation Desk.
STACKS - In library lingo, bookshelves are known as stacks.
STYLE MANUAL - A book that describes how to format a scholarly or research
paper. It includes sections on citations, pagination, and bibliographies.
Different disciplines (psychology, literature, etc.) use different style
manuals. More information is available under "Style Manuals" in
the Online Reference Collection.
SUBJECT HEADING - An official (Library of Congress) description of what
a book or article is about. Learn the subject headings for your area of study
in order to search more effectively in the online catalog.
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