Library Terms

Index

(1) A print source or database that identifies sources that are in magazines, journals, newspapers, books, multimedia, etc. (2) An alphabetical list at the end of a book that lists subjects, names, and/or titles

CD-ROM

A Computer Disk-Read Only Memory storage disk which holds information

Abstract

A brief summary of the contents of an article or book, or multimedia. Many computerized databases include abstracts in addition to citations

Database

A collection of information stored in an electronic format and searchable by computer

Call Number

A combination of letters and numbers that give a unique "address" of a book or audiovisual item on the library shelves. Prince George's Community College Library uses Library of Congress call numbers

Reference Desk

A desk staffed by a librarian where you can ask questions on how to find information, do research, and use the Library

Menu

A list of choices found in online tools such as databases and catalogs

Bibliography

A list of information sources on a particular subject or by a particular author

Glossary

A list of words and their definitions, limited to a special area of knowledge

Journal

A periodical such as Economic Review that publishes articles written by scholars, subject experts or professionals in a particular field

Magazine

A periodical such as People Weekly that has popular articles written for the general reader

Microfiche

A piece of film, 4 inches by 6 inches in size with reduced pages of a document such as a periodical that can be read at a microfiche reader/printer

Periodical

A publication that is published at regular intervals such as magazines and journals

Volume

A quantity of successive issues for a publication identified by a number

Microfilm

A roll of film with reduced pages of a document such as a periodical that can be read at a microfilm reader/printer

Interlibrary Loan

A service that allows students and faculty to have access to materials not available in the Library's own collection

Abridged

A shortened version of a book or other document

Reserves

A special collection of materials kept behind the Circulation Desk and available for short-term use

OPAC

An Online Public Access Catalog that is computerized that contains books and other materials in such as GEORGE II in the Library

Circulating Collection

Books and materials which may be borrowed from the library. All circulating books on the second floor of the Library

Reference Books

Books that provide factual information and lead to other information resources

Circulating Desk

Counter where books and materials are checked out and returned

Citation

Information that identifies an article or book or multimedia that usually includes author, title, volume, issue, date, journal title, page numbers. Additional information such as subject headings, type of article, and length of article may be included

Bound Periodicals

Older issues of magazines and journals that have been joined together in one hard cover volume

Issue

One publication of a magazine, journal, or newspaper

Holdings

The items owned by the library

Reader/Printer

The machine which is used to read or print the material that is on microfiche or microfilm

Keywords

The most important words in a topic that are searched when searching databases

Current Periodicals

The most recent issues of magazines, journals, and newspapers that the library receives

George II

The name given to the Prince George's Community College Library's online catalog

Boolean Operators

Words such as AND, OR, NOT that are used to combine search terms to narrow or broaden a search