Abstract

A brief (usually 200 words or less), tersely written narrative contained in a larger body of information, such as a document or journal article;  a summary.

Almanac

A book of facts published yearly.  They usually have short articles on events of special interest that happened during the year that just ended.  Almanacs also include statistics on population , sports, schools, industries, crops, and may also have a chronology of important events during the previous year.

World Almanac and Book of Facts (year) - Ref 371.3 WOR
Information Please Almanac (year) - Ref 371.3 INF
U. S. Statistical Abstract (year) - Ref 371.3 UNI

Annotated Bibliography

A bibliography with critical and/or explanatory notes about each source.

Appendix

A section containing material not included in the body of a work but which is relevant to the topic (always titles with a letter, as in Appendix A).

Autobiography

A person's life story written by him/herself.

Bibliography

Lists of works or documents usually having something in common:  books written by the same author, books and articles about the same subject, etc.  Bibliographies differ from catalogs, such as an online catalog of library holdings, in that they are not restrictive to the holdings of one particular library (or any library).

Binding

The binding holds the leaves of the book together, protects them, and makes them easy to handle.  It may be plain or decorated, and it may bear the author's name and the title of the book.

Biography

An account of a person's life.

Boolean

In the 1800s, George Boole, and English mathematician, developed a system of algebra, called Boolean algebra, that was used to deal with relationships between mathematical sets.  Over the years, researchers have developed keyword searches using words in the same way Boole dealth with relationships between mathematical sets.  There are three basic Boolean operators used in keyword searching:  OR, AND, and NOT.

• AND between two terms indicates that both terms must be present in the article or citation entry to be included in the search set.
• OR between two terms indicates that either term would be acceptable.  This is usually good to use with closely synonymous terms, e.g., cat OR feline.
• NOT in a search statement indicates the elimination of certain terms which may otherwise cause confusion, e.g.,  (cat OR feline) NOT tiger.

Bound Periodical

Journals or magazines of the same titles which have been bound into a bootlick form.  These books usually contain from 6-months to one year's worth of the issues.  WHSL's collection includes National Geographic and American Heritage bound volumes.
 

Call Number

The call number tells you where to find a book on the shelf.  You can find the call number of a book by doing a search in the online catalog - it is usually the first item to display in an item record.  Two typical call numbering systems used in the US today are the Dewey Decimal Classification System and the Library of Congress Classification System. (WHSL uses the Dewey system!)
 

Catalog

A tool to help you determine which books, magazines, and other sources our library owns.  Most catalogs are now online, many web-based, allowing you to do subject, author, title, or combined term searching to locate the materials you require.
 

CD-ROM

Compact Disc-Read Only Memory - disc containing digital and/or graphic data read by a laser beam.
 

Circulation

A process which allows you to check materials out.  You can also place a reserve on a title and pay your library fines through the circulation system.
 

Citation

 

Copyright Date

The date of the material's publication (or reprinting).  Usually located on the verso of the title page of a book or at the bottom of a web page.
 

Cross Reference

Words or symbols that refer a reader to other places where additional information may be found, e.g., See, See Also.
 

Date Due

The date stamped on a card in a book which tells you when the book needs to be returned to the library (or rechecked).

Dewey Decimal Classification System

A method of classifying materials into general subject categories.  The Dewey system was developed by Melville Dewey and consists of ten classification groups:  000, 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900.  For further information on how to interpret the Dewey call numbers we use, see Deciphering Call Numbers.

Dictionary

A dictionary provides information about words:  meanings, spelling, pronunciation, usage, etc.  However, dictionaries often contain biographical information, geographical information, synonyms and antonyms, prefixes and suffixes, common foreign words and phrases, weights and measures, tables, illustrations, and abbreviations.

There are many different kinds of dictionaries:  language, music, science, biographical and geographical to name a few.  Abridged dictionaries include the most common words in a language; unabridged dictionaries try to include all words, often adding more detailed information on each word.

Directory

Directories list names and addresses of people, organizations, and/or institutions.  Telephone directories are a familiar variety of directory.  Directories are important when you are trying to locate a manufacturing firm, looking for a job, thinking of joining an association or doing background research for a biographical profile.

Directories (WWW)

WWW directories are usually lists by category of pre-selected web sites, i.e., Entertainment, News/Media, Business & Economy, etc., often found on a search engine's home page.  The sites are usually selected by the company sponsoring the search engine

Encyclopedia

Encyclopedias are concerned with subjects:  brief, introductory articles naming important people, places, dates, and events involved.  Encyclopedias may be a single volume or may contain many volumes, and may also contain bibliographies or additional references with the articles which can be useful in doing research.  The purpose of an encyclopedia is to give general background information on a topic of the research's choice.  Encyclopedias may be either general or specific to a subject area (science, social studies, etc.). 

Fine

Fines are charges which are applied to materials which are checked in past the date due.  Fines do not accumulate on the weekends or when school is not in session.  WHSL charges:

• $.10 per day for general circulating books (fiction and nonfiction)
• $.10 per block for reference books and magazines.

Index

There are two basic types of indexes:  common book indexes and periodical indexes.

• Book indexes are usually found at the back of the book and list, in alphabetically order, specific referenced materials which is included in the book, giving page numbers or other information to assist you in locating the material.
• Periodical indexes will help you find articles within magazines or journals.  These, too, are usually arranged alphabetically by topic or subject, and may contain abstracts. All indexes give citations.  When you have found articles on your topic, you need to check to make sure the library subscribes to the periodical or can secure a copy of the article from an online source.

Interlibrary Loan

The ability to borrow materials that are not available at WHS, including books, book chapters, and articles from magazines and journals.  Once requested, it may take up to 10 business days to receive your material, so plan ahead!.  Ask the librarian for more details.

Introduction (Book)

The introduction describes the general subject matter and plan of the book.

Journal

Like a magazine, but containing scholarly research published as articles, research technical reports, or papers.  Articles usually contain a references lists or bibliographies  which can offer other resources on the same topic (those the author used to write his/her article).

Keyword

A term used to identify search terms other that assigned subject words (controlled vocabulary).  These words are usually located within searchable fields of databases and do not necessarily correspond to a "subject" search.

 

Meta Search Engines (WWW)

Search engines that simultaneously search 5 or more other search engine or directory products and produce results by search engine/relevance.

Multimedia

Any combination of media:  sound, still art, motion, Internet links, print, overhead transparencies, etc.

Nonfiction

Factual information, usually presented in a non-biased format.

Online

Usually referring to being connected to the Internet or the World Wide Web.  A "live" tele-connection to the outside world.

Overdue

This means that your book is late getting back to the library (beyond the date due), and you may be charged a fine, depending on how late it is.
 

Periodical

This term usually refers to magazines, journals, newspapers, or any item that is issued on a regular publication cycle ("periodically").
 

Preface

The preface introduces the author to the reader and gives their reasons for writing the book.  It indicates those for whom the book is intended (audience), acknowledges service of others, and explains the arrangement, symbols, and abbreviations used, as well as any special features of the book.

Primary Source

A primary source is a document or other sort of evidence written or created during the time under study.  Primary sources offer an inside view of a particular event.  Some types of primary sources include:

• Original documents (excerpts or translations acceptable):  diaries, speeches, letters, minutes, interviews, news film footage, autobiographies, official records.
• Creative works:  poetry, drama, novels, music, art.
• Relics or Artifacts:  jewelry, pottery, furniture, clothing, buildings.

Examples of primary sources include:

• The Diary of Anne Frank -- experiences of Jews in World War II
• The Declaration of Independence -- US history
• Bible -- Hebrew customs in Bible times
• Plato's Republic - Women in ancient Greece

Reference

Resources designed to be consulted for information rather than to be read or studied in its entirety.  These books generally do not circulate. 

Secondary Source

A secondary source interprets and analyzes primary sources.  Secondary sources are one step removed from the event.  Some types include:

• textbooks
• histories
• journal articles
• criticism
• commentaries
• encyclopedia entries

Examples of secondary sources include:

• a book about the effects of World War I
• a journal article which interprets a scholar's contribution in a field

See/See Also

See Cross Reference.

Spine/Spine Label

The spine is the binding edge of the book and carries the title or a brief form of it, the author's last name, the publisher, and the call number (on a spine label) if it is a library book.

Subject Heading

A word or group of words under which publications dealing with a particular subject are listed in a catalog, periodical index, abstract, or bibliography.  WHSL uses the Sears List of Subject Headings to assign subject headings to its books and other materials.

Table of Contents

This is a list of the chapters of the book with page numbers given; it may be so detailed as to serve as an outline of the book.

Thesis

A statement that explains the opinion or idea the writer wishes to support.

Title Page

The first main page of a book.  Usually contains the book's title, author/s, publishing company and place of publication.

Verso

The opposite side of the Title Page.  This page usually contains copyright and other publisher information.
 

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