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Abstract
A brief summary of the essential points of a book, report,
or magazine/journal article. An abstract is helpful in determining
whether or not the document will be useful in your research.
Almanac
Useful data and statistics about specific countries or subjects
and usually published annually.
Archives
University Archives preserves the historical records of UIS
and SSU. It is located on the Lower Level or basement of UIS
Brookens Library. See the Archives
website for more information.
Bibliography
A list of citations of books, articles, and other materials
compiled on a specific topic. Bibliographies may be found
at the end of books or articles, or may be separate publications.
Each bibliographic citation contains
identifying information (e.g., title, author, publisher, date
and place of publication) so that the reader can locate the
item.
Biography
Biographies provide information about notable people's careers,
lives and their achievements.
Book Truck
A four-wheeled cart used to hold books that await re-shelving
or processing.
Boolean Operators
Also called Search Operators, these are words that specify
the relationship between two or more search terms when doing
keyword searches.
AND narrows a search,
specifying that both search terms must be found in the record,
though not necessarily in the same section.
OR
broadens a search. Either search term must be found
somewhere in the record.
NOT
narrows a search. A record is retrieved only when the
first term is present and not the second.
Browsing collection
Popular and general interest books for UIS students, faculty
and staff. Located on Level 2 beside the new books area.
Call Number
A letter-number combination identifying the shelf location
of a library item. It is usually attached to the spine of
a book, and also appears on the PrairieCat screen. Call
numbers at UIS libraries and most university libraries are
derived from the Library of Congress Classification
System.
Catalog
Sometimes in paper, sometimes in electronic format, this resource
is a listing of materials contained in a collection. PrairieCat is the UIS Library online catalog.
Circulation
This refers to the checking out and return of library materials.
This process is handled at the Circulation Desk. It can also
refer to the circulation status of an item in the library
(e.g., whether it can be checked out or has been designated
for in-library use only or is lost, missing, at bindery, etc.).
See Circulation,
Interlibrary Loan & Reserves for more information.
Citation
Brief, concise information about a book or periodical title.
PrairieCat book citations also contain information such
as the author, title, publisher, year of publication, as well
as its call number, location, and whether or not it can circulate.
A periodical citation contains information
such as author, article title, journal title, its volume and
issue number, date, and page numbers. At times, citations
include a summary or an abstract of
an article.
Controlled Vocabulary
The words and phrases used by a subject specialist when creating
subject headings for an article, document, or book for a specific
index or catalog.
For example, the books in Brookens' library collection are
given subject headings from the Library of
Congress Subject Headings. Articles listed in the ERIC,
PsycINFO, and other databases, are
given subject headings by their subject specialists, or indexers.
These subject headings are then listed in a thesaurus
designed for that database. This provides consistency &
order in the chosen words and phrases.
Copyright
The federal laws that protect the intellectual property of
authors, artists, musicians and others. For more information
on library related copyright issues see UIS
Copyright & Fair Use Policy.
Database
A printed or electronic compilation of records that is searched
in order to retrieve desired information. An electronic periodical
index is often referred to as a database.
Descriptors
See Subject Headings
Dictionary
An alphabetical listing of words with short descriptions of
their meanings and applications. Dictionaries can be general,
such as Webster's, or subject specific, such as the
Dictionary of Biology.
Directory
A directory provides systematic access to concise factual
information on specific subjects, people, or organizations.
Dissertation
A lengthy research project and its written outcome usually
done by Doctoral or Ph.D. students to fulfill their degree
requirements.
Encyclopedia
Found in both print and electronic formats, encyclopedias
contain lengthy informational articles, written by experts,
on subjects in every field of knowledge, usually arranged
in print in alphabetical order. They can be general, such
as World Book, or subject specific, such as the Encyclopedia
of American Education.
Full Text Database
An electronic compilation of records with the full text or
full image of the items described by the database. Usually
refers to databases like JSTOR or Expanded Academic ASAP in
which the user can find magazine or journal articles with
both the citation and the full text or PDF image of the article.
Government Documents
Anything published by a government body. UIS Brookens Library
receives selected documents from both the U.S. and Illinois
governments. Documents in the library are located on Level
2 in both print and microfiche format. Many documents are
available through the World Wide Web, especially government
information published since about 1992. See Find
Government Information for more information.
Group Study Rooms
These rooms, located on levels 2, 3 and 4 of the library,
are for groups of 4 to 5 students who need study space where
they can work together without disturbing other students.
Handbook
Provides easy access to other information sources in a given
field of knowledge. A handbook's scope is purposely limited
and should be used as a referral resource.
Homepage
A homepage is the first (or main organizational) web page
of a web site. UIS Brookens' homepage is the gateway to its
web site at http://library.uis.edu.
I-card
Your campus ID card and your library card. For more info go
to http://www.icard.uillinois.edu/dsp_faqswhatiscard.cfm
Index
A printed or electronic resource indicating where a source
of information may be located. For example, an index located
at the back of a book is an alphabetical list of topics covered
in that book, along with references to the pages where the
topics are discussed. Multi-volume encyclopedias,
such as the Encyclopedia of Religions, often have a
separate index volume that refers the reader to the specific
volume(s) and pages that have information on the desired topic.
A periodical index, such as
the Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, offers
different access points to search by, such as author name,
subject, or type of article. Electronic indexes provide easy
access to information using search strategies that may have
otherwise taken you through volume after volume.
Initial Article
The words "The," "A," "An,"
and their equivalents in foreign languages that appear as
the first words in a title. They are usually excluded when
searching for titles in electronic databases. See stopwords
also.
Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
A process used by libraries to borrow books and other materials,
and to order copies of periodical
articles from another library. The ILL Office is located on
the Main Level 2 of UIS Brookens, in Access Services offices
near the Circulation Desk. See Interlibrary
Loan for more information.
Internet
A local, regional and global network of computer networks
with common standards and Internet protocols (IP) to allow
for displaying and transferring information from one computer
to another. Commonly used to refer to the World Wide Web and
viewing information through web browsers, although the Internet
also includes telnet, ftp, gopher and other older communication
protocols.
Instructional Services Program
This department of UIS Brookens Library provides classroom
instruction and workshops for UIS students, faculty, and staff
on the effective use of information resources. The department's
office and classroom are located on UIS Brookens' Level 2.
See Reference
- Information Services for more information.
Journal
see Periodical (usually scholarly
or specialized if called a journal)
Keyword Searching
A type of search that looks for words in titles, contents
notes, and abstracts. This is a useful
search when your information is incomplete or uncertain. Different
electronic systems call keyword searching by various names,
such as "word" or "text searching."
Library of Congress (LC) Classification
System
A system of organizing books and other library materials that
uses a combination of letters and numbers to designate their
location in the library. UIS library uses the LC system; many
public libraries use the Dewey Decimal System.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
(LCSH)
The four large red volumes that contain the subject headings
used in PrairieCat are located in the UIS Brookens Library
by the Information Desk. These subject
headings are also found in the "SUBJECT" section
of every PrairieCat record. Using the exact terms is a
must for accurate subject searches conducted in PrairieCat.
Other databases create and use their own subject headings.
Limits
Additional filters applied to the results of an electronic
search. Publication year or dates, additional search terms,
and the written text's language are some common limits.
Magazine
see Periodical (usually popular
or general interest)
Map Collection
UIS Brookens Library owns a large selection of maps and charts
published by the US government and shelved on Level 2.
Microfiche
File-card size sheets of film on which periodical
articles or government documents
have been reproduced in miniature. The contents of microfiche
can be viewed and/or printed by inserting the sheet into a
microfiche reader/printer, located in the Media Lab, Level
1 or a reader on Level 2.
Microfilm
A spool of film on which periodical
articles and other documents have been reproduced in miniature.
The contents of microfilm can be viewed and/or printed by
threading the spool onto a microfilm reader/printer, located
in the Media Lab, Level 1 or a reader on Level 2.
Microforms
Printed material reproduced on photographic film at a greatly
reduced size. Examples include microfilm
and microfiche.
Multimedia/Multimedia Workshops
Any combination of visual, audio, textual, digital, computerized
or other formats to produce teaching and learning products.
Go to the Educational
Technology website to learn more.
Nesting
Occurs when a search strategy contains two or more operator
tools, such as Boolean operators. Much
like elementary algebra problems, parentheses are used to
tell the database which search terms
are grouped together. For example, in the search query "(drug
or alcohol) and abuse," the database will search first
for all records containing either term "drug" or
"alcohol." From those records, it will then search
for only those also containing the additional term "abuse."
NetID
Your UIS NetID is assigned when you enroll for classes or
are hired as a UIS employee. The NetID is required to access
email, online courses and (if off campus) library databases
and e-journals. The NetID is formed by combining the first
initial of your first name, the first four letters of your
last name, two or more digits (to distinguish similar names)
and the letter "s" for students. The initial password
for your NetID is set to your birth date in yyyymmdd format.
(For example, a student named Chris Tarragon whose birthday
is Nov. 7, 1972, the NetID could be ctarr01s and the password
19721107). See Technology
Support for more information.
NPRC- Nonprofit Resource Center
This collection of books and services is on level 2 of Brookens
Library near the Information Desk. It features many sources
of information on how to apply for grants and what organizations
to ask for grants. See Find
Grant Money for more information.
OPAC
Online public access catalog (see PrairieCat).
Periodical
For a variety of reasons, periodicals are also referred to
as journals, magazines, or serials. Any publication that comes
out on a regular schedule is a periodical, including a daily
newspaper, a weekly magazine, a monthly or quarterly journal,
an annual yearbook, etc. UIS Brookens Library provides access
to over 3000 periodical titles in paper, microform, or electronic
format. Most university-level research demands the use of
what are called refereed, professional, or scholarly
journals.
Periodical Index
A database containing citations to
periodical articles and/or books,
often focusing on a particular subject area (e.g., American
history or psychology). Periodical indexes are available in
either print or electronic format, and most can be searched
by using subject heading and
author terms. Electronic formats also allow keyword
searching.
Positional Operators
Positional operators are used to specify the proximity of
search terms to one another. The most commonly used are "ADJ"
(adjacent), "NEAR" and "SAME."
PrairieCat (sponsored by the I-Share/CARLI consortium)
The online catalog of UIS Brookens Library. Library users can search for books, periodical titles, government documents, and audiovisual materials held by the library. They can also check Reserve materials and view their circulation record called MyAccount. See Find Books & Videos for more information.
Primary Journal
A scholarly journal that includes
original, primary research results in a specific field or
discipline.
Primary Source
An original, fundamental document. Letters, photographs, interviews,
government documents, historical
records, diaries, autobiographies and personal papers are
some examples.
Professional Journal
see Scholarly Journal
Qualification
Allows a search strategy to designate where the search terms
are to be found in a record. The most common are by author
(au), subject (su), title (ti) and publication date (varies).
Each system will have a preferred format for these commands.
Rare Books & Special Collections
Rare Books are located on the Archives Department in the UIS
Brookens' Lower Level. See the Archives/Special
Collections website for more information.
Refereed Journal
see Scholarly Journal
Reference Materials
Located in the Reference Collection, Main Level 2, these materials
are used to answer specific questions and to help users get
started with research by providing background and factual
information. They are not available for check-out.
Reserve Materials
These are books, periodical articles,
or other library materials set aside by a professor who has
assigned the item(s) to his/her class. These items are available
at the Circulation Desk or in Blackboard
as electronic reserves. See Course
& E-Reserves & Copyright Information for more
information.
Scholarly Journal
A periodical typically published
in the academic arena, a scholarly journal consists of articles
that have passed through a rigorous review process by the
author's peers or a board of referees/ reviewers. These articles
record original research and thought. Most articles also contain
bibliographies of cited and related
works. Sometimes called a primary, peer reviewed, or refereed
or journal.
Search Operators
see Boolean Operators
Secondary Source
A document published based on the observations or information
of other more primary sources. Usually interprets, evaluates
or analyzes primary sources or other secondary sources.
Smart Classrooms
Classrooms through the UIS campus that have built in computer,
projectors, Internet connections, VCRs and other technology
to enhance teaching and learning. See Smart
Classrooms for more information.
Stacks
This is library jargon for rows of bookshelves. Most library
items that circulate are located in either the UIS Brookens
General Collection Stacks on level 4, Documents Stacks on
level 2 or Periodicals Stacks on level 3.
Stopwords
Words so commonly used in records that they hinder accurate
record retrieval. Many databases show
"Failed Search" results when stopwords are used
in a search strategy; some databases simply ignore them. Common
stopwords to avoid are: a, an, for, in, of, the, this, to.
See initial articles also.
Subject Headings
Used when searching by a controlled
vocabulary, subject headings are those words or phrases,
assigned to a document or book, that contain the intellectual
subject of that resource. Found in thesauri
and specific subject heading books (such as the Library
of Congress volumes), search terms must be entered exactly
as noted for an accurate search. In some databases,
subject headings are called descriptors.
SuDocs (Superintendent of Documents) Classification System
A system of arranging federal government
documents in an alpha/numerical order according to issuing
government department (such as Agriculture Department, Commerce
Department, etc.).
Thesaurus
Many specialized periodical indexes
use a controlled vocabulary (a standardized
word or phrase list). A thesaurus is an alphabetical listing
of the terms currently in use for that index. A thesaurus
will also show relationships between synonyms or related terms,
as well as hierarchical arrangements (broader terms, narrower
terms).
Thesis
This is usually an extensive research project done by graduate
students to fulfill the requirements of their Master's degree
programs. At UIS Library copies of Master's projects and thesis
documents are kept in the Archives department. See SSU/UIS
Masters' Projects/Theses for more information.
Truncation
The ability to retrieve records of search terms that share
a common root. In each database, some
sort of symbol (a colon, an asterisk, a dollar sign) is placed
at the end of the group of letters forming the root search
term. Use the longest root possible to increase the accuracy
of your search.
UIS Campus Buildings' abbreviations
BRK - Brookens Library
BSB - Business Services Building
CBM - College of Business & Management
CPV - Communication, Psychology & Visual Arts Building
HBC - Homer Butler Commons
HRB - Human Resources Building
HSB- Health & Sciences Building
LRH - Lincoln Residence Hall
PAC - Public Affairs Center
SAB - Student Affairs Building
SLB - Student Life Building
UHB - University Hall Building
URL
An acronym for "Uniform Resource Locator," this
is the address of a resource on the Internet. World Wide Web
URLs begin with http://
Video Storage Room
This room is located on UIS Brookens' Main Level 2.
Website
A website is an entire collection of web pages. UIS Brookens'
website provides extensive research resources directly over
the Internet and details information about library services.
The homepage serves as the gateway
to the site at http://library.uis.edu.
Created by Denise
D. Green, August 26 2003, based on a web
page created by Trisha Mileham of Valparaiso University
and used with permission.
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