Santa Monica College Library

 

Guide to Library Research

 

Library I class - 1 unit - CSU Transferable

 

Glossary of Library Terms

  • Abridged - abbreviated, not comprehensive
  • Abstract - summary of an article
  • Access Points - searchable fields
  • Almanac - facts and statistics
  • Anthology - book containing writings by different authors
  • Annotation - brief description
  • Appendix - additional material at the end of a book
  • Archive -  collection of data, public records or historical documents
  • Article -  essay or story published in a periodical
  • Atlas - collection of maps
  • Bibliography - listing of books, articles, etc.. on a given topic - Works Cited
  • Binding - covering of a book
  • Biography - lives of prominent and noteworthy people
  • Boolean Operators - used to refine searches: AND OR NOT
  • Browse - searches an alphabetical list of sources
  • Call Numbers - letters and numbers assigned to books, used to keep books together by subject
  • Catalog - a listing of books and other materials owned by a library
  • Chronology - information in order by date
  • CIP (Cataloging in Publication) - Library of Congress  - lists subject headings - call number
  • Circulation Desk - where books are borrowed
  • Citation - identifies a source: author, title, publication information
  • Cite - (verb) to document a source
  • Copyright Date - date granted by law to control reproduction and sale
  • CountryWatch Database - online information about every country in the world
  • Current Biography Database - online profiles of notable persons
  • Database - electronic collection of data
  • Dictionary - definitions, spellings, uses and word origin
  • Digest - plot summaries
  • Directory -  addresses and locations of people or organizations
  • EbscoHost - producer of various library databases
  • Editor - collects and prepares materials for publication; may also revise or correct materials
  • Encyclopedia - often multi-volume sets, broad overviews of topics - start your research here
  • Etymology - history and origin of a word
  • Fields - section of a database which contains a specific piece of information
  • Full-Text - the complete content of a document
  • Gazetteer - geographic dictionary
  • Glossary - list of terms and definitions on a specific topic
  • Handbook - "handy" information on a particular subject
  • Hardbound - stiff cover of a book
  • Imprint - date and place of publication, publisher
  • Index - alphabetical list by subject
  • Information Literacy - find, evaluate and cite information sources
  • Journal - scholarly magazine
  • JSTOR - subscription service (library database) which provides electronic access to full-text journal articles
  • Keywords- significant words used to search for information
  • Library Databases - electronic subscription services which provide collections of data
  • Manual - "how-to" instructional guides
  • Microform -   Microfilm: roll of film used to store information Microfiche: a plastic card used to store information
  • MLA - Modern Language Association of America
  • Non-fiction - factual information
  • OED - Oxford English Dictionary 
  • Oxford Reference Online - collection of electronic dictionaries and encyclopedias
  • Paperback - soft cover of a book
  • Peer-Review - writing submitted for publication is reviewed by a panel of scholars and experts to ensure quality
  • Periodical - magazine, newspaper, journal
  • Plagiarism - to take someone's writings or ideas and pass them off as your own
  • Primary Source -  first-hand account of an event or a scientific experiment
  • ProQuest - producer of various library databases
  • Publication Date - date book was published
  • Reference Sources - provide brief factual information
  • Reserve - materials set aside by an instructor
  • Series - set of books published separately on the same topic or with similar format
  • Secondary Sources - recount or interpret information previously published. Examples: encyclopedias, textbooks, criticisms, articles.
  • Site - a location
  • Spine - edge of a book where you find the call number label
  • Stacks - books located on open shelves that students may borrow for 2 weeks
  • Statistical - numerical or quantitative
  • Style Manual - MLA Handbook - explains rules for citing sources
  • Table of Contents - list of chapters of a book
  • Textbooks - instructional book used by students for a specific class
  • Thesaurus - dictionary of synonyms
  • Title Page - first page containing: title, author and publication info.
  • Unabridged - not reduced, complete
  • Verso - backside of title page, left-hand page of a book-may include copyright date and CIP.
  • Works Cited Page - bibliography, listing of books, articles, etc.. on a given topic
  • Yearbook - published annually to update information of previous year

Return to: Basic Rules for MLA Works Cited

Return to: Citing Sources MLA Style

Return to: SMC Library Frequently Asked Questions

Return to: Guide to Library Research

Return to: Library I

Return to: Research from Home

Return to: Library I - Review Part One

Return to: Library I - Review Part Two

Return to: Library I - Course Review

Return to: Sample Works Cited Page

Return to: Youtube Screencasts


Santa Monica College Library

1900 Pico Blvd.

Santa Monica, CA 90405

Tel. 310-434-4254

E mail: Parise_Marina@smc.edu


LIBRARY I


 

Last Update:  03/18/13   mp


Hit Counter