abridgement
A condensed version or edition of a work; retains the essence of the original

academic library
Collections of materials, and services designed to serve college and university students, faculty, and staff

acceptable use policy
A school board approved document outlining policies and procedures regarding students and staff use of the Internet and other online services.

access point
An entry in an index, in which a user?s chosen word matches a word in the index, giving the user a starting point in the search.

accession number
An identifying number assigned to an item in the order that the resource is acquired.

accompanying material
A part of a work that is physically separate from the predominant part, such as a cassette supporting a book, a map in a pocket, or manual for a software program

acquisitions
Materials which are purchased for the library, or the department or staff person responsible for purchasing materials.

action research
A type of research carried out in order to test one or more hypotheses that might lead to a solution to or an improvement for a particular situation.

adaptation
A work that is a modification of another, for an audience or purpose different from that of the original work

adaptive technologies
Hardware or computer software designed to accommodate a special physical need - visual, auditory, mobility, etc.

added entry
In a catalog, an entry that is in addition to the main entry. A secondary entry that allows the user to find information with a different approach.

advocacy
Processes and actions in support of, or seeking funding for a library or other cause

aggregator
A database that consists of works - usually full-text - from a variety of sources

ALA Allied Professional Association (ALA-APA)
A membership organization of library workers at all levels that supports salary improvement and certification of specializations:http://ala-apa.org/

almanac
A compilation of descriptive, histories, and demographic data about a particular time and/or place, used primarily for quick reference

altered book
Using mixed-media to reimagine a book from its original purpose into something new while retaining some of its original shape.

alternative entry
Any access point within a bibliographic (cataloging) record

alternative title
The second part of a title that is joined by a connective word such as or (e.g., Raising the Roof or How to Build our Own House).

American Association of School Librarians (AASL)
A membership organization of professional librarians who specialize in materials and services for students, faculty, and staff in pre-college-level schools: http://www.ala.org/aasl/

American Booksellers Association (ABA)
A membership organization of brick-and-mortar and online book dealers that supports member interests, including independent and retail bookselling, free speech and literacy: http://www.bookweb.org/

American Library Association (ALA)
Provides leadership for developing, promoting and improving libraries by providing librarians, institutional members and library users with association information, news, events, and resources for education and advocacy: http://www.ala.org/aboutala/

American Theological Library Association (ALTA)
A membership organization of specialized professionals and staff in theological libraries and others in religious fields, or who have an interest in these fields: www.atla.com

Americana
Objects and other cultural artifacts related to the history, geography and folklore of the United States (USA), either singly or in collections

analytics
Individual access points in a cataloging record leading to individual works or chapters within a more comprehensive work, such as an anthology or multivolume set of materials

Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules, Second Edition, 2002 Revision (AACR2r)
Shared code for most English-language libraries (and some others), providing guidance for describing materials in libraries in predictable ways: http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=2265

anime
Animated productions featuring Japanese hand-drawn or computer animations, similar to the drawing style in graphic novels, or manga; pronounced A-knee-may

annotated bibliography
A bibliography in which each citation is followed by an annotation containing a brief description and/or evaluative summary, synopsis, or abstract.

application
A computer program that is intended for a particular function or set of functions; in the world of mobile devices, applications are usually referred to as ""apps""

applied research
A type of research that tests a hypothesis proposing a solutiion to a previously defined need or problem

approval plan
An approach to collection development in which dealers provide libraries with a selection of materials according to locally-defined criteria, to be approved or returned after local review

archives
A collection of materials defined for a collective purpose, such as the books and other items owned by a given author, or the documents and records created by an organization; also the place where such a collection is kept

archivist
A professional manager of collections of items from identified sources, for the purpose of describing, arranging, and providing information about, or controlled access to them. (AR-kiv-ist)

Art Libraries Society of North America (ARLIS/NA)
A membership organization of librarians working in art, design and image management

art print
An original work of art on paper created using printing processes; aquatints, lithographs, woodcuts, engravings, etc.

art reproduction
A copy of an original work of art, most often applied to oil paintings

artifact
A humanmade physical or mental item made for a purpose

artificial intelligence
A simulation of human mental activity; associated primarily with computer applications in a wide variety of fields

assistant librarian
Used variously as a title (person assisting a head librarian), a classification (person working in a library with an undergraduate degree), or as an academic rank similar to that of an assistant professor

assistive technology
a device to help individuals with special needs live more independently and be self-reliant. Assistive technologies include computer workstations equipped with specialized software and/or adaptive devices.

Association for Educational Communications and Technology (AECT)
A membership organization of persons working toward improving instruction through technology: http://aect.site-ym.com/?page=about_landing

Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE)
A membership organization of faculty in graduate programs of library and information science: http://www.alise.org/about-alise-2

Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS)
A division of the ALA that focuses on the selection, identification, acquisition, organization, management, retrieval, and preservation of library materials: http://www.ala.org/alcts/about

Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
A division of the ALA of persons from the library community, publishers, educators, and others focusing on library services to children: http://www.ala.org/alsc/aboutalsc

Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL)
A division of the ALA that focuses on services and research to address the information needs of students, faculty and staff in colleges and universities: http://www.ala.org/acrl/aboutacrl

asynchronous instruction
Instruction that may be accessed for learning using electronic communications at a time later and/or different from when the session was conducted

asynchronous technologies
Communications technologies that allow for interaction at varying times and places, such as email, online discussion boards, wikis, blogs, and course management systems

atlas
A book of maps and sometimes other information, such as statistical data, tables, charts, glossaries, or pronunciation guides.

attribute
Characteristic of an entity. An attribute can be inherent in an entity or externally imputed [Source: ICP Glossary].

audiovisual materials
Non-book materials such as films, videotapes, DVDs, CDs, computer software, and so forth. Sometimes these are just called "AV." See also Nonprint Materials.

authority control
Use of a controlled vocabulary to catalog materials for library. Subject headings, author names, corporate names, and series are all fields governed by authority control.

authority file
Term lists that are maintained as those to be used in a given catalog, as new items are added, in order to provide consistency in search results; lists include all types of names, series and uniform titles, and subject terms in one or more languages

autobiography
The life story of a person, actually written by that person.

back matter
Material at the end of a work (end matter); e.g., an epilogue, appendix, bibliography, glossary, index, colophon, etc.

basic research
An approach to conducting empirical research for the purpose of increasing knowledge or understanding, but without anticipating any particular practical end, such as an application or product; also known as pure research

belles lettres
Literary works written with discernible elements of originality, style, or tone; works of fiction, poetry, drama, essays, letters, etc.

benchmarking
The process of evaluating an activity or service in comparison to a standard, guideline, or external criterion.

biannual
Occurring or published every other (second) year

bibliographer
A person who researches the literature of particular subjects, often compiling lists to benefit others, or for purchase

bibliographic citation
The information needed for someone to find an item. For example, the citation for a book would include the Title, Author or Editor, Place of Publication, Publisher, and Year of Publication. A citation for an article would contain the Title of the Article, Author, Title of the Periodical, Volume Number, Issue Number (or sometimes the month and date), and the Page Numbers.

bibliographic control
The intellectual access to public knowledge. More specifically, the processes necessary to generate and organize records of materials in libraries and other information systems for effective retrieval.

bibliographic description
Systematic creation of descriptions of publications, including specific elements in styles, for library catalogs and subject bibliobraphies

bibliographic instruction
This term is defined as any activity that is designed to teach students how to locate and use information in the library, as well as sources that exist beyond the physical boundaries of the school library.

bibliographic network
An electronic network, especially of libraries and related organizations, designed for sharing bibliographic data in standardized formats

bibliographic record
In a database, information about one item is stored as a "record." Records are made up of several fields, such as the title, author, and publisher.

bibliographic software
Computer programs used by researchers to collect citations and notes taken during the process of preparing such written documents as term papers or technical reports.

bibliographic utility
An organization that provides access to cataloging records and other bibliographic information, usually for a fee or limited to members; examples are OCLC and the ISSN International Register

bibliography
A list of items such as books, documents, articles, videos, and so forth. arranged in a logical order and having something in common such as the author or producer, a subject, or a geographic region.

bibliometrics
the application of mathematical and/or statistical methods to the study of information products.

Big6 Model
This process describes the six thinking steps one goes through any time there is an information problem to be solved. It was developed by Eisenberg and Berkowitz.

bimonthly
Occurring or published every other (second) month

biographical sources
These can be divided into several different types: national bibliographies, trade bibliographies, library catalogs, union catalogs, and subject catalogs.

biography
A person's life story, written by a different person; may be one of a group of such histories, known as a collective biography

bits per second (bps)
A measure of the number of binary digits (bits) that are, or can be transmitted or recorded by a machine or mode of communication in a second

blanket order
An agreement between a supplier to automatically supply a given purchaser with one copy of everything avalable within an agreed-on profile range; a "gathering" plan for libraries that is usually the result of an ongoing (open) order.

blind reference
A "see" or "see also" reference in a bibliography, catalog, or index for which there is actually no entry; i.e., that leads nowhere

blog
An abbreviation of the term "weblog." An ongoing set of postings on the Web, such as commentary, diary, advice, and other types of information, with embedded hypertext links and often comments from readers.

Blu-ray disc
The brand name for a high-density computer disc designed to contain visual and other data to be read optically

blurb
A short description of a publication or production, produced by the issuer as a marketing piece, that often appears on book jackets, video containers, etc.

board, library
An administrative library board may be elected, and operates at both a policy and functional level, with the power to hire and fire and to set the budget; the alternative is an advisory library board that represents the user community by making suggestions and may assist incommunicating with that community

boilerplate
Any text that can be used repeatedly in varying circumstances without change, such as an organization's mission statement, or as a template for text in which only portions are changed, as individual's names

book
A printed publication consisting of connected pages and leaves, issued as a single monograph or part of a set bound separately

book bin
A box, often on wheels and with a self-depressing shelf, where books are returned to libraries

book block
The connected pages and leaves that form the interior of a book, separate from any cover

book collecting
Seeking out and gathering books that reflect a particular interest, theme, format, age, style, etc.

book fair
A gathering of book suppliers and interested purchasers who meet to exhibit and sell, examine and buy, or communicate on a variety of topics of mutual interest

book indexes
Indexes to the content of individual monograph publications. These usually appear at the end of the book and are alphabetic, including subjects and name terms.

book jacket
A covering, usually of illustrated paper, designed to attract and inform readers and to protect a printed book

book jacket cover
A covering for a book jacket, usually plastic or mylar, designed to protect the paper jacket of a printed book from handling and movement, as well as environmental elements: dust, water, friction, etc.; also known as a dust jacket

book return
A place to return books borrowed from the library. Book return slots or bins are usually near the circulation counter in the library and outside the library near the main entrance.

book trade
The various companies, organizations, stores, and individuals involved in producing, marketing, and distributing books to buyers

book truck
A cart used to hold books before they are re-shelved, and then used to carry the books to the shelves for re-shelving.

bookmark
also favorite - a link to a web address saved electronically in a browser to facilitate quick access to the web page without having to remember the URL.

bookplate
A small label, usually decorative, showing the name of the owner, pasted in the front of a book; also sometimes called "ex libris."

bookstore model
A style of organizing a library in locally-defined groupings, rather than standard classification arrangements, and often offering a café with comfortable seating

Boolean logic
An algebraic system developed by George Boole in 1847 that uses binary operands and three operators: AND, OR, and NOT. It is the foundation of computer logic gates and is also used as an IR model.

Boolean operators
Used to narrow or broaden a reference search: AND requires that both or all words appear; OR searches for either term; NOT eliminates the term.

Boolean searching
A quick and effective searching method used primarily in software programs, in which search terms are combined (using "and" and "or" operators), or eliminated (using the "not" operator); the term is named after the mathematician George Boole, who developed the mathematical model for this approach before computers existed

born digital
A term used to distinguish materials that were created digitally, as opposed to those that were copied into digital formats, such as film to video, or printed texts to e-formats

borrower's identification number
A number assigned to each student who is authorized to borrow materials from a given library, frequently shown on a card, with or without a matching barcode

bound
A term referring to pages, sheets or issues of periodicals which have been covered with binding, usually hardback, to create a single volume. This process is used in libraries to preserve items for long-term use.

Bradford's law of scattering
A pattern described by Samuel C. Bradford that estimates the diminishing returns of extending searchs in science journals; also known as a Bradford distribution

braille book
A book produced using a series of embossed dots, devised by Louis Braille, that can be read using only the sense of touch: http://brailleauthority.org/learn/braillebasic.pdf

brittleness
A condition caused by dryness, temperature changes and age that causes old or defective film, paper, leather, etc., to crack or break

broad classification
A very general grouping of items, most useful for young and novice seekers; e.g., animals (broad) vs. collies (narrow)

broader term
In a hierarchical thesaurus, broader terms and narrower terms express relationships between class and subclass. A term in a subclass would refer to class by indicating a broader term.

browse searching
A highly productive style of searching, using the exact wording, spelling, and punctuation of the title, subject term, or name associated with the desired item or information

browser
A software program that is used to access various kinds of Internet resources. Netscape and Internet Explorer are common examples of Web browsers.

buckram
A stiff cotton or linen fabric used to cover books that are meant to withstand heavy use

burn
A term used to describe the copying of data onto optical media

byte
The basic unit of storage needed to store a single character. Bytes taken in multiples may be referred to as megabytes, gigabytes, and so forth.

Caldecott Medal
An award presented each year by the American Library Association to an American illustrator for the most distinguished picture book for children published during the previous year.

call number
Letters, numbers, and symbols (used separately or in combination) assigned to a book to show its location in the library shelving system. Call numbers are derived from the classification system used by the particular library, e.g., Dewey Decimal System or Library of Congress.

caption title
A title taken from or serving as a caption at the beginning of text, music, illustrative material, etc.

card catalog
Cataloging records on cards, each of which begins with as the title, subject, or person's name related to a particular work; also the furniture containing such cards, normally filed in alphabetical order

card pocket
A thick paper folded so as to form a flat pocket and affixed in a library item to contain a circulation or date-due card

carrel
A desk, cubicle, or other small area intended for individual study in a library

carrier
A physical medium in which data, sound, images, etc., are stored. For certain types of resources, the carrier may consist of a storage medium (e.g., tape, film) sometimes encased in a plastic, metal, etc., housing (e.g., cassette, cartridge) that is an integral part of the resource [Source: RDA Glossary].

carrier type
A categorization reflecting the format of the storage medium and housing of a carrier in combination with the type of intermediation device required to view, play, run, etc., the content of a resource [Source: RDA Glossary].

cartographic material
A map, atlas, globe, chart, etc. containing geographic information of the earth, a celestial body, or imaginary place

cartridge
The container for a reel of looped film or tape for continuous play in related video or sound equipment

case study
a research process in which an investigator studies one instance in great detail as a means of explicating a phenomenon. See also Descriptive methods.

cassette
The container for a reel of film or tape for playback in related video or sound equipment

catalog
A list of items such as books, periodicals, maps and/or videos arranged in a defined order. The list usually records, describes, and indexes the resources of a collection, a library, or a group of libraries.

catalog card
A card created for a catalog drawer, with a hole for a rod that protects filing order, and that contains descriptive information related to a particular item or set of items in a library, with information as to its location; the first line is either the title, a subject, the name ofthe author or other related person, dictating its alphabetical order in the catalog

catalog maintenance
Activities involved in creating, revising, and updatingthe contents of a library catalog

Catalog of U.S. Government Publications (CGP)
Finding aid for federal U.S. publications, both print and electronic; formerly known as the ""Monthly Catalog"" of the Government Publications Office (GPO): http://catalog.gpo.gov/F?RN=574895922

catalog record
A formatted block (card) or electronic file that comprises data that describe, provide indexing for, and location information related to an item in a library or other organization; also known as a cataloging record

cataloger
Person who examines individual items in order to describe key elements according to international standards, and in preparation for a library's catalog

Cataloging
Bibliographic and physical description of an item for the collection. Includes author, title, subject headings, and imprint followed by the collation and further description.

cataloging department
The department in a library or similar organization in which items are examined and described in preparation for entry in a catalog and processing for borrowing or another intended use

cataloging in publication
A description of key elements, in a standardized format, of the bibliographic data and contents of a book or other published item, and printed within the item itself

CD-ROM
An abbreviation for the term ""Compact Disc-Read Only Memory."" A read-only disk used to store music and printed information

celestial map
A map showing stars, planets, and other bodies in space, beyond earth

censorship
The act or preventing another person from having access to a given item or group of items perceved by the censor as being offensive or harmful to that person or group

centralized acquisitions
The purchase of materials, supplies, and equipment for the collections of all the schools in a system carried out from a central source.

centralized cataloging
Bibliographic records and descriptions of the items in the collections of all the schools in the system carried out from a central source.

centralized processing services
Preparation of all materials and equipment for circulation for each school in the system carried out from a central source.

certification
A State Department of Education endorsed document serving as evidence for the holder to work in a specified field of education.

certification of librarians
The awarding of a certificate, by a governmental agency, authorizing a person to practice as a professional librarian in a particular setting within that agency's jurisdiction; often accepted in reciprocal jurisdictions as well

challenge
A request or demand that an item be removed from a particular library or seting, and intended as censorship by a person other than the librarian

challenge grant
A type of funding in which an individual or organization offers a specified amount to one or more recipients on the condition that certain results are first achieved by the recipient, such as raising a certain amount from others in order to receive the funds

chapter book
A children's book written in chapters

chart
A display of graphic or numeric data; also, a navigational map

chat
Generally, a text based method for instant real time communications. Chat sites allow for both public and private chat. Some chat sites allow users to create private chat rooms for a user and her/his friends. Most social media networks include some level of chat services.

chat reference
A means of providing reference services via computer to an end user, using real-time textual messages; chats may also incorporate visual data, hyperlinks, and other media

check in
The process of updating library circulation records to reflect the return of borrowed material

chief source of information
The specified part of an item, such as a book or video, from which information for standardized cataloging records is taken, such as the title page and verso (book), or the title screens (projected media)

Child Online Protective Act (COPA)
A U.S. federal law never in effect, designed to prevent children's access to certain material and information available online

Children's Book Week
A national children's literacy initiative involving many organizations and individuals in highlighting for children, and the joys of reading: http://www.cbcbooks.org/about/cbw/ and in Australia: http://cbca.org.au/bookweek.htm.

Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)
A U.S. law requiring K-12 schools and libraries to use Internet filters and other measures to protect children from potentially harmful online content as a condition for federal funding

Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)
A U.S. federal law designed to protect children's privacy and safety online

CIP
Cataloging in Publication. Cataloging data found on the verso page of many books. Produced by the Library of Congress.

circulate
To make an item available for borrowing; also, the processes involved in checking items in and out

circulating
The status of an item in a library or similar organization that a person may check out, as opposed to an item thata may only be used withinthe room or building where it is housed; compare with reference materials, which are generally noncirculating

circulation
1. The tasks that comprise the distribution, tracking, and retrieval of the library collection. 2. The total number of volumes lent during a given period of use outside the library.

circulation department
The department in a library or similar organization where items are checked in or out by borrowers,records of the status of each item are maintained, and other borrower services are carried out

class letter
The alphabetic letter in a classification that indicates the broad category into which an item's subject content falls; usually appears first on the item's identification and location label (call number label)

class number
The numeric element in a classification indicating an item's subject content; it may appear on the first or second line of the item's identification and location label (call number label), depending on the classification plan

classification
The identification of similarities among items so that they can be grouped logically; in libraries, classification is generally topical, with some form groupings (e.g., periodicals), and items are arranged by topical call number, or location symbols; the most widely used system is the Dewey Decimal Classification

classified index
A hierarchical index in which entries are arranged in broad, then narrower categories

classified report
A publication to which access is limited by security regulations governing the issuing agency

classroom library
A small collection of books and other materials located in a particular school classroom for a particular purpose

clectronic resource
Any item in a library, in electronic format, that contains information that is available to its users either directly or through its online catalog

client
In a network system (e.g. the Web), the receiving end of the information retrieval procedure.

client-server
A computing model in which tasks or workloads are distributed between the provider of a resource or service (server) and a service requester (client), such as e-mail, databases, and the World Wide Web

client-server architecture
A way of designing networks that consist of a server (host) and multiple client computers that are connected via an Internet connection; also known as a networking model

clipping file
A paper or digital file containing clippings or excerpts from newspapers and other publications (brochures, maps, etc.), especially of local interest

Closed Circuit System
Audio/video signal that is broadcasted only within connected devices. Also referred to as CCTV.

closed stacks
A shelving area of a library to which access may be gained by permission or via a carrier, intended to prevent misplacement and loss of materials

closed-ended question
A question that requires a respondent to select from a list of predetermined answer categories. See also Descriptive methods; Open-ended question.

cloud
Virtual repository spaces on remote computers where data is stored for use at one or many locations, presenting both savings and costs, as well as potential protection and risks for data security

Cloud Computing
Using equipment under the ownership and control of a third party to process and/or store information. Examples include Yahoo Mail for e-mail; Google Documents for word processing, spreadsheets and other documents; Instagram to share photographs; and anything posted on FaceBook.

CMS (Content Management Systems)
Any application or platform designed to accommodate creating, editing, and delivering content. In the context of web publishing, a content management systems is a database approach used to create dynamic websites. These include the broader content management framework that has both site building tools as well as ways for programmers and developers to customize the various modules that control the options and features available to them.

Code of Ethics of the American Library Association (ALA)
Eight ethical principles that guide the work of professionals, staff and trustees in providing for access to materials and information in libraries and other informational organizations that are members of ALA: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/sites/ala.org.advocacy/files/content/proethics/codeofethics/Code%20of%20Ethics%20of%20the%20American%20Library%20Association.pdf

codex
Bound sheets of paper; the modern form of most books

coextensive subject indexing
The assignment of access terms to items, based on their actual subject content - neither broader nor narrower

collation
In cataloging, the physical description of a bibliographic item (book, CD, DVD) which appears on the line following the imprint.

collection development
Activities related to building, maintaining, evaluating, and expanding library collections--includes user needs assessment, budget management, selection policy formation, resource sharing, and weeding.

collection maintenance
The activities involved in taking care of a library's collections, including conservation, preservation, format conversion, binding, etc.

collection map
A tool for assessing the total number of books, the number of books per student, and the strengths and weaknesses of the collection in relation to instructional priorities.

collective biography
A book about the lives of persons who have at least one characteristic in common. Classified with the number 920 in Dewey Decimal System.

collective title
A title proper that is an inclusive title for an item containing several works.

colophon
A brief descripion of an item and its publication data, printed at the end of a book, as opposed to the title-page verso

comic book
A soft paper publication, often printed on newsprint, in which images (comics) with text enclosed in speech ballooms are used to tell stories; the visual style is similar to that of graphic novels

commentary
A publication containing explanations, interpretation, and similar notes about a work; most often used in relation to works about religious texts

Common Core Standards
Standards for what students are expected to learn to prepare them for college and careers

common title
A title commonly used for a work, but which is not necessarily its true, or proper title, that is used as an access point in a cataloging record and sometimes in bibliographies

compact disc (CD)
A small shiny disc designed as computer storage of sound, visual, or other digital data; playback requires a standalone CD reader or a dedicated drive and software in a computer

compact shelving
Shelving designed to maximize space, including tall, movable shelving on wheels

compilation
A publication containing multiple works, often by various authors, gathered to reflect a theme, or related to a given time or place

compiler
A person who identifies and gathers works on a theme, or related to a given time or place, in order to produce a new publication

compound surname
A combined name consisting of two or more family names; the combination may include a preposition, hyphen, etc.

compound term
Multiword terms (e.g., Super Bowl).

computer literacy
An understanding of how computers operate generally, including software, communications, anda variety of useful applications of these

computer-aided indexing
Human indexers use computer software, which supplements aspects of the indexing process (e.g. formatting and thesaurus checking).

computer-assisted instruction (CAI)
The use of computers, systems, and related software to facilitate and enhance teaching and learning

computer-based training (CBT)
Instruction delivered through computer software applications that incorporate visual and textual data, and usually self-paced; used primarily for teaching skills

concept mapping
Production of graphical diagrams showing ideas about relationships between concepts; designed to organize information and/or knowledge visually

connective learning
Learning that takes place through participation in an interconnected online community of learners

connectivism
A theory that describes the interconnected online community of learners http://www.connectivism.ca/about.html.

conservation
Activities involved in restoration of physical items in libraries, including book repair, paper conservation, and protection of manuscripts, documents, objects and ephemera

consideration file
A list or container with selection and ordering information for items desired or being considered for purchase by a litrary; also known as a desiderata file

consortium
An contractual association of two or more organizations, governments, companies or individuals that partners for a shared activity or in order to pool resources for a common cause or goal

content analysis
An attempt to infer the meaning and intent of a knowledge record in the absence of the creator of the record. A subjective interpretation of what a record is about.

content management (CM)
A set of computer processes designed to allow the user to create, collect, edit, publish, and generally manage information in a variety of formats and media

content management system
Software used to manage content on a Web site. The key feature of a CMS is that it provides content managers with the ability to create, edit, and delete content from a Web site without the expertise of a Webmaster. Documentum and Interwoven's TeamSite are commercial examples of content-management systems.

content provider
An author or entity that creates or otherwise provides information and/or documents for use in electronic media, such as the World Wide Web or databases

content type
A categorization reflecting the fundamental form of communication in which the content is expressed and the human sense through which it is intended to be perceived. For content expressed in the form of an image or images, content type also reflects the number of spatial dimensions in which the content is intended to be perceived and the perceived presence or absence of movement [Source: RDA Glossary].

contents note
In library cataloging, a note that lists the titles of works, chaptes, etc. contained within a book or other item; usually formatted according to standards for ease of retrieval in computer searching

continuation
A publication that supplements a previously published work - a book, serial publication, series, etc.

continuing resource
A publication that is intended to be issued continuously at set or irregular intervals, but with no planned ending; individual issues are usually numbered andor dated.

continuous revision
A process of pdating, correcting, or otherwise modifying a publication on an ongoing basis; new editions based on such revisions are intended to replace earlier editions or versions

contour map
A geographic or site map showing variations in elevation - heights and depths - using contour lines

contract services
Any service provided by a person, company, or other organization on the basis of a specific contract, rather than by employees

controlled vocabulary
Terms selected for use in a catalog, thesaurus, or database to refer to a topic or name, to prevent the use of multiple, similar terms for the same thing or person and yield more accurate search results.

conventional name
A name by which a work is known, but that is not its official title; may also known as a "common title."

cooperative acquisition
An agreement involving two or more libraries to purchase different materials and share their usage, in order to prevent duplication and maximize resources

cooperative cataloging
An agreement involving two or more libraries to share the results of their original cataloging, in order to maximize professional resources

Cooperative Conversion of Serials
Earlier name of the Cooperative Online Serials Project

cooperative library system
A voluntary system of independent libraries, cooperating on a formal or informal basis to plan, coordinate, and/or provide one or more services to each other or to library users

Cooperative Online Serials Project (CONSER)
A project of the Library of Congress' Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC) involving professional catalogers in many libraries who provide authoritative, standardized cataloging records for serial publications and work to develop standards and related practices: http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/conser/about/aboutcn1.html

cooperative purchasing
An agreement involving two or more libraries to purchase some or all materials through shared purchasing, thus benefitting from greater discounts and other advantages of larger purchases

copy cataloging
Copying a bibliographic (cataloging) record that was created by another entity, updating it, and adding local holdings information

Copyright
The legal right granted to a copyright owner to exclude others from copying, preparing derivative works, distributing, performing, or displaying original works of authorship of the owner. Copyrighted works on the Internet are protected under national and international laws. Examples of copyrighted works include literature, music, drama, pictures, graphics, sculpture, and audiovisual presentations.

Copyright Clearance Center (CCC)
A global rights broker for publications in all formats, facilitating the legal use of copyright-protected materials by compensating copyright owners for their works: http://www.copyright.com/content/cc3/en/toolbar/aboutUs.html

copyright date
The year in which copyright protection was obtained by an author or publisher; normally printed on the protected item

copyright depository library
A library that receives copies of all publications for which copyright has been registered in a given country, regardless of where it was published; in the U.S., deposits are made to the Library of Congress' Copyright Office as a public record and for its use

copyright holder
A person who has statutory rights to publish and sell a lterary or artistic work, and to protect those rights from infringement

copyright notice
A statement provided within a work to inform the public that it is protected by copyrightlaw; it identifies the copyright owner, and shows the first year of publication

core collection
A selection of reference and other library material that reflects the essence of the users' purposes in using the collection

core element
An element considered essential or requisite in RDA. A core element supports fundamental, basic user tasks. The RDA core elements, a subset of the complete RDA set, provide the minimum data required for bibliographic and authority records.

Coretta Scott King Award
The Coretta Scott King Award is presented to authors and illustrators of African descent whose distinguished books promote an understanding and appreciation of the American Dream.

corporate body
A group of people or organizations that are considered as a single entity (e.g., the IBM Corporation).

corporate entry
A catalog or index entry under the name of an organization or institution, rather than under an individual name.

corporate name
The official name of an organization or any entity comprising two or more individuals in a shared activity or interest

cost-benefit analysis
A methodical process for evaluating products and services in relation their potential benefits to a person or organization's needs, and weighing these against their potential costs

cost-effectiveness
comparison of achievement of objectives to expense.

Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR)
An independent membership organization that fosters research, teaching, and learning in collaboration with libraries, cultural institutions, and entities in higher education for the purpose of advancing knowledge: http://www.clir.org/about.

course reserve
Materials set aside in a limited-access area of a library for short-term use by persons in a given course, at the request of the instructor, for the duration of the sourse

courtesy notices
In libraries, notes sent to borrowers as reminders of due date of borrowed materials, or to alert them of the availability of requested items

cover date
A date that is shown on the cover (or in the front matter) of a periodical publication, such as a magazine or comic book to show the intended date for the , but which may be ahead of the actual date of publication to show its sequence in the serial, and to indicate currency of the content

cover pocket
A pocket created as part of the cover of an item, such as a book, to contain loose materials

cover title
The title of a work that appears on its cover, or on its first page if there is no separate cover on the item

Creative Commons
A nonprofit organization that provides a standardized way to grant copyright permissions to their creative work, provide limited copyright, and authorize use of original works (www.creativecommons.org).

Creative Commons (CC) license
A license that may be granted by a copyright holder to freely reproduce and/or distribute a particular work under specified conditions, without need for further permission; the CC serves as a facilitator in the process: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/

creator
A person, family, or corporate body responsible for the creation of a work? [Source: RDA Glossary].

critical abstract
An abstract that evaluates the content of the paper.

critical edition
A version of a text that most closely approximates the original, without errors

criticism
A careful judgment discussing the better and worse qualities of a book, movie, etc.

cross-reference
An entry in an index that points to another entry.

crosswalk
A translation table describing relationships and equivalents between data elements of two or more metadata platforms. Search engines use crosswalks, also referred to as metadata mapping, to search effectively across heterogeneous databases.

cubook
An estimate of shelf capacity: one hundredth of a section of standard library shelving, allowing for 10% of each shelf to be empty

cultural property
Articles of great importance to the cultural heritage of a people, including books, artistic works, monuments, etc.

cultural record
The documentation and preservation of the works and artifacts of a people's culture

cumulative index
An index in which several previously published indexes are combined. Usually covers several months or years.

curator
Derived from the traditional use of the term for a museum curator who develops museum collections, blog or wiki curators develop virtual collections.

current-awareness service
Services designed to inform library users about new items. such as display boards and shelves, signs, acquisitions lists, and selective information systems delivered to individuals and/or groups

curriculum guide
A publication in any form that helps a teacher or learner know what is to be taught or learned in a particular curriculum or item, and which may include suggestions for additional activities, worksheets, or readings

curriculum materials center
A library or collection of materials of any format selected for their potential use in teaching or learning to teach

custody
In a library, the responsibility for keeping, guarding, and generally managing one or more items or resources

Cutter number
An alpha-numeric scheme used for indication of the author or main entry following the classification number. Its purpose is as a filing device to alphabetize or arrange main entries within a given classification number.

Cutter table
A table of letters and numbers used for assigning as part of a call number, and determining the filing and shelf position of a work using the letters in the author's surname, or in some cases on the title

Cutter-Sanborn Table
A variation on Charles A. Cutter's table of letters and numbers for assigning as part of a call number and determining the filing and shelving position of a work using the letters in the author's surname, or in some cases on the title

cyberspace
A term coined by William Gibson in his 1984 sci-fi novel Neuromancer.Refers to all the sites that you can access electronically. If your computer is connected to the Internet or a similar network, then it exists in cyberspace.

dark archive
A backup or repository for computer data that is limited to specialized access, and available only in the event of a disaster

data conversion
The process of converting data from one format to another, usually print or graphic data to digital format, but also from one electronic format to another, for the purpose of preservation and improved access

data ethics
Refers to the issues of intellectual property rights, confidentiality and privacy (especially with regard to research involving human subjects), and assigning attribution in order to gain recognition for one's work.

data migration
The process of transferring data from one format, storage type, or system of computers to another.

data mining
A technique that allows researchers to discover new trends and patterns within data that researchers can then analyze and interpret to form new insights.

data sharing
The practice of making research data available to other investigators.

database
A collection of files and/or records in electronic form; the file formats may be text, graphic, sound, or a combination

database management system (DBMS)
A program or collection of programs for storing and retrieving information.

date-due card
A stiff card, usually lined, inserted in a special pocket in a library item, containing identification of a specific item and the data on which the borrower must return it

date-due slip
A slip of paper, usually lined, that is pasted in a library item or its container, containing identification of a specific item and the data on which the borrower must return it

deacidification
The removal or reduction of damaging acids from paper, often by soaking in a mildly alkaline solution

deacquisition
The withdrawal and removal of an item from a library and its catalog(s); also known as deaccessioning (DEE-ack-kwih-ZIH-shun)

decimal notation
A number assigned to a library item, reflecting its subject matter, and in which each digit has decimal, rather than whole-number value; e.g., the "6" in 68 (.6-8-5) is read/filed before the "3" in 385 (.3-8-5)

declassification
The removal of restrictions in access to a document or other governmental publication that was previously "classified" for security or other reasons

dedup
To identify and remove duplicate data and entries from a file, usually electronic; originally "deduplicate" (de-DUPE).

deep Web
Documents and other data stored on the Internet, stored in such a way as to make it difficult or impossible for the public to accessible using popular browsers, either as a fee-collecting device, or for increased security; also referred to as the invisible Web.

demand-driven acquisition (DDA)
A method of library collection development especially of digital material, such as e-books, in which libraries purchase items shown to have been used by one or more of their borrowers; a form of patron-driven acquisition (PDA)

demographics
Numbers that represent the statistical data of specific populations, such as age, income, education, race, gender, occupation, etc.

deposit copy
One of usually two best-edition copies of a work, in its published form, that must be submitted to a legal depository by copyright owner, or the entity having an exclusive right of publication; in the U.S., the deposit is made to the Library of Congress' Office of Copyright

depository
A library that automatically receives all publications published by a governmental entity; e.g. Superintendent of Documents, state department, United Nations, and so forth.

description
The process of generating a general understanding of a phenomenon of interest by encapsulating the fundamental characteristics of the phenomenon, usually in the form of a narrative. See also Descriptive methods.

descriptive cataloging
A precise, standardized form of record creation for library items, following a national or international standard; the data included reflect statements on the item itself, as well as forms of names and titles (access points) formulated by experts for general use in record retrieval or physical catalogs

descriptive metadata
Data that describe selected identifying physical elements and the content of library materials, for use in the electronic retrieval of descriptive records of those items, especially in a library catalog

descriptor
An index term chosen as the preferred representation for the aboutness of a topic in a document.

descriptors
Words or phrases used as Subject Headings.

desensitize
To deactivate the magnetic security strip in an item so that an alarm will not sound when a borrower takes a checked-out item out the door

desiderata
Items that have been identified as desirable for a given library's collection, but not yet (deh-zih-deh-RAH-tah)

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC)
The title of the ten-discipline, hierarchical classification system most used to group items in libraries by subject matter or form; the notation is numerical, usually supplemented by letters and numbers (Cutters) that in turn sequence items within each assigned "call" number: http://www.oclc.org/content/dam/oclc/dewey/DDC%2023_Summaries.pdf

dialog box
A box-shaped window on a computer display screen used for users to supply needed data for a search or form, or in response to a query

dictionary
A book which defines the terms of a language, profession, discipline, or specialized area of knowledge. The terms are arranged in alphabetical order.

digest
A shortened version of a work, created by condensing the content rather than summarizing it

digital
Information that is represented in binary form; as 0s and 1s.

digital archive
A collection of works related to a common theme or purpose that have either been digitized from other formats or created digitally; provides long-term access and preservation

digital audio recording
A sound recording that is made using electonic equipment that represents sound as a data; recordings may be solid state (flash memory), hard-disk based (internal or external), CD-recorded, or direct-to-computer recorded using an analog-to-digital converter

digital divide
The division between people who, due to socioeconomic factors, have or do not have access access to the computers and telecommunications that provide opportunities and skills necesssary to compete successfully in the 21st Century

digital imaging
The processes involved in recording visual information using image sensors (such as cameras) and converting that into digital signals for processing by a computer; the data can then be displayed as a visible image

digital librarianship
Knowledge and skills needed to design and implement digital information services.

digital library
A virtual library providing access to part or all of its collections that have been digitally converted and made accessible via the Internet.

digital literacy
The set of skills and knowledge that combine to allow a person to understand and interact successfully with a wide variety of electronic devices and networks

Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998 (DMCA)
A U.S. copyright law that prohibits the production, distribution, and use of any technology, device, or service designed to circumvent digital protections for copyrighted works and systems or software that limit access to digital content; it also protects providers of Internet services from liability for their users' actions to circumvent digital rights management (DRM): http://www.copyright.gov/legislation/dmca.pdf

digital object identifier (DOI)
A permanently-assigned character string that uniquely identifies an electronic object (file, etc.), making it actionable and interoperable; it does not change over time

digital repository
Storage in a location that provides for safety or preservation of digital copies of documents, books, and other archival material; usually maintained by an organization or academic institution, and sometimes called a virtual or digital library

Digitization
The process of electronically converting information resources into a digital format.

direct order
A purchase made directly from the publisher or producer, without any intermediary vendor

direct readers' advisory
A library or bookstore service in which one or more titles are suggested directly to a reader based on a question or other interaction

direct subdivision
In subject heading usage, the naming of a place as a direct subdivision of a topical term, rather than after the name of an interposed larger place; e.g., Term--Place (rather than Term--Large place--Place)

directional reference
Informational services in libraries that provide location, policy, or other questions that do not involve professional knowledge

directories
A list of persons or organizations, systematically arranged, usually in numerous items, such as people, organizations, things, current and historical events, and other features.

Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)
A contributor-supported online directory that indexes and provides access to peer-reviewed, research, and similar journals, without charging readers or their institutions for access or use

disaster plan
A plan, made in advance of any potential emergency, including effors toward prevention, and leading to preparation for weather, fire, or other disasters, and made known to anyone who might need to know, such as employees of a library or people in nearby structures

discard
In a library, removal of an item and related records by decision

discography
A listing, possibly in a catalog, of sound recordings, with identifying details, contents notes, possibly including price or value information, annotations, or critiques

discovery interface
A computer interface leading to a wide variety of types of data, such as that found in library, archival, or museum collections and online stores via an federated search using a unified index; e.g., WorldCat.org's "Search Everything" or Amazon.com's "Search."

discovery tool
An aid to finding information in databases, lists, on the Internet, etc.

discretionary funds
Money that can be used as needed, based on the judgment (at the discretion) of an appropriate person or group

disk
An external, flat data storage item, usually round, and sometimes contained in a casing, for use in a computer

disposition
The immediate or eventual location of an item in a library or an archive; this may include disposal (destruction), but now usually means a more-or-less permanent placement in an electronic or physical repository

distance education
Coursework taken by a student who is not present, delivered by mail or electronically, on an individual or group basis, and sometime "blended" with in-person delivery for a hybrid educational experience.

distributed computing
A type of computing in which various components are located on networked [distributed] computers and systems that carry out different processesand interact so as to achieve a common goal

divided catalog
A register, in physical or electronic form, in which name or title entries and subject entries are searched in separate alphabets; most often refers to card catalogs

document
The physical carrier of organized information. May be print or non-print, including digital form.

document retrieval system
A database system programmed to find information in response to the terms in users' queries, by matching those terms against existing documents using an index and interface software, and yielding a result to the user

documentary film
A nonfictional movie filmed for the purpose of documenting an event, situation or other aspect of reality, normally made in order to inform, teach, or create a historical record

documentation
An activity that concerns itself with the reproduction, distribution, and utilization of documents. The movement began in Europe, spread to the United States in the 1930s, and became one of the intellectual streams leading to the information science discipline.

domain name
A string of characters that serve as identification labels for an Internet resource, designed to be simple, recognizable, and memorizable names for numerical IP addresses; they serve as part of URLs and end with the label for the top domain level, e.g., ".com" , ".net"" or ".gov"

dos-à-dos
A binding connecting two back-to-back books (French: DOE-za-doe); see, for e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dos-%C3%A0-dos_binding

Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI)
An open organization begun in Dublin, Ohio, that was an early adopter of metadata design and work in library cataloging: http://dublincore.org/index.shtml

dummy
A placeholder for an item shelved elsewhere—usually a wood block; or, an unprinted "book" made to look like the projected publication; or, a computer record holding meaningless data, but holding a place in a file for some later purpose.

DVD (digital video disc)
An optical disc storage media format that is a second-generation CD-ROM format, used for visual and other types of data storage; also known as digital versatile disc, as it can be used in variety of players

E-Rate
A program that provides for discounts to schools and libraries in the U.S. so that they can afford the telecommunications and Internet access needed for comprehensive and equal education

easy books
Books that are largely (or entirely) pictorial, designed for beginning readers

eBook
An electronic version of a traditional print book that can be read by using a personal computer or an e-Book reader.

eBook formats
In addition to EPUB, the widely used open format, proprietary formats include MOBI and AZW (Amazon Kindle), iBOOKS (Apple), and PDF (Adobe)

eBook reader
A standalone device, or computer software that allows a person to read an electronic version book or other text

edition
All copies of a book printed at any time from the same setting of type.

editor
A person who reads another person's work and carries out, or oversees, the various tasks involved in bringing it to publication; often a person who revises or corrects any errors in the work

Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
A U.S.-government sponsored organization that gathers, catalogs, and makes available an online full-text database of education research and education-related information in books, reports, journals, and ephemera in multiple formats: http://eric.ed.gov/

electronic journal (eJournal)
A periodical publication produced in electronic format.

electronic portfolio
A person's collection of electronic evidence (documents, images, artifacts) designed to serve as a learning record and related student reflections

electronic records
Records in a machine-readable medium.

electronic resource management system (ERMS)
Systems that libraries use to keep house and manage databases and information about electronic resources, both local and available on the Internet, of all types, including e-books and e-journals

element set
A designated set of properties examined in order to describe a resource in an electronic database or catalog

empirical methods
processes for deriving data from observation or experience.

employee recognition
A management tool for reinforcing and rewarding employees' important and outstanding performance and outcomes; it may be as simple as mentioning a person's name or giving praise, rewards and awards

Encoded Archival Description
a predefined set of XML markup tags developed exclusively for the creation of electronic archival finding aids. An encoded archival description is an example of a document type definition.

Encoded Archival Description (EAD)
An XML standard for describing and encoding archival finding aids in online catalogs and resources

encyclopedia
An electronic or print work consisting of articles by subject experts, and designed for quick reference on a wide variety of topics or focusing on a single subject

endowment
A type of donation (money or property) that is meant for ongoing support rather than immediate expenditure; investment income may be used for current expenses

enhanced podcast
A recorded file that features an audio component (podcast) that is enhanced by images and/or links, and is accessed electronically as a slide show

entity
A broad term used for any unique "thing"—a particular object, place, organization, person, etc.

entity relationship model
A model that organizes data using three basic constructs: entities, the attributes of entities, and relationships between entities.

entry
The point where the user is directed to the needed information. It consists of headings and subheadings with a locator, directing where to find the information.

entry word
The word, first word, or most important word of several that head an entry or listing of many entries; e.g., in this entry in the glossary, the word ""entry"" is the entry word

enumerative classification
A system in which all the elements are named and placed in fixed relationships prior to use.

ephemera
Things (plural) that are fleeting, or seemingly insignificant or temporary; in the library setting these may be pamphlets, cards, bookmarks, fliers, etc.

EPUB
An open standard format for Electronic PUBlishing that results in ebook files with the ".epub" file extension, and that can be read on most devices with eBook reader software.

errata
An insert or addition to a work listing identified errors and their corrections

exhaustivity
The range of topic coverage of an indexed document.

experimental methods
research or evaluation methods that are based on manipulation of the present.See also Experiment.

expert system
A computer system that is designed and programmed to accomplish tasks that experts accomplish using their intelligence and experience.

expository writing
A style of writing that explains or clarifies ideas and topics, and is used in books, material in textbooks, journal articles, white papers, etc.

expression
The intellectual or artistic realization of a work in the form of alpha-numeric, musical, or choreographic notation, sound, image, object, movement, etc., or any combination of such forms [Source: FRBR 3.2.2]

Extensible Markup Language (XML)
A markup language for ""tagging"" (defining content) text and other data and makes these portable and accessible for use on the World Wide Web; a way to organize and update data for web pages

eZine
An electronically published magazine, or magazine-style e-mails to which recipients subscribe (opt-in)

factbooks
General reference tools providing basic facts on particular topics such as countries, sports, or time periods.

faculty status
A status within the academy that provides the same rights and responsibilities for librarians as for members of the teaching faculty, entitling them to equal rank, promotion, tenure, pay, benefits, and research support

fair use
A principle in copyright law that recognizes the need for a person to quote very briefly from a work in the process of making comments, listings, critiques, etc., or narrowly for education or research purposes, without violating the copyright owner's rights

false drops
Non-relevant documents retrieved as result of a semantic breakdown. For example, a request for Venetian blinds might also result in information on Blind Venetians.

federated searching
The ability to search over multiple information systems with a single search. Federated searching does not perform indexing of Web databases; rather, it translates search requests into a syntax understood by the various Web databases chosen to be searched. WebFeat and Sagebrush are commercial examples of federated searching.

federated system
A single search engine which returns relevancy-ranked results after searching multiple databases.

fee-based service
Services beyond those traditionally provided, and not supported in a library's budget, for which a fee must be charged; e.g., retrieving items for borrowers as a convenience, making hard copies of online search results, etc.

feminist research
Research that is carried out from a feminist perspective and/or addresses issues or concerns related to feminism.

Festschrift
A book compiled of essays, articles, and similar short works, published in order to honor a living person, especially in the academy; a celebratory book (German: FEST-shrift)

fiction
Literature about events that did not actually take place. Genres include historical fiction, mysteries, romance, suspense, science fiction, westerns, and so forth.

field
A subdivision of a computer record used for a defined category or purpose. For example, a bibliographic record contains the title field, where the title of the work is located.

file transfer protocol (FTP)
An Internet protocol used for uploading files from an individual computer to a website, or for downloading files from a website to a computer, using TCP/IP to enable the data transfer

filing element
Any letters, characters, or words that are used in filing titles, names, topics, etc., as opposed to those that are disregarded, such as articles or punctuation marks at the beginning of titles

filter
A computer program used to eliminate specified search results, such as material in fee-based databases or that includes certain terms, often in addition to the use of advanced searching methods

finding aid
A document compiled in archival processing that describes a collection of materials in detail, designed to be used in addition to the more general description in a catalog in determining the relevance of the contents to a particular search

firewall
A mechanism to keep unauthorized users from accessing parts of a network or host computer. For example, anonymous users might be permitted to read documents a company makes public but could not read proprietary information without special clearance.

first edition
Either one of, or all the copies, taken as a whole, of the first printing of a work from the same type, without later changes or corrections

fixed location
A type of shelving arrangement in with an item has an assigned position in a sequence that does not vary as other items are added or deleted

fixed scheduling
Each class is scheduled to visit the school library on a certain day and time and does not have the opportunity to use the library at other times.

flexible notation
In classification, a system of characters indicating the position of a subject in relation to other subjects, and which may vary without changing its relative position if new subject classifications are added

flexible scheduling
Provides opportunities for students and classes to use the library as the need arises rather than having a fixed schedule with a regular day and time to visit the library.

floor duty
Work directly with the public, away from a desk, such as a reference desk in a library

Flyleaf
The first and last page of a book, usually blank.

folksonomy
A classification system (taxonomy) derived from input from the public (folks); in libraries, such input may be used to supplement the official classification, such as the Dewey Decimal or Library of Congress schema

foreword
A short essay about a work or its authorship, printed in the front matter of that work, but written by a person other than the author(s)

form subdivision
A term following a main subject term used to narrow the meaning of the subject heading to one type of work, e.g., "Fiction" or "Dictionaries."

form term
A term used as a subject heading for a work about a type of work, such as "Bibliography," the heading for a work about the process of compiling bibliographies; the term may also be used as a subdivision for a work in that form, but about a different subject, e.g., "Astronomy--Bibliography."

formula grant
A type of grant that specifies the formula (set of criteria) that is to be used in determining the amount of funding that an eligible recipient may receive - normally a U.S. State receiving Federal funds for a specific purpose

foundation
A not-for-profit entity set up to receive funds and use these to make grants to other organizations, institutions, or individuals for charitable purposes; foundations may be private or public charities

free text
Usually describes a method of searching a database using natural language rather than a controlled vocabulary. The person searching would search as many terms as he could think of that would be related to the topic of interest. The computer would search all fields or designated fields.

free web
Most information and materials that are accessible via public Web browsers are free; material that is not free includes proprietary databases and private materials that may require actions that increase security risks

free-floating subdivision
A subject or form term that may be used as a subdivision of many main subject headings, e.g., "Periodicals" or "History."

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
A U.S. law designed to allow and provide ways for the American public to access information collected and recorded by the government, particularly information that has been classified in order to prevent public access: http://www.foia.gov/

Freenet
A community computer network, often based in a local library, which provides Internet access to citizens from the library, or sometimes from their home computers.

friends of the library
Voluntary charitable organizations that support individual libraries or systems in a variety of ways, including fundraising and direct volunteering in those libraries

FTP (File Transfer Protocol)
The TCP/IP protocol developed specifically to upload or download files via an Internet connection.

full text
Some computer databases only include citations of articles or documents, while others may provide the complete or full text of the item that can be downloaded and printed.

Functional Requirements for Bibliographic Records (FRBR)
An international data model that seeks to improve user experiences in using library catalogs, especially in relation to works for which there are multiple versions and editions; commonly referred to among librarians as "ferber."

funding agency
A governmental entity that manages public funding to support authorized areas of activity

gaming
Playing any type of game, including computer-based games; also, the strategic use of rules to achieve one's own (sometimes illegitimate) purposes

gazetteer
An alphabetized list of geographic names, in dictionary form, that gives brief (or longer) descriptive information about the lited places; may be used in conjunction with an atlas, encyclopedia, or country study for fuller information

general classification
A taxonomy designed to address all areas of knowledge, rather than a defined subject area

general collection
A library collection that attempts to include materials in all areas of knowledge and activity; may be distinct from specialized collections within that same library

general material designation (GMD)
A broad term used to describe the physical type of an item, such as "braille" or "microform."

genre heading
Search-and-retrieval headings (search terms) in library catalogs that describe what the content of a work is, rather than what it is about; e.g., "Documentary films."

geographic subdivision
A term following a main subject term used to narrow the meaning of the subject heading to one geographic location, e.g., "Vermont" or "Andes Region."

Geographical Index
An alphabetical list of all place-names that appear on the map.

geotag
Geographical identification metadata for an item, usually including geographical positioning (GPS) coordinates

global change
An automation updating process in which all occurrences of a specified string of characters within a file or system are replaced by another, e.g., correcting the spelling "milennium" to "millenium."

Global Positioning System (GPS)
A satellite-based navigation system originally set up by the U.S. Dept. of Defense, available to anyone for use in identifying exact geographic locations in any weather, anywhere, anytime; a receiver determines a user's 3D position (latitude, longitude and altitude) and calculates one's speed, bearing, track, distances, etc.

government documents
Monographs, serial publications, reports, or official communication published by any governing body: federal, state, county, or municipal.

grant
Money or items given by an organization or individual (grant maker) for a specific project, usually as a result of an application or proposal, and requiring feedback on the part of the grantee to report on the success of the proposed project or activity

grantee
The recipient of a grant of funding or other item; in law, one who receives property by purchase, etc.

grantmaker
A granter or granting organization, agency, or individual that gives funds to a grantee, usually in response to a proposal or request; in legal terms, a grantor of property (note the different spellings)

grantsmanship
The practice and art of acquiring funding for research or other projects, including finding appropriate grantmakers and successful proposal-writing

Graphic Novel
A full-length book told in pictures and words. Much like a comic book, both the images and text are integral to the reader fully comprehending the story.

Graphics Information Format (GIF)
A bitmap image format used widely on the World Wide Web for simple and some automated images that can be compressed efficiently for communication; (JIFF, or giff)

grey literature
Written material that is not published, or is published informally, and that is valuable for its content; e.g., working papers, technical reports, opinion pieces, etc. (Also "gray" literature): http://greyguide.isti.cnr.it/

handbooks
These are sometimes called manuals; they serve as guides to a particular subject.

hanging indention
A style of indention in which all the lines of a paragraph are indented except the first one, which is left "hanging" at the margin; often seen in bibliographies and on catalog records.

hard copy
The actual physical paper copy of a book, magazine, or other source, as opposed to its online or microform equivalent.

hardware
Audiovisual and computer equipment.

harvesting
An automated process in which data are gathered from various sources for use in a database or some other purpose, such as marketing

hashtag
A type of metadata that begins with the "#" character (variously known as a number sign, hash tag, or pound sign), and is followed by a string of unspaced letters spelling out a topic/name in social media communities, e.g., Twitter or Instagram

heading
Wording at the beginning of a cataloging (bibliographic) record that serves as a filing point for an entry, and/or as an access point for search and retrieval

historical methods
Research or evaluation methods that are based on observation of the past.

holdings
The list of copies of a book, or other items in the catalog, showing which libraries own the item and whether or not it is available to be checked out.

holds
Library materials being held, or reserved for use by authorized users, usually for limited periods of time an/or in-building use

holograph
A handwritten document, written entirely and signed by one person, e.g., a will, or an autographed dedication in a book

homonyms
Refers to words that are either pronounced or spelled the same but have distinct meanings. For instance, a router could be a network device or a woodworking tool.

hornbook
An early form of primer, used for study; one form is a sheet on which an alphabet is printed, which is mounted on a paddle-shaped board and protected by a transparent layer of horn, similar to parchment, e.g., http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trm178.html

hospital library
A library in a hospital that contains medical information and resources for staff; it may also contain reading material and other resources for patients and visitors

hosted
A computer service that hosts (retains) data on a remote computer for interaction between the computer's server software and a network or individual computer's client software; libraries may arrange for hosting by ILS vendors to reduce personnel and hardware costs at the local level

Hour of Code
Hour of Code is a nationwide initiative by Computer Science Education Week and Code.org to introduce millions of students to one hour of computer science and computer programming.

HTML
Hypertext Markup Language, or the language in which Web documents are written.

human resources
The people who work for an organization or firm; also, a common short form of "human resource management," or an employer's "human resource department," or "personnel department."

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)
The study of the exchange and transfer of information between computers and human beings.

hybrid catalog
A local catalog that has a mixture of bibliographic and authority records that were created under different cataloging rules. For instance, some records prepared with AACR2 rules and some prepared with the RDA instructions in the same local catalog.

hybrid instruction
Courses of instruction delivered partly online and partly in a face-to-face (F2F) setting; also known as blended instruction

hypermedia
Non-linear content that consists of any combination of text, graphics, video, sound, and hyperlinks, including the World Wide Web itself

hypertext
a digital file that is connected to another through hyperlinks

HyperText Markup Language (HTML)
Most commonly known by its initialism, HTML is a computer language for creating material that can be accessed by clicking on images of hyperlinks embedded in text

Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)
A set of rules, and an application protocol used to distribute hypermedia files across the World Wide Web, in tamdem with the TCP/IP protocols that make the Internet's operation possible

hypothesis
A prediction as to the outcome of a research process using a specific methodology and test subject(s); if found to be incorrect, the hypothesis is null, rather than upheld

icon
In computer usage, this is a small graphic intended to represent the content of a file or site, and that functions as a link to that content; earlier usage in art to describe a representation of a religious image

identifier
A proper name of a person, institution, place, object, operation, or process.

illuminated
An important aspect of books and manuscripts - mostly from the Middle Ages - that have been decorated using gold, silver, and colored inks

illustrated
An important aspect of works that contain artwork and other images and decorations that support the content of the work

imaginary map
A drawing or representation of an imaginary geographic area, sometimes found in works of fiction

imprint
In the book world, the name of the publisher and sometimes other publication data, printed in a book or on the spine; also one of possibly several trade names used by a publisher for different publication lines or groups (noun: IM-print).

in-kind contribution
A donation of goods, services, or other non-monetary contribution to a nonprofit entity

in-process file
A library file containing records for items received but still in process of being prepared for use

incunabula
Works printed in Europe before 1501; from the word for a cradle, indicating early works (plural: in-cue-NA-bue-la). Also: incunables, or the singular "incunable" or "cradle book."

independent contractor
A self-employed person, or independent group that performs specific activities on the basis of a contract, rather than as employees

independent librarian
A professional librarian who provides any of a variety of services to one or more libraries, but who is self-employed

independent reading level (IRI)
The grade or readability level at which an individual reads comfortably, without regular assistance from another person or resource; IRI scores are derived from various assessments

index
A list, in alphabetical or numerical order, of the topics, names, and so forth that are treated or mentioned in a publication or group of publications, along with references to the pages where the topics are discussed. Author, subject, and title indexes are common; the type of index depends on the type of material covered in the publication.

indicators
Characters in bibliographic records that serve as filing instructions to MARC software, such as "indicating" how many characters to skip before filing a particular title beginning with an article of a certain length; indicators follow tags and precede subfields.

indirect costs
overhead items that are necessary to support the institution in which a project is to take place.

indirect subdivision
In subject heading usage, the naming of two places as separate subdivisions of a topical term, the first being the larger place that includes the second, specific place; e.g., Transportation--California--Law and legislation (rather than Term--Place, which is "direct" subdivision).

informatics
Generally, the study of information and its processing, primarily in relation to computers, but more broadly used in the medical world to include the many activities more generally known as librarianship

information
Data that has been processed and organized in such a way that it informs people, or gives them access to the meaning of the data.

information architecture
The theoretical and structural design of information organization and presentation in the digital world, including databases and other data-managing systems

information behavior
Totality for human behavior in relation to sources and channels of information, including both active and passive information seeking and information use.

information broker
One who provides individually organized information to a consumer for a fee

information commons (IC)
Online communities that produce and share information and creative works that are freely available to all, are held "in common" and promote open discussion and systems for the public good.

information discovery
Primarily used in legal circles, this is the process involved in discovering information, or evidence within an organization's files that pertains to a court case or compliance issue

information literacy
The complex set of skills involved in finding, evaluating, and effectively using information.

information management
A field of organization management that focuses on the various processes involved in gathering, evaluating, processing, controlling, preserving, storing, and reporting or disseminating information

information management system (IMS)
A computer-based system that is designed to process database and transaction data through storage, organization, and retrieval

information processing behavior
Individual human behaviors that reflect how that person processes information internally, especially in response to a stimulus that then lead to a response, or, in computer terms, an output

information retrieval
The techniques of storing and retrieving recorded knowledge. Specifically, it is the process of selecting information from databases, using a variety of access points, such as subjects or authors. The selected recall of recorded information.

information science
A professional endeavor that focuses on the processes involved in collecting, organizing, storing, retrieving, and disseminating information

information scientist
An expert in the management of information processing, as opposed to informational content

Information Seeking Process
This model conceptualizes the construction of meaning through active participation with information resources. It encourages an in-depth focus that enables students to seek more relevant information and produce a product of higher quality. This process was developed by Carol Kuhlthau.

information services
Any combination of human and technological interactions designed to convey needed information to a person or group, usually based on a profile or a request, to support ongoing individual or organizational activities such as projects or regular operations The definition continues with explaining the term from a bit more technical view: In a very broad sense, the term Information System is frequently used to refer to the interaction between people, algorithmic processes, data and technology specifically provides access to external or internal information resources. Usually, this is the corporate library.

information specialist
A professional who specializes in particular areas of knowledge, including the content of the entire range of information resources, from print, visual, and sound to electronic data

information technology
All the applications used in computers and telecommunications equipment, including telephony and mobile devices, that are used to create and manage the storage, tranmission, and retrieval of electronic data

information visualization
The use of graphic depictions, including combinations of symbols, pictures, colors, and text, to communicate ideas visually or to illustrate relationships among concepts; also known as "infoviz."

information-seeking behavior
The activities and techniques employed by an individual in seeking information

informed consent
The principle that human participants in research projects should know and understand that they are research subjects and should be aware of the nature, extent, and likelihood of any risks to them as a result of their participation. See also Assent; Human subjects.

infrastructure
In information technology, infrastructure includes basic computer hardware, storage devices, associated networks, operating systems, and other software that the application relies upon.

input/output (I/O)
Most commonly known by its initialism, I/O (pronounced "eye-oh") refers to the beginning data entered (input) and end product (output) of the computing cycle.

inscribed copy
An item, usually a book or print, in or on which a brief autographed message to the owner has been added, most often by its creator

inset map
A small map set within a larger map, usually at a different scale to better show a part of the larger map

Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
A U.S. government agency established to provide federal support for libraries and museums of all types, in order foster the dissemination of information and ideas: http://www.imls.gov/

institutional repository
A physical and/or virtual place where an institution deposits, preserves, manages, and disseminates digital products of the institution, including many that were originally created in nondigital formats

Institutional Review Board (IRB)
an administrative and oversight body of a specific institution that has comprehensive responsibility for ensuring the protection and ethical treatment of human research subjects.

instructional technology (IT)
A broad term used to refer to the many processes involved in designing, developing, using, managing, evaluating, and modifying hardware, software, and content resources in the teaching and learning process. The initialism (eye-tee) is most commonly used to refer to a department within an organization where some of the technological activities take place

instructional technology specialist
A person who works with classroom, library, administrative, and support staff to introduce and assist in designing integration of new technologies as they relate to education; may alsocarry out or manage IT activities directly

Integrated Library System (ILS)
A complex software system that is used to manage the non-physical aspects of library activities: circulation and catalog records, cataloging and collection management functions (inventory, etc.), acquisitions processes, reserves/holds, patron records and input, and calendars; commercial standalone systems are increasingly being replaced by open-source systems

integrated shelving
The shelving of all materials within a subject classification according to that classification and notation, rather than in separate areas by physical format; e.g., books with videos, etc. on the same subject

integrating resource
An informational resource that is updated more-or-less continuously by integrating new and replacement pages, parts, or files

intellectual access
Access to resources, beyond the physical level of accessibility, that enables one to understand it in context, and use or apply it intellectually

intellectual content
The ideas and ways of expressing them in a work, as opposed to the physical attricutes of an item, which may vary while the intellectual content does not; in cataloging terms, this is represented by subject treatment, including the assigned classification and subject headings used in finding and retrieving the physical item

intellectual property
Things created in the mind of the owner: written or artistic works, designs and inventions, etc., that are made available for purchase but may only be legally copied or replicated by the owner; provisions for protection are international, although they may also vary between jurisdictions

interactive voice response
Automated telephony systems that replace human telephone operators; they respond with recorded sound clips and route calls, sometimes gathering information before and instead of a response by a human

interlibrary loan (ILL)
Courtesy loans made by one library to another, on request, and related processes for identifying, preparing, delivering, receiving, and tracking borrowed/lent items

internal candidate
An employee who has applied for a different position—usually higher—within the same organization.

International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA)
The primary international membership organization fostering and representing the interests of libraries and other information service providers and users (pronounced by its acronym, IF-luh): http://www.ifla.org/

International Serials Data System (ISDS)
An international network of UNESCO of centers that create and maintain computer-based information for use in identifying serials throughout the world; their guidelines are followed in assigning an ISSN to each serial published in each region or country; in the U.S., those registrations are available through the Library of Congress. ISDS: http://nopr.niscair.res.in/bitstream/123456789/28093/1/ALIS%2026%281-4%29%2096-99.pdf

International Standard Bibliographic Description (ISBD)
A standard, published by IFLA. for describing any item in a library through its human-readable catalog; it defines which elements are or must be included. The publication containing the standard guides users in identifying specific aspects of each type of item and presenting those in the required manner, which is compatible with online applications.

International Standard Book Number (ISBN)
A ten- or thriteen-digit coded number that uniquely identifies a book or video by its language, country, etc. of origin, publisher, publisher-assigned identification number, and a mathematical check digit; used in order-filling, and for identification in a variety of settings, such as library catalogs, bibliographies, and online applications

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
An eight-digit code that uniquely identifies a version of a serial publication; numbers are assigned in the U.S. ISSN Center at the Library of Congress: http://www.loc.gov/issn/index.html

Internet
A global network linking computers across the world and enabling them to communicate via standard protocols and data formats.

Internet filters
Software that does any of the following: block access to Internet sites listed in an internal database of the product; block access to Internet sites listed in a database maintained external to the product itself; or scan the contents of Internet sites which a user seeks to view and block access based on the occurrence of certain words or phrases on those sites.

Internet of Things (IoT)
A globally interconnected continuum of devices, objects and "things" that have embedded chips and software, allowing them to interact via the Internet by sharing key data, such as personal information and vendor codes in virtually any geographic setting.

Internet Protocol (IP)
The major network protocol that makes the Internet work, defining in what form and how data can be sent, in conjunction with the Transport Control Protocol (TCP), and organizing data into "packets" that include a header and a message.

Internet Protocol (IP) Address
A binary number that identifies each device on a TCP/IP network uniquely; it may be static (assigned by an administrator) or dynamic (assigned by another device on the network), and may be public or private

Internet robot (bot)
A software application that runs automated tasks at a very high rate of speed over the Internet; commonly referred to simply as a bot or Web robot.

Internet service provider (ISP)
Companies and organizations that provide telecommunications access to the Internet and related services, either hard-wired or wirelessly, usually for a fee

Internet2
A membership consortium of not-for-profit organizations, agencies, and firms in the U.S. that uses fiber optic technology to develop faster and more secure network services for educational and research activities: http://www.internet2.edu/about-us/

interoperable systems
One or more systems that are designed to work together coherently even when they are technically different and/or operated separately

intranet
A computer network that is limited to authorized users of specific data and information, normally within an organization

intrinsic value
The monetary value of a thing, determined by such pertinent factors as age, provenance (source), rarity, etc.

inventory
The process of checking for the presence of each item within a catalog or larger entity (building, e.g.), against a holdings list; in the case of absence, physical status and additional details are checked in order to account for each item; any or all processes and subprocesses may be automated and/or manual

inventory circulation system
A circulation system that keeps a running inventory of a library's holdings based on each transaction that takes place

inverted heading
A heading, or entry title, for a subject or name, in which the key word or name is moved from its normal position (direct order) to the beginning of the heading for filing and improved retrieval; e.g., "Austin, City of" or "Authors, American."

inverted title
The title of a work, used as a heading, in which the key word is moved from its normal position (direct order) to the beginning of the heading for filing and improved retrieval; e.g., "Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The."

invisible colleges
Researchers, scientists, and other professionals who communicate with each other about their work before and beyond published literature to advance knowledge in their areas of interest; while the practice is older, the term dates from the 17th Century

invisible Web
By definition any Internet content that is unavailable to search engine spider harvesting is considered invisible. It includes content that is dynamically generated, protected by a firewall or the robot exclusion protocol, or within file formats harvesting programs cannot process.

IP authentication
An automatic security measure in a computer, in which an Internet Protocol (IP) address is checked against internal criteria before allowing the sender to access a given site

item record
The record of a particular item in a library - a specific copy, volume, part, etc. - that can be circulated individually and for which there is also a cataloging (bibliographic) record in an integrated online system

job shadowing
A way of learning what a particular job involves, prior to doing that job, in which a person observes, or "shadows" a person who is doing that job.

Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
The creators of a popular standard for lossy compression of images for online display or transmission, especially photographs, known by its acronym (JAY-pegg) and identifiable by the file extension .jpg (or .jpeg)

journal
In the publishing world, a formal periodical on a title topic, in which quality studies and articles - often academic and refereed - are published. Daily newspapers are also called journals, as are other daily writings., or diaries

keyword
Any word in a document that represents is subject matter or treatment; in current usage, sometimes any word at all may be called a "key" word, with the exception of articles and some other short words found in or on an item

keyword searching
A technique in which "key" words are selected to represent a title, author's name, or topic and used to search broadly in such resources as databases, the Internet, catalogs, or indexes.

kiosk
A type of library station that is fully or partially automated, and serves populations not easily reached in traditional settings or locations, such as transportation hubs, shopping centers, or small communities that can be served by a system in a larger nearby town or city. See, for example: http://ccclib.org/locations/libraryagogo.html

knowbots
Computer programs designed to automatically search the Internet, like an electronic robot, seeking specified data; variously known also as web crawlers or spiders, this type of program can act as an agent for commercial or other purposes

knowledge base
a centralized repository for an organization's information, solutions to issues, best practices, and other data. Information is organized into meaningful categories, which can be queried, enhanced, or used as a basis for training or analysis and can be accessed by either the organization or the general public. DSpace, developed by MIT, is an example of a knowledge base.

knowledge management
An organizational approach to knowing and managing its collective knowledge - its resources, documents, and the expertise and skills of individuals

Knowledge Record
A physical object that conveys information over time by symbols, sounds, sights. It may be printed on paper, digitized on computer storage devices, imprinted on microforms, or chiseled in stone.

Koha
A widely used open source integrated library system (ILS) developed in New Zealand; the Maori name means "gift with expectations"—in this case, its international users contribute to its maintenance and improvement.

KWOC
Keyword out of context. A type of automatic indexing in which the significant words in a string (usually a title) are rotated and displayed in a column separate from the rest of the string.

label title
The title of a work, as printed on the label of an item; because this title may differ from the way it is printed on the text or in the file itself, it is not considered to be the most authoritative form for bibliographies, catalogs, etc., unless it is the only title on the item

Lead Term
The first non-article term in a heading.

Lead-in Term
A term that leads, by cross-references, to an authorized index term.

leaf
The printed side of one sheet of paper in a book, pamphlet, etc.; in earlier usage, a sheet in a document (two pages) that may or may not be blank on both sides

learning commons
A type of library that focuses on the learner's needs and comfort rather than on informational resources themselves, although these inevitably overlap

learning management system (LMS)
A type of software that manages training and educational records; often an LMS distributes online or hybrid (blended) courses over the Internet for higher education, other organizations, or individuals

learning resource center (LRC)
A term for a library in an educational setting that specializes in collecting and providing materials for teaching and learning materials in a variety of formats

learning resources specialist
An lternate term for a librarian, or media specialist, used in some educational settings, who specializes in connecting seekers with information and materials

learning style
An individual student's normal way of learning

legacy data
Any data that are not current; often used as a pejorative term to describe earlier, archived data, or information not currently held in high regard

letter of inquiry
Any letter seeking general information about a thing, or an initial response to an idea; in job-seeking, one that expresses interest in a position not posted by the recipient; in grantseeking, a letter describing a proposed program in advance of a formal proposal or application for funding

letter-by-letter alphabetizing
Sequencing text titles or headings alphabetically without considering spaces (vs. word-by-word alphabetizing)

level of description
A guideline within cataloging for the amount and choice of data to include in a record; the first level has the least detail, the second closer to a standard, and the third is more-or-less fully detailed: http://www.oclc.org/bibformats/en/onlinecataloging.html

Lexile
A commercial measure of reading difficulty of text, designed to match text to individual readers, that attempts to estimate both reader skill levels and estimated readability grade levels

librarian
A professional administrator skilled in identifying reader needs and interests, obtaining works that are suitable for various audiences, and managing services in a standalone setting or within any kind of organization

library administration
The overall management of all aspects of library activities, collections, staff, and services

Library and Information Technology Association (LITA)
A division of the ALA that focuses on assisting libraries of all types in the identification and use of new technologies in providing and improving library services of all types: http://www.ala.org/lita/about

library associate
A paraprofessional position in libraries, requiring a college degree, and given responsibilities for many day-to-day activities and services in a variety of libraries

library automation
An integrated computerized system that replaces many technical activities in a library, including managing the changeover from manual operations involved in collection development, and materials acquisition, cataloging, and circulation processes

Library Bill of Rights
A document issued by the American Library Association, and revised from time to time, to reflect the core beliefs of library professionals in establishing and carrying out policies for providing of information and services: http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

library binding
A particularly hardy standard of binding of books and serials, designed to withstand extensive handling [ANSI /NISO/ LBI Library Binding Standard, Z39.78-2000]: http://www.lbibinders.org/standards

library club
A group sponsored by a school or other library to foster reading, opinion- and idea-sharing, and a sense of community; may also include tasks within the library, and occasional rewards

library consortium
A cooperative, formal association of libraries that share resources in order to improve services to their users, e.g., obtaining and sharing grant funds, staff development, collection development, etc.

library instruction
Teaching library users to effectively use the resources of a library, from specific materials to general approaches to searching and information literacy; may be in group settings or provided individually

Library Leadership & Management Association (LLAMA)
A division of the ALA that focuses on advancing leadership and management practices in library and information services among its members; previously known as Library Leadership and Management Association (LAMA): http://www.ala.org/llama/about

library literature
The scholarly, professional, and interdisciplinary writings that pertain to the wide scope of research and practice in libraries

library network
A cooperative of libraries that share automation systems, telecommunication services, and related staff, such as online catalog management

Library of Congress Classification (LCC)
The mixed-notation classification system developed for collections at the Library of Congress, using alphabetically designated groupings with mostly numerically designated sub-elements; it is also used in many academic and specialized libraries in the U.S. , and some large libraries in other countries that also use the roman alphabet

Library of Congress Control Number (LCCN)
The number automatically assigned to items cataloged by the Library of Congress: the cataloging year followed by the sequence number, and usually printed in the book

Library of Congress Genre/Form Terms (LCGFT)
An online thesaurus of terms, similar to subject headings, maintained by the Library of Congress for use in library catalogs to describe what a work is rather than what it is about; e.g., the form term or heading for a horror film is "Films," while its genre term is "Horror films": http://id.loc.gov/authorities/genreForms.html

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH)
The most widely used list of terms used in describing in English the subject matter of works cataloged in libraries; updated weekly, and available online worldwide: http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects.html

Library Resources & Technical Services (LRTS)
The official journal of ALCTS (ALA division), focusing on reports of research and practice in the technical areas of librarianship, as well as the workings of the Association: http://www.ala.org/alcts/resources/lrts

library science
The study and practice of interdisciplany knowledge and activities in the creation and management of library collections and organizations; full practice of the profession requires a master's degree, which may include study of the role and function of information, known as information science

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA)
A U.S. federal library grant program, administered by the IMLS, to provide funding designed to improve library services for all persons, especially the under-served and rural populations, through the develoment of technological infrastructure and educational and informational resources and services: http://www.imls.gov/programs/purposes_and_priorities_of_lsta.aspx

library system
An association of libraries that coordinate one or more services, or, an automation system used in one or more libraries to carry out technical processes

library without walls
A library in a school or other building that is physically accessible from any direction, or, a potentially "virtual" digital library that consists entirely or primarily of electronic elements.

license agreement
An agreement between the r copyright owner of a product with a purchaser, giving certain rights to both parties, and licensing the purchaser to use the purchased item within specified limits, sometimes beyond and in an effort to circumvent existing copyright protections

light pen
A pen-shaped, light-sensitive device that functions as a reader or pointer when directed at a computer screen

Likert scale
The sum of responses to several research statements that a respondent is asked to evaluate in an "agree" to "disagree" continuum (e.g., 1 to 5); also used loosely to describe any scale with similar statements or questions.

limit
A term/function that allows the results of a search to be narrowed further by limiting to specific criteria such as location, date, or type of material.

limited edition
A print, book, ceramic, or other item of which only a limited number are produced at a given time; in art prints, the edition is limited to those produced from a single plate

link resolver
HTML software that decodes and uses the elements of an URL to connect a user to the selected ontent or location on the Internet

linked data
The practice for exposing, sharing, and connecting data on the Semantic Web using Unique Resource Identifiers (URIs) and the Resource Description Framework (RDF).

Linked Systems Project
An early information-sharing project in which several major U.S. libraries linked their electronic systems in order to exchange information among their databases

linking entry
Fields in cataloging records that are used to link to generate notes or connect to related records in the catalog or database, such a note giving an earlier title of a serial, or a link to the record using that earlier title

list checking
A collection evaluation process used to evaluate the quality of a collection in comparison to some external source.

list price
The retail, or undiscounted price of an item; the price listed in a publisher's public catalog

listen-alike
In a search engine, as on a vendor or library's web site, an automated suggestion for additional audio titles that might be of interest, based on an algorithm

LISTSERV®
The registered trademark for a mailing list server that automatically distributes e-mail or postings to all the names and addresses on a given mailing list; sometimes misused generically to refer to any type of mailing list management

literacy
The ability to read; also generally used to include writing, or in combination with any other set of skills, such as visual or computer literacy

literary agent
A person who works with authors, and represents them and their literary works to publishers and film or theatrical producers for a fee

literary criticism
A written evaluation of a work of literature; the informed analysis and evaluation of literature.

literary warrant
In the construction of authority lists, this is the justification for including a word based on the frequency of its occurrence in documents.

literature review
an analytical synthesis of published literature included in a proposal or report that addresses confirmation of need, establishment of focus, identification of the specific subject and context, identification of the theoretical base, and identification of the methodological base for a research or evaluation project.

literature search
In research methodology, the step in which published literature is searched for all previous writings on or related to a particular topic, in order to place a new study in relation to existing knowledge

little magazine
A small publication featuring poetry, often in an Indian or other Eastern language, and representing a movement to publish new or unusual points of view; originally printed, but now may be obtained online

LMS
Learning management system. Learning management systems include resources that deliver, track, and manage online learning. Some are open sourced, but many are fee based systems.

loan period
The length of time library materials may be checked out.

location symbol
One or more letters or characters used in library catalogs to direct the searcher to the physical location of an item, whether in that or a different building

loose-leaf service
A publication containing primary and secondary material on a legal topic, gathered in a notebook or binder, and updated periodically so that it remains as current as possible

MAchine Readable Cataloging (MARC)
A library cataloging standard for identifying the individual elements of a bibliographic record for human and computer interpretation using predetermined "content designation" that consists of characters and spacing rules in each field and subfield.

magazine
A periodical containing news stories or articles on various subjects and written for general readership (as opposed to a scholarly or technical audience.) See Also Journal.

magnetic strip
A narrow strip of finely ground, glued iron particles covered with plastic thata can be magnetized in a pattern amd containing data for using the card, and often including private information about the card's authorized user

main entry
An entry in a bibliographic (cataloging) record that is designated as the basis for the filing element within a classification - usually the first author's name in inverted form, or the title in the absence of an author entry; in earlier catalogs, this entry had fuller details than other entries for the item

main heading
The first heading in multilevel headings, followed by a sub-heading.

makerspace
A space, as in a library, where people go to learn how to do and fix and create things, using a variety of technologies

management information system (MIS)
A method of studying management personnel's information needs in order to help them make decisions and plans for an organization

manga
Books that tell stories, mixing reality and fantasy, through cartoons drawn in the black-and-white style of Japanese comic books

manifestation
One physical version of any edition, content version, or format of a literary or artistic work

manuscript
Anything written by hand, but usually referring to an unbound literary or other manually produced text other than a published version

map
A drawing or representation of a geographic area.

map projection
A two-dimensional representation of Earth another celestial globe, or any geographic area, showing selected features, such as imaginary lines, heights or depths, water and land features, etc.; also, the mathematical study of globes and their depictions

MARC 21
The Library of Congress' 1999 standard for the creation and communication (sharing) of electronic cataloging records across computer platforms, and generally supporting AACR2, RDA, and other content protocols: http://www.loc.gov/marc/faq.html#marc21vsuscan

MARC record
A cataloging record created in electronic form, with elements that indicate to a MARC software program what to "do" with each character in each field of the record; of the versions that exist, the one devised and maintained by the Library of Congress is the most frequently used in automated catalogs.

MARCXML
A flexible and extensible framework developed by the Library of Congress for working with MARC data in an XML environment

marking
The addition of identification, ownership, and location marks and labels on items in a library

markup
the process of inserting element descriptors or tags within data to determine how a Web page is displayed or printed.

markup language
A set of "tags" that are used to code the various elements in a document so that software displays the text as desired, and carries out the coded instructions; the most widely used language is HTML, or hypertext markup language, which is used for Web pages.

mashup
A web site, or web application, that combines content from different resources or services into a single web site or application.

Master of Library and Information Science (MLIS)
A person who has earned a graduate-level degree of the same name and is a professional librarian or information specialist

Master of Library Science (MLS)
A person who has earned a graduate-level degree of the same name and is a professional librarian

masthead
A nameplate or similar graphic element that identifies a publication, usually on the cover, first page, or near the front of a pubication (newspaper, magazine, etc.) and that may include publisher, subscription data, or similar information

materials
In a library, a broad term that encompasses anything collected or used: books, videos, maps, etc.

media
The means used to convey information or artistic content. [Source: <i>The RDA Workbook: Learning the Basics of Resource Description and Access</i>]

media center
An alternate name for a library, such as in a school, that includes audiovisual materials and/or equipment in addition to print media

media literacy
the skills of finding, evaluating, and effectively using information from a variety of media

media program
Planned activities for learning about and using a variety of hardware, software, and nonprint or print materials

media type
A categorization reflecting the general type of intermediation device required to view, play, run, etc., the content of a resource [Source: RDA Glossary].

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
A controlled thesaurus of medical terms for use in catalogs and databases, created and maintained by the NLM for indexing biomedical journal articles in the MEDLINE®/PubMED® database: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/mesh.html

mending
In a library, the process of making minor repairs to books or other print materials

meta-search engine
(Sometimes called a Meta-crawler in keeping with the spider analogy [q.v.]). A search engine that incorporates multiple other search engines, such that a single search can scan up to a dozen sites at one time.

metadata
Data about data. Structured information that describes, explains, and locates sub-units of data.

Metadata Object Description Schema (MODS)
A structure developed for describing bibliographic items (objects), especially in digital library settings, similar to MARC, but incorporating XML

metasearch
the ability to find Web sites by searching across multiple search engines simultaneously. Results are usually displayed in a list with reference to which search engine provided the result. Commercial vendors offering this service include MuseSearch and MetaLib.

microfiche
A small, flat sheet, usually 4x6 or 3x5 inches, of photographic film which contains micro images arranged in horizontal or vertical rows.

microfilm
Photographic film showing micro images of publications, such as the contents of journals and newspapers.

microform
A physical format that contains print too small for the human eye, but legible using a specially-designed reader, either for microfiche (printed cards) or microfilm; data may have been photographed, scanned, or created digitally

microform reader
Any device that is used for displaying enlarged versions of tiny text and images that are printed (microcards or microfiche) or on film (microfilm)

MicroLIF
Microcomputer Library Interchange Format. A means of communicating/loading MARC data into microcomputer-based automation systems. MicroLIF was developed so that book and data vendors could supply complete MARC data to their customers on disk or via email in a format that could be easily loaded into a computer-based circulation or online catalog system.

migration
A complicated set of processes involving changing vendors and moving data to a new integrated library system (ILS), generally in order to obtain greater user satisfaction, lower costs, and/or to increase the effectiveness of internal and public information management

mission statement
An organization or company's official statement of its core purpose(s), which is/are not expected to change over time

mixed notation
In library classification, a mixed system of characters, usually one or more numbers, letters, and/or punctuation marks; typically to express a subject grouping as a call number for locating specific items

mixed responsibility
In describing the creator or author of a work, attribution to two or more individuals or named entities (bodies)

mmode of issuance
A categorization reflecting whether a resource is issued in one or more parts, the way it is updated, and its intended termination [Source: RDA Glossary].

mnemonic device
A clue that helps a person to recognize or remember something, as "I before E, except after C;" a memory aid (pronounced neh-MAHN-ic).

mobile devices
A small computing device that is not dependent on an electrical connection and that typically has a display screen and a touch screen or miniature keyboard.

model
A reproduction to scale of an object, usually created for demonstration purposes; it may be the same size, larger, or smaller than the object being copied

monograph
A scholarly book on a single subject, class of subjects, or person. Within the library field, this term is often used for any non-serial publication.

monographic Index
An index for a single document.

monographic series
A series of books issued sequentially or simultaneously, that have a relationship - such as subject - to each other; in addition to the individual titles, the series may have a collective title

monographic set
A set of two or more separately-bound books that constitute one work and have one title

MOOC (Massive Open Online Classes)
Online web-delivered classes that are available to anyone with few or no restrictions on number or status of participants; often associated with private companies and/or colleges and universities.

morgue
A newspaper-publisher's archive of published and reference materials, including works used in writing and editing the newspaper

Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG)
A group of experts who set and update standards for digital audio and video compression and electronic transmission of those; files created and/or saved according to this standard often have an "".mpg"" or "".mp3"" extension in the filename

MP3
A digital audio coding and compression format (MPEG-2 Audio Layer III) that loses a little quality (lossy) due to the reduction of accuracy in normally inaudible areas of sound while retaining high quality sound for most purposes

multidisciplinarity
An approach to addressing an issue using the different perspectives from a range of disciplines.

multimedia
Various types of media such as audio, video, and photos.

multiple intelligences
A view of intelligence that seeks to differentiate it into at least eight types: bodily kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, logical, mathematical, musical rhythmic, naturalistic, verbal linguistic, and visual spatial

Museum and Library Services Act (MLSA)
A U.S. federal bill that authorizes funding of the IMLS; the IMLS in turn offers grant opportunities for libraries and/or museums who propose programs designed to improve services to all persons, especially the under-served and rural populations: http://www.imls.gov/assets/1/AssetManager/MLSA_2010_2.pdf

musical form
The overall structure, plan, or layout of musical work, involving combinations of repetition and alteration to achieve varying effects

Name Authority Cooperative (NACO)
A voluntary program of librarians supported by individual institutions who contribute and edit standardized records that serve as authorities for all types of names and titles to the LC/NACO Authority File. These records are used by libraries in their catalogs in order to provide uniformity across libraries: http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/naco/about.html

name authority file
A file of standardized forms of names (people, groups, places, works) used in one or many library catalogs in order to provide uniformity and predictability in search and retrieval; the Library of Congress hosts the most extensive English-language file: http://authorities.loc.gov/

name-title entry
A complex entry that begins with the authorized form of a name and then the title of a work created by that person, group, etc.; used to facilitate search and retrieval of works by prolific authors and that have been issued in multiple formats and/or languages

Narrower Term
In a hierarchical thesaurus, broader terms and narrower terms express relationships between class and subclass. A term in a class would refer to a subclass by indicating narrower term.

National Association to Promote Library & Information Services to Latinos
An voluntary membership organization affiliated with ALA affiliate that promotes the inclusion of Spanish-language and Latino-oriented materials and programs, as well as appropriate bilingual and bicultural staff in libraries: http://www.reforma.org/

national bibliography
A listing in any format of the holdings of a national library, or works produced by, in, or about a particular country and its language

National Information Standards Organization
a nonprofit association formed to develop technical standards for information services, libraries, and publishers. The National Information Standards Organization also maintains and publishes technical standards for existing technologies as well as developing technologies. Experts and practitioners from the fields of publishing, libraries, information technology, and media services serve on committees and serve as officers of the organization.

national library
A library that is established by a nation's government, and funded for the purpose of gathering, preserving, and referencing works pertaining to the broad interests of that nation, its language, and its documentary output; its collections and services may or may not be open to the public

National Library of Medicine (NLM)
A federally funded library in Bethesda, Maryland that contains the world's largest biomedical print and electronic collections of informational materials, and provides online access to these in addition to coordinating the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, which promote access to health information in communities across the U.S.: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/about/index.html

National Library of Medicine (NLM) Classification System
A medical subject-based classification system structured similarly to that of the Library of Congress (LCC), but using a mixed notation that does not overlap or conflict with it; subject groupings and terminology are similar to those in MESH: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/class/nlmclassintro.html

National Serials Data Program (NSDP)
The program, administered by the Library of Congress (LC), that assigns and registers ISSNs for serial publications that are cataloged by LC, the NLM, the National Agricultural Library, and other CONSER participants: http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/conser/index.html

Natural Language
The language used by humans.

navigate
To make use of the linked labels, graphics, and text to find what is available on a given Web site or page

needs assessment
A form ofsystematic research process that seeks to identify needs in a location, organization, programs, etc. in order to begin to address identified gaps between current and desired conditions, often as a first step in seeking grants or other types of support

Newbery Medal
An award presented each year by the American Library Association to an American author for a distinguished contribution to literature for children.

nonbook materials
A term used primarily by librarians to refer to publications and productions that are not printed books

noncirculating
The status of an item in a library or similar organization that may only be used within the room or building where it is housed; examples are reference materials, periodicals, and items in special collections and archives

nonfiction
Literature that describes things or events that actually happened or are supposed to be true.

notation
Any system of numbers, letters, or other characters used to convey meaning; in libraries, the term usually refers to call numbers for physically locating items

OCLC
The world's largest bibliographic utility, begun as the Ohio College Library Consortium for the purpose of improving access to the information held in libraries around the globe, and to find ways to reduce costs for libraries through collaboration; a later name was Online Computer Library Center, when its membership was expanded: http://www.oclc.org/en-US/about.html

on-demand publishing
A plan for printing an item from digital files, and only after it has been ordered and in the needed quantity; also known as printing on demand (POD)

online catalog
A catalog in electronic (machine-readable) format and able to be accessed online. Also known as an OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog).

open access (OA)
A publishing or archiving model that makes research literature, especially that which has been publicly funded, freely accessible online

Open Archives Initiative (OAI)
An organization or archival entities that develops and applies technical standards that allow archival enterprises to share digital cataloging data; OAI standards also allow a common way to provide interoperable digital content: http://www.openarchives.org/OAI/OAI-organization.php

open data
Any data or information that is made freely available by a provider to anyone having online access

open entry
An entry in a cataloging record (metadata) that is incomplete, and that is structured to allow the addition of further information; also, a course of study that is structured in an open fashion, allowing late registration, asynchronous access to course material, and early completion

open source
generally software, that is available without charge for anyone to share, use, distribute or modify. This is in contrast with proprietary software which is copyrighted and generally not available for distribution without the approval of the producer. Many social media platforms are trying to use open source products in their development.

open stacks
Library shelf areas (stacks) that do not have restricted access

optical character recognition (OCR)
Specialized hardware and software that together "read" images of text and convert them into a form that can then be processed by a computer.

oral history
Spoken narratives - histories - describing individual or group experiences, and that are usually recorded manually or electronically for reproduction, publication, or posting online as audio files

original cataloging
The process of creating a bibliographic record for an item, without reference to existing records for that item; normally a professional education is required in order to manage the complex elements required to meet international cataloging standards

out of print (OP)
Lack of availability of a previously published item for purchase, similar to being out of stock

outsource
The act of contracting out a task, job, or project rather than persorming these within the contracting organization or firm

page
A printed side of one sheet or left (two pages) in a book; also a library staff position filled by a person who retrieves and reshelves materials as needed

pamphlet binding
An after-market form of library binding used for soft publications, such as magazines, booklets, and pamphlets, so that they can "stand" on shelving

pamphlet file
A container, such as a box or cabinet for soft publications, such as magazines, booklets, and pamphlets, often arranged in alphabetical order by title or in subject folders

parallel title
A second or third title for a work, not in the same language or script as the first title; in cataloging records such titles are preceded by an equals (=) mark

Paris Principles
The common name for the "Statement of International Cataloguing Principles," agreed on in 1961, that served as the basis for subsequent cataloging rules and protocols in various countries: http://www.ifla.org/files/assets/cataloguing/icp/icp_2009-en.pdf

pathfinder
A guide to successful research on a particular topic in a library, including both physical and online local resources

patron file
A local file of a library's patron names, contact information, and user or borrower identification number

peer review
The practice of submitting manuscripts to expert reviewers for comment prior to a decision to publish, especially in highly technical and academic areas beyond the publisher's expertise; resulting articles and books are considered to be more reliable than those not reviewed by experts

period subdivision
Chronological terms with defined periods of time, that are added to subject headings as subdivisions, usually after a geographic subdivision, narrowing the coverage of a work to a particular period of time in a particular place

Periodical index
A subject, author, or title index to a group of periodicals.

person
In cataloging, an individual or entity who may be responsible for the creation of a work; in RDA, a person"" may be fictitious

personal author
An individual who creates a written work

personal digital assistant (PDA)
A small mobile device used for personal computing, information storage and retrieval, scheduling calendars, and address books

Personal Learning Network
a group of individuals that you follow to learn more about an area of interest or stay current in your profession

pharming
A technique that guides or redirects users to fake or counterfeit sites that mimic a legitimate company or present the appearance of some official government site to fool users and collect personal or financial information from therm.

phonograph record
A flat disc, usually vinyl, with a continuous groove that contains recorded sound - vibrations made audible through use of a needle that "rides" the narrow groove from end to end on a rotating spindled plate, sending the sound through an amplifier to speakers.

physical description
The elements used to describe an item as an entity, a manifestation of a work, or a single item that is owned (held ) in a library, as part of the process of creating a cataloging record, but not including subject access or assignment of classification details; normally includes the title(s) and name(s) that appear on the item, its extent, size, illustrations, etc.

physical processing
Procedures - beyond cataloging - that include marking and/or stamping a library item with ownership information, affixing labels, rebinding, and/or adding dust jacket covers or any other data or materials needed for tracking an item through circulation, shelving, interlibrary loan, or other movement throughout its "life" in the library.

picture book
A printed book, usually for young children, that has more pictures than text; e.g., an alphabet or counting book

plagiarism
The illegal act of copying someone's ideas, words, or are without permission and/or acknowledgment

plate
In a book, a page containing artwork; also a sheet of metal or other material used in the printing process

podcast
A podcast is an audio file sometimes including video that is syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added. Podcasts of meetings or even class sessions are then available for review on iPads and many other devices.

polyglot
A textual item presented in multiple languages; also, a person who uses several languages

pop-up book
A type of movable book with pages that move, or "pop up" as they are turned; usually heavily illustrated, colorful, interactive, and geared to young readers.

popular name
The commonly used name, usually abbreviated, of an organization, activity, etc.

portal (Internet sites)
An Internet site that aims to be a "one stop" resource for its users. Each site contains such services as e-mail, chat rooms, shopping opportunities, news, weather, stock market, and so forth.

portfolio
A collection of examples of one's work, often assembled prior to graduation or in preparing for employment

post-coordinate indexing
A type of indexing where searching terms are combined at the time of searching by the user.

pre-coordinate indexing
A type of indexing where terms are combined prior to searching. The combinations are not under the control of the user.

preface
In the front matter of a book, an introductory statement by the author or editor describing its background, purposes, scope, etc., and acknowledging the roles of others in its development

preferred term
An index term related to an equivalent entry term.

preservation
Actions taken to keep the content of books and other documents and materials available and usable,beyond physical conservation to repair, reproduction, or substitution

preventive preservation
Actions taken to prevent damage and deterioration of books and other materials, such as managing the environmental conditions in which materials are stored

primary source
A person who gives first-hand testimony, or direct evidence concerning a topic under investigation; a witness or recorder who experienced the events or conditions being documented, including autobiographies, memoirs, and oral histories recorded later, or exact copies of these

Princeton file
A box that is open at the top and on one side, used to house flimsy materials; also known as a magazine file case

principal investigator (PI)
The individual who is responsible for a particular research study or project, or all the studies being carried out by an organization, regardless of the funding source(s)

print-on-demand (POD)
A business approach to publishing that involves printing from digital files, and only when items that have been ordered and in the quantity needed; also known as on-demand publishing

proceedings
A printed or electronic record of a group's meetings, activities, and/or events at a particular place and time; because titles may be very long, these are often entered in library catalogs under the name of the group/corporate body involved

process slip (P-slip)
A preprinted strip of paper used in libraries (also known as processing slip) that lists the tasks involved in preparing an item to be shelved for the first time, and that stays with the item from the time when it is received; some steps may also be tracked by software

processing center
A library's facility for ordering, receiving, cataloging, and processing the physical items that are acquired for the library, or library system's collections; additional administrative functions often also take place in such a facility

profession
an occupation characterized by self-regulation, advancement of knowledge, social goals and advancing the public good, and avoidance of harm.

profile
An outline, as of a person's contact and biographical data, or the functional requirements of a purchasing library or other organization, or of metadata requirements, or of a physical form

Program for Cooperative Cataloging (PCC)
A voluntary group of librarians who function internationally to provide cataloging records that meet agreed-on standards so as to improve and expand access to the world's library collections: http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/about/

Project Gutenberg
An international volunteer project that digitizes books that may be downloaded at no cost in countries where the books are not protected by copyright, and promotes equal access to information: http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Gutenberg:About

protocols
Rules or standards that describe ways to operate on or setting up a connection to the Internet to achieve compatibility. Protocols are rules that refer to the technical specifications that make things work.

provenance
The history of ownership and handling of a particular document, record, or other work, especially one that is considered to have monetary or legal value or interest

provider-neutral record
A caaloging record that reflects all versions of an electronic resource on one record, as opposed to a record for an e-version from a particular source, or a record for print versions of the e-resource

Proximity Operator
A searching device which specifies that two or more search terms fall within a stated distance relative to each other.

proximity searching
A technique that can be used in some databases to allow the searcher to specify that two or more terms must be within a certain number of words of each other in the results; the "w" operator narrows the proximity of a term to "with(in)" another, while the "n" expands the distance to "near."

pseudonym
A name other than the given name, used by a person or group for a specific purpose, such as anonymity or group recognition

public display
What the public sees on the computer screen when searching the library's catalog; specific item information (barcode, cost, etc.) is not displayed, but in some libraries the MARC content designation (tags & codes) may be viewed

public domain
The legal exception in copyright law that allows certain limited uses and/or copying of a written work or other intellectual or artistic creation under specified conditions and in certain countries, depending on each country's related laws

public library
A library that is supported by public funds and is available for use by the general public within certain geographic or residency limitations

Public Library Association (PLA)
A division of the ALA whose members focus on library services to the public through shared communication and education, publication of relevant information, program development, and advocacy

public sector
Agencies and projects funded with public money to provide a variety of public services' term used to distinguish governmental entities from the commercial (private) sector, although there is overlap, as in the area of social and some educational programs

public service announcement (PSA)
An announcement or message in the form of a commercial, but which is provided to the public via radio, TV, or other medium without cost to the agency or not-for-profit organization that offers it, due to the nature of the information provided

public services
In libraries, the activities and services in which staff interacts directly with its users, such as circulation, reference services, or bibliographic instruction

publication
The activities involved in making written works public, normally by printing and distribution and/or making it available electronically

published
Made available to the public; normally refers to written works, whether in print or electronically

publisher's series
A series of reprints of otherside unrelated works, reissued by a publisher with similar bindings and a connecting series title; also known as a trade or reprint series

QR Code
is a 2D barcode that contains basic information such as a link to a website, contact information, or a phone number

QR Code Reader
an app that you use to read a QR code (requires a smart device or computer and must have a camera)

qualifier
Words or phrases used to distinguish among homographs or to clarify meaning (e.g., Base [military]).

qualitative methods
research or evaluation methods that focus on in-depth examination of the nature of the entities being studied.

quantitative methods
research or evaluation methods that focus on measuring and summarizing the characteristics of the entities being studied.

Radio Frequency Identification
a small disk containing circuitry, programmed with brief identification information and an antenna, that responds to a corresponding radio frequency signal. Radio frequency identification tags come in a variety of sizes and have been used in place of bar codes because of their greater capacity for storing data, their ability to be reprogrammed, and because they do not require line of sight, like a light pen, to be read.

radio-frequency identification (RFID)
Tags affixed to items, such as things in a library, with electronically stored information that can be read using wireless technology; the tags transfer data that automatically identifies and tracks objects locally or remotely, and are often used to conduct inventory

RAM (Random Access Memory)
temporary memory in which computer functions occur. More RAM space will allow the computer to smoothly complete more functions at a time.

random sample
a sampling technique in which each member of the population has a known probability of being included in the sample. See also Sample; Simple random sample.

range
A connected row of shelving that may be single-or double-faced

rare book
A printed text of any age that is considered to have some value due to its content or physical characteristics, and that is not commonly or easily found

RDA Toolkit
An online source that contains the RDA instructions and facilitates their use when cataloging.

read-alike
Lists, or online links to lists of authors and titles that are suggested to readers as having elements of similarity, such as similar styles or genres, to authors and works that they have enjoyed

readability formulas
Devices, indexes, or methods for determining the level of difficulty of written material based on the vocabulary, sentence length and structure, and other factors.

reader's advisory services
Activities performed by library staff to bring books and readers together. These activities may include providing book recommendations, booktalks, preparing bibliographies of related works or Web sites, leading book discussion groups, arranging for author visits, and so forth.

ready reference
Reference books other than abstracts, bibliographies, or indexes used for quick information requiring a single, simple answer.

Realia
Real objects or specimens.

Really Simple Sindication (RSS)
A form of XML-formatted notification to online subscribers of updated information on an Internet site, or that allows users to aggregate data from many sites; the more official name is "Rich Site Summary."

reasonable expectation of privacy
tandard used to determine whether the Fourth Amendment applies; for the Fourth Amendment to be applicable to a search or seizure, one's expectation of privacy must be reasonable, based on the totality of the circumstances, including one's own behavior andsociety's expectations under the circumstances.

record
Variously used as: a physical or electronic document containing information, a form containing written or electronic data, a phonograph disc containing recorded sound, or as a verb, describing the act of making a record of any of these forms

records management
An area of managerial practice in which the significant records of an organization, firm, etc., are retained appropriately through their life-cycle - creaton through disposal - in order to allow re-use, reduce risks related to legal evidence, and prevent damage and loss

recto
The front page of a sheet in a book or other printed material; an odd-numbered page( the back being the verso)

reduction ratio
The number of times a thing has been reduced; in microcopying, e.g., 25 reductions are expressed as 25X

Reference and User Services Association (RUSA)
A division of the ALA that focuses on public library services and materials supporting reference and information services, collection development, readers' advisory, and resource sharing: http://www.ala.org/rusa/about.

reference books
Books that are designed to give quick, current, and accurate answers or definitions; may be printed single books or sets of books, or electronic copies of these

reference interview
To conduct an appropriate and effective reference interview, specialized skills are required. Some of these skills are tangible; can be taught, practiced, and learned. However, some skills are intangible; your individualism or unique personality. Both tangible and intangible skills combine to create purposeful and interesting communications between the school librarian and the student, and hopefully, a successful reference interview.

Reference Process
Fundamentally, it consists of the entire transaction with the student in the course of which the reference work is carried out. Basically, it contains three primary elements: 1) information; 2) student; and 3) answer.

reference service
The aid given by library staff to a library user to find information. The extent and level of service provided varies according to the question and its complexity.

reformatting
The processes involved in changing the content of a data-containing object to a different format; in materials preservation, this is to a more permanent format; however, in computers, this means erasing the content from a disk drive

regional catalog
A union (combined) catalog that includes the bibliographic (cataloging) and holdings records (items owned) of all the participating libraries in a geographic region

Regional Libraries for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH)
A network of U.S. libraries that provide services to eligible borrowers by circulating full-length books and magazines in various audio and braille formats, delivered at no cost by the U.S. Post Office

register
A list of events and transactions, usually by date, that may serve as a finding aid in archives; also, a list of symbols used in printing and binding processes, such as indicating the exact positioning of text and columns on the pages of printed documents

Rehabilitation Act of 1973
A law that authorizes grants to States for vocational rehabilitation services, especially emphasis to persons with severe disabilities, and assign responsibility for activities and services, including research and training for individuals with disabilities, to the U.S. Dept. of Health, Education, and Welfare

reinforced binding
A form of bookbinding that adds strengthening elements to trade (retail) binding standards, so that they can withstand repeated handling

reissue
A new presentation of an existing edition of a book, which may include a new cover, title page, and some of the front and back matter

related term
A semantically related term to another term, but not one that is hierarchically linked.

relationship designator
A designator that indicates the nature of the relationship between entities represented by authorized access points, descriptions, and/or identifiers. [Source: RDA Glossary].

relative index
In the Dewey Decimal Cclassification scheme, an alphabetical index to key terms in the subject schedules

renew
The procedure for re-checking out a book to extend the loan period. Usually can be done either in person, online, or over the phone.

repairing
Beyond mending, the correction of damage to a book or other library item, including any needed strengthening of the cover and/or text block

replicability
A measure of the extent to which another researcher could carry out the same research process and produce the same results.

repository collection
The holdings of a repository library, which may include items beyond those deposited by source agencies

representative fraction
An expression of relative distance between points in a real geographic area to a scaled map; e.g., when one physical mile is presented in one inch of a map, the relative fraction, or ratio, is 1:63,360

reprint
Either: 1) a book that has been printed or reproduced at a later date than the original printing but using the same type and the same content; or 2) a periodical article or a chapter from a book which is issued separately from the larger publication at a later date.

request for proposal (RFP)
A solicitation made by an organization or company announceing the need, and availability of funding for a particular type of product or program, such as an ILS, and specifies the required process and terms; potential providers propose solutions and costs, usually in the form of a bid that may or may not be negotiable

research
systematic investigation intended to increase knowledge of some phenomenon.

research question
a general query that guides research but does not necessarily establish a formal structure for an anticipated outcome.

reserve
A hold placed on something in the library's collection that is checked out to someone else. When the item is returned, the computer notifies the library staff that someone is waiting for it so it can be set aside.

resource
A physical or electronic content item housed in, or accessible from a library; items are also known as library materials

Resource Description and Access (RDA)
The title of the revised cataloging standards for libraries, first Implemented in 2010; formerly known as "AACR" (Anglo-American Cataloguing Rules), RDA reflects FRBR principles and new technologies.

resource sharing
Personnel, facilities, equipment, materials, and other resources and services shared among persons and/or organizations.

retrospective conversion
The process of turning a library's existing print catalog into machine-readable form. While the process usually involves the conversion of shelf list cards, existing machine-readable records can also be converted. Retrospective conversion can be accomplished in several ways, and the best method(s) for your library depends on collection type and size, budget, quality demands, time constraints, and staff needs.

revised edition
A second or later edition of a work, issued by the same or a different publisher, with various changes - additions, updates, corrections - that are of particular importance in informational works

romanization
A change of text from a non-Latin script (alphabet) to Roman-alphabet text that can be read by humans and/or computer software

RSS feeds
a convenient way to gather and review content from blogs or other news sources. Subscribers select sites and blogs and subscribe to an online ""aggregator"" service to keep track of all their news feeds through one service.

rubric
a means of assessing a product by ranking specific characteristics that product against exemplars on a scale from low to high

sample glossary term
This is the definition of a sample glossary term. Short and sweet.

scale
In cartography, the ratio of a distance on a map to its corresponding distance on the actual geographic location shown, usually depicted as a bar on a ""scale"" printed somewhere on the map

schedules
The numerical list of classification labels and numbers in the DDC, including the tables, but not the relative index

school branch library
A branch of a library open to the public, located in a school building

school library media center
The place in a school where a centralized collection of skillfully selected, organized, and managed resources are available for teaching and learning.

school library media program
A systematic plan for teaching the skills needed to access, use, interpret, evaluate, and apply the information resources and ideas that are available in the school library media center.

School Library Media Specialist
The position and/or certification title for a professional librarian in a school library media center. May also be called a Teacher Librarian.

scientific method
A systematic method of verifying hypotheses, based on the results of objective measures, such as experiments, that may support a conjectured hypothesis or reveal that it is incorrect (null)

scope note
A short explanation on how to use a descriptor.

screen printing
A technique for printing on flat surfaces (posters, T-shirts, etc.) in which each layer of ink is pressed through a stencil using a fine mesh surrounded by a mask that screens areas that are not to be printed; also known as silk-screen or serigraphy

screen readers
software that recognizes text displayed on a computer screen and speaks the content. Examples of commercial products include JAWS, Window Eyes, and Hal.

scripting language
A dynamic high-level programming language that supports small programs, or scripts, written for particular runtime environments, and that affect what is seen on the client side of Web pages, graphic displays, etc.

search
Using a database to look for information. The commands or words you type in are referred to as a ""search.""

search engine
A computer program that allows users to search a database of Web sites by using keywords or phrases. (Examples: Google, Bing, Yahoo.)

search record
A listing, with pertinent details, of each resource searched in quest of particular data or information; in computer browsers, such records may be private or tracked and retained automatically; manually generated records are often retained for future reference

search service
A business that searches for particular rare books or other works, or information, for a fee

search strategy
A plan for carrying out an efficient search of a catalog or database: choosing search terms to be used and formulating the request, evaluating the results of the search, and modifying it as needed to obtain the desired information

search thesaurus
A listing of terms (headings, or descriptors) with cross references, designed for use in the formulation of efficient searches of catalogs, databases, or browser searches, e.g., http://eric.ed.gov.

Sears List of Subject Headings
A list of subject headings originally selected from the LCSH list by Minnie Earl Sears, but containing exceptions and replacements deemed to be more useful to library users in the school and public library setting: http://www.hwwilsoninprint.com/sears.php.

secondary source
in historical investigation, any source of historical data that is not an account of an event by a witness to an event is a secondary source. See also Historical methods; Primary source.

see also reference
A see also reference redirects the user from a name or term used to other names or terms which are related to it. See Cross Reference.

see reference
A see reference redirects the user from a name or term which is not used to names or terms which are used. See Cross Reference.

seed grant
A relatively small amount of funding made available for conducting feasibility studies, field tests, or other formative and developmental activities in advance of potentially large projects and greater funding from grantmaking agencies and organizations

segmentation
The practice of Indicating the beginning of each smaller part of a larger thing; in library classification and call numbers, punctuation that indicates the points in the notation at which subdivisional numbers or letters have been added to a broader subject category

selection policy
A written document, developed in cooperation with representatives from the school community that sets forth the process and criteria used to choose materials for the school library media center collection.

selection process
The steps and tasks involved in selecting books and other materials to a library's collections, based on pre-established criteria and local fiscal procedures; also, the process of choosing an individual for a particular employment or functional position

self-check
Self-service circulation options provided for library users; check-in and check-out activities without staff participation under controlled circumstances

self-publishing
Publication activities, such as editing, creating bound copies, and selling of books by an author

Semantic Web
A segment of the Web incorporating semantic information that allows machines to understand the information contained on the Web.

semiannual
Occurring or issued every six months - twice each year

semimonthly
Occurring or issued twice each month

serial
Any publication issued in successive parts, appearing at intervals, usually regular ones, and as a rule, intended to be continued indefinitely. The term includes periodicals, newspapers, annuals, numbered monographic series, and the proceedings and transactions of organizations or societies.

serialization
A plan for issuing a given work in parts, as a serial, usually in a magazine or newspaper

series
A succession of volumes, issues, or media published with related subjects or authors, similar in format and price, or continuous numbering.

server
In a network system (e.g., the Web), the providing end of the information retrieval procedure.

service mark
A symbol, design, etc. that identifies a service that is provided by one specific source, as a means of distinguishing it from others, and which protects the owner from infringement; similar to a trademark, which is used for products rather than services

set
A group of items that constitute one whole, e.g., a set of encyclopedias; in printing, preparing type for inking

sexual harassment
Illegal, unwanted, unwelcome, and inappropriate sexual behavior, ranging from sexual abuse (including speech, touching, and other types of advances, threats, or promises made in exchange for sexual favors) to sexual assault

shared cataloging
A cooperative agreement for spreading the work of original cataloging work between or among libraries and/or library systems

shared responsibility
In a cataloging record's statement of responsibility, the names of persons, groups, or other entities who were responsible for the overall intellectual or artistic content of the item, usually authorship, creation, or performance

shareware
Free copyrighted software that is readily available to download online from the author for a trial period; if used regularly, a small fee is requested to register users for assistance and updates

shelf reading
A detailed reading of the call numbers of the items on library shelves to assure their correct sequencing; also known as reading shelves

shelflist
A file in which the entries are arranged in the oder of all the materials in the library, containing item-identification and histories, and often used for inventorying purposes

Short Message Service (SMS)
A text messaging service; usedfor sending short messages to mobile electronic devices, such as cell phones, smartphones and PDAs

Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP)
The TCP/IP client?server protocol that supports email.

Single Sign-On
a mechanism permitting user authentication to multiple servers with just one login. Although very handy for users, there is an increased security risk associated with having one password authenticate multiple locations.

single volume encyclopedia
These encyclopedias meet the needs of students interested in a single fact, place, or phenomenon. They are concise works of information that are excellent for ready-reference factual questions.

sketchnoting
A type of personal notetaking that includes visual elements that reflect the hearer's thoughts while listening to a speaker

slide
A transparent version of a photograph, or any other image that can be projected, such as one in presentation software

smart barcode
A barcode that has item details preassigned, before the corresponding label is attached to that item; used in converting records from manual to machine-readable form (retrospective conversion from cards to MARC), as well as in non-library uses

social bookmarking
Bookmarking websites on the Internet and collaborating and sharing ideas

social informatics
the study of the social aspects of computers and information technology.

social media
A text messaging service; usedfor sending short messages to mobile electronic devices, such as cell phones, smartphones and PDAs

social media marketing
Commercial and/or not-for-profit organizations' uses of social media to increase traffic to an impersonal site from sites designed for individual communications, capitalizing on presumably trusted relationships within social networks

social network
A website set up to facilitate communication among individuals who post and receive others' personal comments, opinions, photos, or other messages

social networking sites
Web sites designed to create relationships among people who share common interests, activities, and other social connections.

Social Online Public Access Catalog (SOPAC)
A module for the open-source Drupal content management system that seeks to integrate a library?s cataloging records with such public additions as tags and reviews in an effort to expand retrieval through a discovery index.

social tagging linkage
Social keyword tags that users add to resources so as to link to, organize, manage and share those resources

Social Web
A new approach of the Web, also known as Web 2.0, that emphasizes user-generated content and user interactions in Web applications.

Society of American Archivists (SAA)
A membership organization that focuses on activities and issues related to identifying, preserving, and using documentary and other records of enduring or historical value: http://www2.archivists.org/about.

software
A set of electronic instructions, or programs that allow a computer to function in virtually endless ways

software architecture
A set of defined processes, that serve as a high-level blueprint for designing software

Software-as-a-Service (SaaS)
A "cloud" computing model in which software is licensed and delivered on a subscription basis and is centrally hosted; also known as "on-demand software" - pronounced "sass" or "sauce."

sorting hierarchy
The ability to sort the links and user created material into the order that will work best for the needs of your project by using up and down arrows

sound disc
A flat disc that contains recorded sound that can be heard by using a matching device, such as a record player (grooved vinyl)or a CD player (digital), or a computer with appropriate software and speakers; also known as an audio disc

sound recording
A re-creation of sound waves using mechanical, electric or electronic means, on a physical medium such as a disc, for reproduction via a matching device

source citation
A statement, usually formatted according to a particular set of guidelines, that details the location of the source of a specific piece of information in a subsequent document or database

source document
The original record containing the data and details being described or cited in a secondary document or a copy

spam
The generic term for unwanted and unsolicited mail. The term is from the classic Monty Python restaurant skit where all the breakfast options included varying amounts of the processed meat known as SPAM?, whether the customer wanted it or not.

spatial data
Data related to locations on the Earth's surface.

special collections
Collections of materials that are of high interest or value, or fragile, that are kept in discreet and often restricted areas of libraries

special edition
A marketing term that implies that material may have been added to an original edition of a product, usually literary or artistic

special library
A library that specializes in serving the information needs of an audience that has one or more specific subject interests, such as a business or a nonprofit organization

specific material designation (SMD)
A narrow term used to describe the physical subtype of an item, such as "microfilm" or "microfiche," where the broad typewould be "microform."

specification
A set of detailed and specific requirements to be met in providing a service, product, or other item, often in relation to a purchase

specificity in indexing
The degree to which a descriptor matches the exact meaning of the subject concept.

Speech Recognition Software
enables users to input data by speaking text or commands instead of keying input into a computer. Examples of commercial products include Dragon Naturally Speaking and ViaVoice.

spine
The part of a book binding that faces the viewer of a full shelf of books, and that connects the front and back covers of the book; usually it is printed with the title and author of the book, as well as a call number if in a library

spine label
A label usually located at the bottom of a book's spine with the call number that indicates where a book should be shelved in the library.

spine title
The title that is visible when seen from the spine, or narrow area between the front and back covers of a book or similar shelvable item

SPSS Statistics
A popular software program that allows non-expert researchers to analyze their own statistics within the social and health sciences and marketing; the official title is ""IBM SPSS Statistics,"" in which the initialism is based on the original title (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences)

SQL (Structured Query Language)
A standardized command-based language for querying relational databases.

stacks
The shelves or bookcases on which the library's materials are stored.

standalone
Self-contained; in computer systems, those that operate without need for other hardware, software, or remote manipulation, e.g., an independent ILS in a library

Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML)
An international standard meta-markup language from which HTML and XML are derived., and that was developed before the World Wide Web, where they are used extensively in addition to other subsets of SGML tags, such as EAD (Encoded Archival Description) and DTD (Document Type Definition)

standard subdivisions
A term used to describe the numbers listed in Table 1 of the DDC, which are the most used qualifying numbers (notation) in classifying works by subject; e.g., the standard subdivision "05" represents "periodicals," and can be added onto the broader class number for a periodical on any subject, so as to narrow the call number and indicate that the item is a serial work related to the broader subject.

Standards for the 21st-Century Learner
This outlines the skills, dispositions, and responsibilities of students to be truly information literate in today's society, including the ability to inquire, think critically, draw conclusions, share information, make informed decisions, and apply knowledge to new situations.

standing order
An order placed to receive all parts of a work as published such as multi-volume works, reference books, series, serials, and so forth, until a publisher or dealer is otherwise notified.

statement of responsibility
A statement relating to the identification and/or function of any persons, families, or corporate bodies responsible for the creation of, or contributing to the realization of, the intellectual or artistic content of a resource. [Source: RDA Glossary].

static object
A file or other object in digital format that is presented essentially as it was stored

static web page
A page on the World Wide Web that does not change from user to user, such as a document or file that is presented as it was stored and will not be updated frequently if at all

statistic
an item of information expressed in a numeric format; a characteristic of a sample used as an indicator of a corresponding population parameter; the result of a statistical procedure or calculation.

STEM
In education, STEM is an acronym for teaching, learning, and motivating interest in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.

stereo
A popular software program that allows non-expert researchers to analyze their own statistics within the social and health sciences and marketing; the official title is ""IBM SPSS Statistics,"" in which the initialism is based on the original title (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences)

stick
A device, usually of wood, that consists of a stick cut into lengthwise sections except for several inches at the end that serve as a handle; a folded section of a newspaper is slid over each rod, and the section ends are secured with a band, foming a newspaper stick

stop list
A list of words that are considered to be insignificant in searching databases or online, and which software is programmed to ignore in specific types of searches

stopwords
In document processing, words in documents that are deemed meaningless as index terms and removed, such as articles, prepositions, and conjunctions.

story hour
A scheduled time period in a library during which a story is read or told to children

storyboard
A form of graphic organizer used to depict the action sequences for a video or video slide show.

streaming
A method of online delivery of large audio and video files that allows the end user to begin listening and viewing before the entire file has been received A client media player can begin playing the data (such as a movie) before the entire file has been transmitted.

student card
An identification card that may be used variously, such as in a library, or for meals, event-attendance, transportation, making payments, obtaining discounts, etc.

style manual
Special handbooks that illustrate the accepted forms for citing references in bibliographies, footnotes, and endnotes. Some style manuals are for general use. Others are published by professional associations as guides for articles in journals in that field of knowledge and research.

stylesheet
A computer language that is used to define and set the formatting and markup of a file or document; used in word processing and XML metadata, as well as in the analysis, and manipulation of XML data for new uses

subdivision
In a subject-assigning system, a term that is added at the end of a broader subject term to narrow the usage; e.g., adding the subdivision "Fiction" to a topical term narrows the subject heading assigned to a work to fiction about that topic.

subfields
The subsections of data fields in electronic records that are delimited by codes that are used by the software to distinguish one subfield from another; in the MARC format, delimiter characters are letters or numbers that are also human-readable

subheading
A secondary heading used to subdivide headings with many entries.

Subject Authority Cooperative Program (SACO)
A project of the Library of Congress' PCC that provides catalogers a means for suggesting terms for the subject authority file (LCSH) as well as new classifications for the LC Classification schedules: http://www.loc.gov/aba/pcc/saco/about.html.

subject authority file
A file of subject terms that have been selected for use in one or more catalogs of that language, to the exclusion of alternate terms with similar meanings, for the purpose of uniformity and predictability within the related catalog(s)

subject bibliography
A bibliography that is limited to one subject, although perhaps broadly interpreted and inclusive of multiple media formats

subject cataloging
The addition of subject terms to a cataloging record, selected and assigned for quality retrieval of topics, personal and place names, named time periods, and sometimes form and genre terms

subject entry
A term used as a subject heading in a cataloging record for a work, and that can be retrieved in a browse or "advanced" search as well as a keyword search.

subject heading list
A thesaurus-like listing of terms that have been agreed on as retrieval terms in subject searching of library catalogs; includes references to related, broader, narrower, and unused terms

subject headings
The word or phrase used to describe the subject content of a work. Also known as descriptors. A controlled vocabulary, such as Sears Subject Headings or Library of Congress Subject Headings, is most often used in libraries.

subject specialist
A person with academic and personal knowledge of a subject, who serves as an expert in identifying and finding material within a given subject field or discipline, for one or more libraries; may also be a published expert in the field, or be responsible for making purchases within that field

subject subdivision
A term used as a narrowing term for a broader subject heading; subdivisions may be topical, geographical, chronological, or form or genre terms, but must be present in the subject heading list being used, and be applied according to the guidelines of that list

subscription book
A single book (monograph) or set of books that is issued and received by buyers in parts as the individual parts become available

subtitle
A second or subsequent part of a title that expands on or clarifies the main part of the assigned title (title proper); often an "added title" entry is made so that an important or useful subtitle can be used as an access point for a given work.

summaries
In cataloging records, the contents of annotation fields; in the DDC, a three-part outline of the categories: First - the ten main (broadest) classes; Second - the hundred "divisions" of the ten classes; and Third - the thousand "sections" of the ten classes.

summative evaluation
A type of project or group evaluation that summarizes the results of a learning process, program, or product using quantitative measures that may be used to aid in making funding decisions; also known as product evaluation

Superintendent of Documents
The title of the individual who is responsible for the U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO), the agency tht provides public access to information published by Congress, federal courts, and other federal agencies: http://www.fdlp.gov/about-the-fdlp/supdocs.

Superintendent of Documents Classification System
A system of arranging federal government publications in an alpha/numerical order based on the name of the major issuing governmental department (such as Education Dept., Commerce Dept., and so forth). Often referred to as the SuDoc Classification System.

supplied title
A descriptive title composed and provided by the cataloger of a work that has no author-assigned title, as for a work not intended for publication, or produced informally, as well as items for which that information has been lost

support services
Essential activities and services that make primary and programmatic activities possible; in libraries, all services provided by personnel without a professional degree

support staff
The clerical and technical assistants who work with the School Library Media Specialist in operating the school library media center.

surface web
Public sites on the World Wide Web that can be found by using a browser, as opposed to those accessible on a cost basis or using protected, non-browser access (the deep, or hidden Web)

sustained silent reading (SSR)
A reading activity carried out on a regular basis in a classroom or library in which students read recreational or informational material of their own choosing during a fixed period of time

sync
an abbreviation for synchronization, and commonly used to describe the process of comparing databases on a PDA with those contained on a PC and the modification of information to make the two databases identical.

synchronous technologies
Interactive devices and technologies used in simultaneous electronic communication, such as chats and some courseware, as opposed to those used by participants asynchronously (over time), such as e-mail

syndication
providing updated information simultaneously to multiple websites

synopsis
A summary in which the elements are described in the same order as in the original work, event, or other written or recorded work, although usually prepared by someone other than the author

system administrator
A person who is responsible for the maintaining and operating a computer system, including installing upgrades and overseeing security requirements; may also have supervisory or teaching responsibilities

systems analysis
A methodical, usually linear and/or mathematical process for identifying the detailed elements of any type of system in order to identify weaknesses, strengths, and possible improvements in speed, cost, or other efficiency of the system's intended purpose

tables
In classification systems, such as the DDC or LCC, tables provide lists of subcategories and elements that are needed to narrow the notation for a particular work; data from tables are used in addition to class numbers and letters from the main categories, or schedules, rather than alone or first

tag
In MARC protocols, this is the three-digit "line" number that precedes each field; in computer applications, this is a descriptive label or word that a person can use to characterize web content, including individual items in libraries.

tag cloud
A means of visualizing the important of terms (tags) within a specified web page, document, or other group of words, where those that occur most frequently are represented in larger sizes within the graphic result than those used less; also called a "word cloud."

Tagged Image File Format (TIFF)
A flexible graphics file format that handles images and data as a single file by including the header tags that define the geometry of the image

tagging
allow users to comment on or add subject headings to favorite web resources or other content and share them with others. This also allows other users to more easily find similar content. The social bookmark sites allow users to easily see what others tagged.

talking book
The recorded format of a book that has been read aloud, especially an audiobook for people in need of reading assistance

target
In computer software, the file to which a pointer directs from a given source

target population
The group(s) that will be studied and/or affected by a program or project, often the intended beneficiaries of a funded grant

Teacher Librarian
The position and/or certification title for a professional librarian in A School Library Media Center. May also be called a School Library Media Specialist.

tear sheet
Clipped page(s) from publications for a specific article, chapter, advertisement, etc., sent to the material's author or sponsor in lieu of a complete copy of the publication

technical drawing
The type of drawing used in mechanical drawing or architects to show a space and plan in exact proportion; also called drafting, or draughting

technical services
Functions concerned with the acquisition, cataloging, and classification of library materials and preparation of library materials for use by students and staff.

technical services librarian
A professional who directs and.or participates in theacquisition, organization, processing, and maintenance of a library's materials, sometimes in addition to providing direct services to the borrowing community (public services)

technological literacy
A combination of technical knowledge and skills that lead to a capacity to find and apply content using digitally-driven devices

technology plan
A formal plan for integrating technology into the organization?s administration and operations, usually covering a five-year period, to facilitate budgeting and take into account foreseeable developments, regulations, and related training; usually includes goal statements, as well as expected service, hardware and software needs

Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization (TEACH) Act
A 2002 U.S. law that allows the same education-related activities using digital delivery mechanisms that the 1976 copyright law permitted, and introduces safeguards intended to minimize the significant risks to copyright owners that digitally formatted works present

teleconferencing
The conducting of a spoken event, or conference, among persons in varied locations via telecommunications devices and connections

telnet
An Internet protocol that facilitates a real-time connection between two Internet hosts.

Text Encoding Initiative (TEI)
A set of guidelines for applying a standard for the representation of texts in digital form, developed and maintained by the TEI Consortium, which is made up primarily of academic and research institutions: http://www.tei-c.org/About/.

text mining
The process of extracting by computer of new information from text.

textual literacy
The art of reading and understanding a textual resource - print or nonprint - through vocabulary knowledge, ability to put the content in context, and relating that to the purpose for reading the resource

Thesaurus
An authority file of terms that shows the full scope of each term along with its relationship to broader terms, narrower terms, and related terms.

thumb index
A series of semi-circular cut-outs (thumb cuts) on the outside edges of pages, into which a thumb can fit and open a large or heavy book at a particular point, which might be alphabetical or topical, such as dictionaries or religious texts

title
In the literary or creative world, the name of a work, which could be a book or part of one, a serial in any format or a part of one, a Web page, artistic painting, etc.; also the name of an honor, or of a document of ownership

title page
A page near the beginning of a book on which is printed the official title of the book and, usually, the author, publisher, and the place and date of publication. The information on the title page is used to prepare the main entry of bibliographic record.

title proper
The chief name of a resource (i.e., the title normally used when citing the resource). [Source: RDA Glossary].

title reference
A cross-reference from one form of a work's title to another - either the official title of a document or other work, or its common or uniform (standardized) title

topical subdivision
A term following a main subject term used to narrow the meaning of the subject heading to a particular subtopic, e.g., "History" or "Collection and preservation."

topographic map
A two-dimensional geographic map showing three-dimensional surface features (water, elevations, etc.) by means of contour and other special lines and colors, identified and interpreted on the map in a legend, key, or table

tracings
On catalog cards, the list of cards representing the cataloged item which are filed in the card catalog, used to trace the card set, via a series of assigned headings, especially for removal when the item is no longer held; in electronic records, similar headings are called added entries: added name entries, added title entries, and added subject entries

trade books
Books that are selected and bound by publishers seeking to sell to the general public, rather than collectors, students, professionals, or other narrow groups of readers

trade edition
Copies of a book that are intended for the general public and sold through book stores and other vendors, usually issued when the title is first published, but with covers that are not reinforced for library use or collectors, such as cardboard or soft paper covers

trade paperback
A copy of a book that is bound with a flexible cardstock cover, and probably glued (rather than stitched or stapled), but otherwise identical to a hardback book

trademark
A symbol, design, etc. that identifies a product as a means of distinguishing it from others, and which protects the owner from infringement; similar to a service mark, which is used for services rather than products

trailer
A blank extension of a film or video used for threading into a projection device; or, a short added version of a film designed to interest potential viewers (an advertisement)

transcribe
To make a written copy, as of text or recorded speech

translation
The close rewriting of a written text in a different language; or, the resulting rewritten text

translator
A person or software program that matches words and phrases in a written or digital text with equivalent terms in another language

transliteration
The process of matching alphabetic characters in a written or digital text for presentation in another language using equivalent characters, allowing a person to "read" the text using a familiar alphabet; e.g., Moscow (Latin alphabet) for Москва (Cyrillic alphabet).

Transmission Control Protocol (TCP)
A standard, or set of rules used with the Internet Protocol (IP) that define how computers send data between computers over the Internet; also sometimes termed "Transfer Control Protocol."

transparency
A transparent graphic or text image on a translucent medium that can be viewed by shining light through it from behind, usually through a projection device; in photography, a measure of the amount of light passing through translucent materials; or, a photographic print on a clear film base

truncation
Searching using a word root plus any suffixes that may occur with it. This involves typing the word root along with a special symbol, which can vary from one database to another. For example (using an asterisk), "REFORM*" would find "reform," "reforms," "reformer," "reformation," and so forth.

turnkey
A system or project that has been developed and is completely ready for a buyer or other entity to use or put into effect

type
An earlier word meaning "font" that was a physical block containing one character, used either in a typewriter (cold) or in hot (cast metal) typesetting, and used for printing by pressing against paper; in computer usage, all "type" is digital.

typeface
The shape and size of a character, as seen on a page or other textual item; in the computer world, often used interchangeably with "font," although in the printing world, a font is a subset of a "typeface."

typescript
A document that has been produced with a typewriter; a typed version of a manuscript

typography
The design and use of typefaces, or families of fonts, for producing communications that are textual, or include text; may be handwritten, typed, typeset, or produced digitally

U.S. Copyright Office
A department of the Library of Congress that examines and registers copyright claims in books, music, movies, software, photographs, and other works of authorship, administers some licenses to TV signals that are retransmitted via cable and satellite, and provides basic copyright information services to the public: http://copyright.gov/about/.

U.S. Government Publishing Office (GPO)
The agency that produces and distributes information products and services for the U.S. Federal Government; known until 2014 as the Government Printing Office: http://www.gpo.gov/about/.

unabridged
A complete work that is printed just as the author intended without any deletions or other changes.

unauthorized edition
An edition of a work that has not been consented to by the author, but which is not a violation of copyright; may include content that has not been approved by the author

uncontrolled vocabulary
A list of terms derived directly from the text of a document.

underground publications
Works published and distributed secretively, usually containing controversial writings

Unicode
A set of over 65,000 binary numerical codes that represent every character in every language and that can be read and used universally, on any platform and by any computer program; this international standard is intended to replace ASCII as the primary alphanumeric character set: http://www.unicode.org/standard/WhatIsUnicode.html.

Uniform Resource Identifier (URI)
The unique identifier (string of characters) for a Web or other resource on the Internet

Uniform Resource Locator (URL)
A Web address; the exact location of a specific resource on a computer network, that may also serve as a link when presented in hypertext

uniform title
The title, in a particular language, established by bibliographers for a work, or collection of works, that has been published under more than one title, including the original or other languages

uninterruptible power supply (UPS)
An electrical device that accesses battery or other power sources when computers and telecommunications equipment need immediate energy during a power failure, in order to prevent injury, fatalities, data loss, etc. in emergencies, for a short period of time; also serves as a surge suppressor

union catalog
A catalog showing the holdings of a given group of libraries. OCLC's WorldCat qualifies as a union catalog since it indicates libraries which hold any given title.

Union list
A list of materials, as in a designated format or on a designated subject, that are available in a group of libraries; e.g. A Union List of Serials.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
A United Nations agency set up to promote security and contribute to peace efforts through a variety of international projects in areas of education, science, and culture - activities previously carried out by the League of Nations? International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation

universal borrowing
An agreement among participating libraries to allow individuals from one library community to borrow directly from another cooperating library, with terms being set by the agreement, e.g., limits of use of reserved material, interlibrary loan services, etc.

Universal Product Code (UPC)
A twelve-digit barcode used on items available for sale, used in automated checkout systems

university press
The publishing group associated with a college or university

UNIX
the most common operating system used on Internet servers. It supports multiuser and multitasking operations. There are many versions of UNIX, and almost every hardware vendor offers its own proprietary version. An offshoot of UNIX that is increasing in popularity is LINUX, available either as freeware or for purchase commercially.

unmediated
?Media used to store content designed to be perceived directly through one or more of the human senses without the aid of an intermediating device. Includes media containing visual and/or tactile content produced using processes such as printing, engraving, lithography, etc., embossing, texturing, etc., or by means of handwriting, drawing, painting, etc. Also includes media used to convey three-dimensional forms such as sculptures, models, etc.? [Source: RDA Glossary].

upcycling
Taking recycled objects and reusing all or parts for other purposes.

URI (Universal Resource Identifier)
The unique identifier for a point of contact on the Internet.

URL
Uniform Resource Locator, the address of a Web site, usually beginning with http://.

USA PATRIOT Act
A controversial 2001 law, partially renewed in 2004, authorizing roving wiretaps, searches of business records (""library records) and surveillance of ""lone wolves."" The title is a backronym for ten words: Uniting [and] Strengthening America [by] Providing Appropriate Tools Required [to] Intercept [and] Obstruct Terrorism

USB flash drive
A small, portable data storage device with flash memory and an integrated Universal Serial Bus (USB) interface that plugs directly into a computer to conveyeditable and removable data to or from it

user education
The practice of educating users and potential users of a system or service, often used to promote information and/or technology literacy

vanity publishing
Publication activities, such as editing and creating bound copies of books for authors for a fee, as opposed to self-publishing, in which such activities, as well as selling, are carried out by an author

variant name
?A name or form of name by which an entity is known that differs from the name or form of name chosen as the preferred name for that entity [Source: RDA Glossary].

variant title
?A title by which a work is known that differs from the title or form of title chosen as the preferred title for that work? [Source: RDA Glossary].

vendors
Companies that market books, equipment, supplies, and other items.

verification
The process of verifying bibliographic data prior to decision to purchase for a library

version
Translations, variations, or adaptations of earlier works, such as sacred Bibles, computer software applications, or films based on books or the oral tradition; also varying statements reflecting point of view of an event

Verso
The back of the title page.

vertical file
A collection of pamphlets, newspaper clippings, or other small published items usually stored in a file cabinet.

video conferencing
A combination of technologies that allow groups of people in varying locations to communicate interactively using live or recorded visual images and simultaneous sound; often used interchangeably with "web conferencing."

video player
Equipment and/or software that reproduces previously recorded visual images, and in many cases audio and other data as well, and supports one or multiple file formats

videodisc
A disc composed of a protected thin metal film, readable with a laser- or stylus, that contains both audio and analog video signals; player software and equipment are required by the end user

videorecording
An electronic recording that consists entirely or primarly of visual images, frequently equivalent to a motion picture; special equipment and software are required for playback and display

virtual learning environment
A site on the World Wide Web where learning activities such as online courses take place; text, audio and video activities provide interactive options

Virtual Library
A digitized library collection made remotely available by computers. A virtual library may be local or may be a part of a network.

Virtual Private Network
authorized remote users are provided access to their organization's private network by way of the public Internet. A secured path or tunnel within the Internet is created to carry encrypted data from an organization's network to a remote user.

virtual reality (VR)
An imaginary computer environment that simulates physical reality by recreating objects, spaces, sounds and sensory relationships, and are usually displayed through special stereoscopic headsets with audiovisual capability

virtual reference service
A real-time online library reference service offered via an Internet-based software application.

vital statistics
Principally numerical data on principal events in people's lives - births, deaths, marriages, and divorces of individuals and/or groups - which are usually recorded at the time they take place

Vocabulary Control
A list of terms agreed on for use in indexing, along with rules of use.

volume
This word is used to describe two different materials: 1) a series of printed sheets, bound, typically in book form. 2) an arbitrary number of consecutive issues of a periodical.

wall charts
Large posters usually containing educational information in the form of text, disgrams, numerical tables, technical drawings, etc., that are often encased in plastic or otherwise designed to be seen from a distance and to withstand light and/or damp conditions

WAN (Wide Area Network)
A collection of local area networks.

want list
A list of titles that have been selected buy not yet ordered for a library; bibliographic and purchasing information is normally included

Web 2.0
Describes the changing trends in the use of World Wide Web technology and Web design that aim to enhance creativity, communications, information sharing, and collaboration. Web 2.0 tools include social-networking sites, video sharing sites, wikis, and blogs.

Web 2.0 Tools
Computing tools designed to support using the World Wide Web, especially in areas ofsocial networking and other forms of information distribution

Web 3.0
Viewed as the evolution of the Web into an intelligent, Semantic Web that makes extensive use of XML and metadata to facilitate program-to-program communication as well as enhanced intellectual access to resources.

Web apps (Apps)
Applications of computer software that require a Web browser, are used to perform tasks, and are created using a variety of browser technologies

Web browsers (Browsers)
Software that allows an online user to access the World Wide Web via hyperlinks, as well as some private networds and file systems on the broader Internet

Web bug
A very small or transparent graphic embedded in a Web page that is associated with an HTTP set-cookie request by a third-party server; often an ad-server but could also be associated with hackers collecting information to be used in some potential future attack.

Web conferencing
A way of presenting content remotely, often allowing people to interact with a speaker using a variety of technologies; presentations may be live and/or recorded, possibly using visual images and chats or simultaneous sound; often used interchangeably with "video conferencing."

Web content
This is content that you get directly from the Internet. These are the websites you are going to bookmark.

Web crawler
An automated computer program (script or "bot") that scans Web pages seeking and indexing specific types of data.

Web feeds
Files advising subscribers automatically when something has been written or changed on a particular website; also known as RSS feeds, these can be aggregated so that a person can track changes on any number of web sites in one place

Web hosting provider
A service, usually commercial but often free to individuals, that provides computer space and connectivity for Web sites, and the provider's domain name becomes part of the URL for the site; additional computing services are often available from such providers for a fee

Web proxy
A computer system or application that serves as an intermediary, or proxy, for requests for resources that are on separate computers (servers), and that facilitates access to content on the Web anonymously; a privacy option for Web users

Web server
A computer program that allows client computers to connect, on request, with the Web pages that it hosts

webinar
A seminar or other presentation or demonstration that is delivered and accessed online, and that may be interactive; a computer, headset or speakers, and optionally a microphone are required at the receiving end for full particpation

webliography
A bibliography that uses only online sources.

webography
A list of Web sites related to a particular topic; similar to a bibliography; also known as a webliography

webometrics
A field of quantitative social science research that uses data from the World Wide Web such as hyperlinks between webpages in order to identify, among other factors, the visibility of websites.

website
(Also: URL.) A sequence of related Web pages normally created by a single person, company, or organization.

weeding
Re-evaluating and removing obsolete or damaged materials from the collection.

WEMI
An acronym for the FRBR Group 1 entities work, expression, manifestation, and item.

whole collection readers' advisory service (RA)
Assistance to individual library users in identifying materials of all types and genres, reflecting particular aspects of topics, authors, and places that interest that person

whole number
The number assigned to one part of a series or serial; also, a non-fractional (non-decimal) number

wholesaler
A vendor of books or other materials that acts as a middleman, purchasing from publishers or others for resale; in libraries, often called jobbers

Wi-Fi (wireless fidelity)
An IEEE standard for wireless connectivity by way of a broadcast signal using WAP (Wireless Application Protocol).

Wide Area Network
term used to describe a network consisting of two or more local area networks that serves a larger geographical area, such as a large, multibranched university campus.

widget
a small program with a specific function (such as a clock, weather map, or calendar) that can be embedded on a blog, wiki or webpage

wiki
Collaborative Web server software designed for both editing and original input from multiple sources, used for providing definitions (see Wikipedia) as well as large projects; a form of open editing that can be used to improve or corrupt existing content, and that is named after the Hawaiian word wikiwiki, which means fast.

Wiktionary
This uses the social media model for developing and maintaining the contents of a dictionary.

wildcard
In searching, entering a character that tells the computer to "accept anything in this position." For example (using a question mark) the entry of "wom?n" when searching a title might find all titles that have the word "women" and "woman" in them.

windows
A group of Microsoft operating systems for stationary and mobile computing, which are revised frequently and updated dramatically every few years; used on many devices worldwide, and also known as "Microsoft Windows"

withdrawal
Removal of items, and their cataloging records and identification markings from libraries, due to damage, weeding, or non-return

word-frequency analysis
A type of textual content analysis in which individual words are counted and analyzed, and conclusions are drawn, such as estimates of grade- or age-level reading levels or appropriateness for specified audiences

word-proximity search
An advanced type of computer or Internet search for text within documents (or their titles) in which two or more terms occur within a specified number of words or characters of each other, in order to narrow the resuls or hits

word-truncation search
An advanced type of computer or Internet search in which characters in one or more words are omitted or replaced by a wildcard character in order to broaden the results, such as when an exact spelling or title is not known

work
A distinct intellectual or artistic creation [Source: FRBR 3.2.1].

work mark
Letters following Cutter numbers in call numbers, used to alphabetize titles by a given author

World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
An agency of the United Nations that fosters balanced and effective international policies and practices in the realm of intellectual property among and beyond its member states: http://www.wipo.int/about-wipo/en/index.html

World Wide Web (WWW) (Web)
A mode of using the information on the Internet that is available via the HTTP protocol, or language; users access and transmit data and Web services via hyperlinks

WorldCat
An online catalog of participating libraries' catalogs; although many materials are available via inter-library services within countries, this large international database is primarily used to identify and locate materials: http://www.worldcat.org/

writer
A person who communicates information and ideas using the written word; maybe be an academic, technical or literary writer (who is more often called an "author"); in comics, the writer is responsible for the intellectual content, i.e., its author

WYSIWYG (what-you-see-is-what-you-get)
When a program displays a final presentation view of a document; for instance, an HTML editor that instead of displaying code, shows how a browser would render the document.

xerography
A dry printing technology widely used in photocopiers to copy text and images from one sheet of paper onto another

yearbooks
They present facts and statistics for a single year (primarily the year preceding the publication date).

young adult book
A book in any format or genre that was written for, or is of special interest to older teens due to its themes or characters; also called YA literature

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA)
A membership division of ALA that advocates for quality services to teens (ages 12-8), conducts research, and provides professonal development especially through conferences and publications

Z39.50 
A National Information Standards Organization communications protocol used by online public access catalogs to provide searching and retrieval of bibliographic data from other library catalogs and online databases.