COIL Glossary

Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

abridged: Many books and articles are published in a shortened or condensed version known as an abridged version. The purpose of this is either to simplify the content for easier reading or to fit it into a another publication.
abstract: A summary of the main points of a journal article etc.
academic: Related to an institution or tradition of higher learning.
address: In Internet terminology, "address" is another word for URL, while in e-mail terminology an address is the location to which a message can be sent electronically using e-mail software.
author: The writer of a text. This can be published or unpublished and in any format including web pages.
authoritative: An accepted or legal source of information.
biased: Leaning towards a particular point of view and usually unable to look at every aspect of an issue in an objective or non-prejudiced way.
bibliographic: Relating to written materials such as books or journal articles.
bibliography: A list of all books, newspaper and magazine articles etc. used when researching a topic and organised according to a particular style or a list of books, articles, etc. on a particular topic.
Boolean operators: The words AND, OR and NOT are used in database searching to narrow, widen or limit searches. These words are known as Boolean operators as they are based on the algebraic logic principles known as Boolean logic.
call numbers: All items in a library are assigned a number for shelving and retrieval purposes. This number is prominently displayed on the item. Call numbers allow items with the same topic or in a particular format to be shelved together.
catalogue: A list of records showing the full bibliographic details of all items held in a library including their call numbers.
citation/cite: The bibliographic source details of books, articles etc. from which quotations have been used or information extracted.
collection: All items acquired by libraries, museums etc. are known as collections and particular groupings of items within the larger collection are known as special collections.
consecutive numbering: A numbering system where the numbers follow each other in an uninterrupted sequence.
copyright: The right by law to have control over the reproduction or copying of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work.
coverage: The spread of information on a topic.
criteria: Standards or rules for testing the value of something.
currency: Used to refer to the up-to-date status of information.
database/s: Data (symbols or words) organised into a logical structure of records. Databases are often in electronic format and records can be searched electronically.
descriptors: Terms that are authorized for use in indexing records. They may also be used for searching these records.
Dewey Decimal System: A classification scheme used by libraries based on the assigning of particular decimal numbers to particular subjects. The original scheme was devised by a librarian called Melville Dewey. Call numbers usually include the decimal number assigned to items.
directory: An alphabetical or numerical list which points out further information which can be followed up.
domain: That part of a URL or web address which shows whether the web site is a commercial (.com), organisational (.org), educational (.edu) or government web site (.gov). The country/state of origin of the site is also part of the domain. For example .vic denotes Victoria and .au denotes Australia.
electronic: A word frequently used to describe computerised technology and computerised formatting of information.
e-mail: Electronic messaging system which utilises particular e-mail software such as "Hotmail" so messages can be sent and received via the Internet. Computerised files in various formats such as text documents or digital images can be attached to these messages.
emotive: Pertaining to emotions. Writers are said to be using emotive language when they choose particular words aimed at arousing certain emotions in their readers.
endnote: A bibliographic citation at the end of a number of pages of text such as an essay, book chapter or article indicated in the body of the text by superscript.
entry: Information recorded in a list.
et al.: Abbreviation of the Latin term "et alia" meaning "and others".
field/s: A distinct component of a record containing specified information. Databases are made up of units of information called records and then each record is further subdivided into fields. Examples: Title, Author, Publisher fields.
footnote: A bibliographic citation at the bottom of a page of text indicated in the body of the text by superscript.
glossary: An alphabetical list of specialised or difficult words used in a text giving the meaning of these words.
Harvard system: An author/date referencing system developed at Harvard University.
highlight: To put a coloured background behind text on a computer.
hit: A record retrieved as the result of an electronic search because its contents match the search criteria you have set.
hitlist: A list of records retrieved from an electronic search.
homepage: The first page you see when viewing a web site, designed as the starting place.
HTML: Hypertext Markup Language: A programming language used to create pages on the WWW. HTML creates links between WWW pages and defines how text and graphics will appear on a page.
humanities: The study of literature, history, art, philosophy and other non-technical or scientific subjects.
hyperlink(s), link(s): Links to other related sites or URLs, other pages or documents, or to another section of the current page or document, allowing you to jump between related sites and topics.
icon: A graphic symbol on a computer screen which provides a direct link to a web page or software program.
index: A detailed alphabetical or numerical key to names or topics that allows for information retrieval.
Internet: A global information delivery and retrieval system which transfers HTML documents across a variety of computer systems. Often the Internet is known as the World Wide Web or the Web though strictly speaking the Web is only part of the Internet.
italics: A type format whereby the letters are sloped to the right. Italics are used to make certain words more distinctive as they stand out from the rest of the text.
item: A term used for sources of information such as books or video recordings or even database records.
keyword/s: The most important words in speech or text which are the keys to the meaning of a concept, topic or sentence.
limiters: Words used in a computerised search which would limit or cut down the number of records retrieved resulting in a shorter hit list.
multidisciplinary: Relating to a number of different subject areas of study and teaching.
multimedia: Information presented in a variety of formats including film, video clips, computer animations.
online: Accessible through the use of a computer on the Internet or through a local network.
OPAC: Online Public Access Catalogue - a computerised library catalogue which can be searched online.
Oxford system: A system of referencing using footnotes developed at Oxford University.
pagination: The listing of page numbers in a text. This is usually done as consecutive numbering (eg.1,2, 3, 4 etc.) but sometimes other formats are followed including the use of Roman numerals or letters of the alphabet or a combination of these.
paraphrase: To use someone else's ideas but to put them into your own words.
PIN - Personal Identification Number: Used as an electronic security device.
plagiarise: To present someone else's words or ideas as your own.
prefix: The beginning part of a word attached to the main part (stem) of a word to change its meaning. An example is the prefix "un" which if added to the stem word "kind" changes this word to "unkind".
primary source/s: Original information items such as diaries or log entries, letters, eye-witness accounts, interviews etc. which have not been reworded, interpreted or otherwise changed.
record/s: A record is made up of individual pieces of information called fields.
reference: Books and other resources which are factual and are used to find information quickly are known as reference resources.
reference list: A list of bibliographic resources cited throughout the text which is placed at the end of the text.
referencing: Another word used for citing your sources of information.
relevancy: The appropriateness and usefulness of information. If information "fits" the purpose for which it is intended it is relevant information.
reserve: Items are kept "On Reserve" or at the "Reserve Desk" because a teacher has told the Library that a large number of students will need to use them at the same time. These items are kept behind the desk at the Library and may only be borrowed for two hours at a time.
resources: Another term for sources of information.
scholarly: Information which has a learned or intellectual content is known as scholarly information.
search engine: Software that allows a search for topic related information on the Internet.
search query: The combination of words and/or symbols typed into "search boxes" in databases in order to retrieve matching records.
search string: Another term used for a search query specifically relating to the way keywords and phrases are stringed together to form the query.
secondary sources: Items of information which summarise or interpret original research or give background information or points of view on a subject. Examples are textbooks and encyclopaedias.
serials: A library term for items which are published at regular or irregular intervals such as magazines and yearbooks. Also known as "periodicals".
software: Computer program designed to perform a particular task which can be installed on computer equipment known as hardware.
source/s: The actual place from which information was taken, which could be a primary source or a secondary source.
spiders: Computer programs that retrieve web pages. Spiders are used to feed pages to search engines. This term is used because they crawl over the Web. Another term for these programs is webcrawler.
subject heading: A term used by Libraries to describe what an item is about. Each item is assigned one or more Subject Headings when it is acquired by the Library. Most Libraries use the same set of Subject Headings, so once you're familar with the Headings for the subjects you're interested in, you can quickly locate resources in different Libraries.
suffixes: The end part of a word attached to the main part (stem) of a word. An example is the suffix "-ly" attached to the stem "quick" to make the word "quickly".
superscript: A word, number or symbol written above normal text to indicate the presence of footnotes or endnotes. Often consecutive numbering such as 1,2,3,4 etc. is used.
synonym: When words have the same or similar meanings they are called "synonyms".
tabloid: A newspaper emphasising pictures and short articles designed to appeal to all. Tabloids and some weekly magazines make up what is known as the "popular press".
terms: Words which name something. Words used in particular subject areas or branches of knowledge are called the terminology of that area eg. "computer terminology".
text: The wording of anything written or printed. Books are sometimes called "texts" and databases which contain the full wording of printed articles are called "full-text" databases.
title: In library or bibliographic terminology the "title" of an item is the name of that item such as "Alice in wonderland". Sometimes the word "titles" is used instead of the word "books".
truncation: Shortening a word to its main component or stem without prefixes, suffixes or plural forms.
URL: Uniform Resource Locator - the address of an Internet site. Follows certain standards of format. An example is http://www.vicnet.net.au/
web browser: Software used for viewing and accessing information on the World Wide Web. Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer are two commonly used browsers, although there are many more.
webpage: A document designed for viewing in a web browser on the Internet.
website: The "home" of information found on the Web which comes from the same source and has an individual Web address.
World Wide Web (www): Total set of Internet linked HTML documents. Many Web documents on the Internet would have www in their URL.