Understanding Library Lingo

To use libraries and information sources effectively, there are some terms that you simply need to know. Library Terms: A Glossary, available at http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/libterms.htm, will help you both to complete the crossword puzzle below and to become familiar with essential library-related words.

1. The list of works cited by an author at the end of an article, paper, book, or other research-based writing. 

2. The collective issues of a periodical that constitute the whole published within a definite time period. 

3. A type of journal containing articles primarily of interest to those in a specific industry or profession. Also known as a "professional journal."

4. Series of bookcases or sections of shelving used for holding a library's collection.

5. A type of database containing only records for information sources owned by a particular library. 

6. A special type of call number assigned to government documents. The first letter indicates the government agency responsible for the document. 

7. A general-interest periodical that has a broad, wide audience. Time and Glamour are examples. 

8. A single, uniquely-numbered or -dated part of a periodical or newspaper. 

9. A brief description of a work's content. Generally found at the beginning of an article in a journal, or with a citation in a bibliographic database.

10. You can place a __________ on a book currently checked out to another person to ensure that you will be next in line to receive the book when it is returned. 

11. Like footnotes in their purpose, but placed at the end of an article, chapter, or book. 

12. References to information sources. They appear at the bottom of pages within the document. 

13. A general term for anything published at regular intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, etc.), including magazines, journals, and newspapers. 

14. The information given in an index or catalog about a particular information source. May include article title, periodical title, book title, place of publication, publisher, volume, pages, and date. 

15. A __________ manual is a book that tells the reader how to format citations for footnotes, bibliographies, etc.

16. A listing of sources cited in a research paper. Always used whenever there are parenthetical citations. May also be used with footnotes or endnotes. 

17. An extension of the loan period for materials checked out from the library.

18. ___________ references are citations placed within the body of a paper. 

19. To be checked out of the library for use. 

20. Conditions allowing copying of materials for the sake of research and teaching. 

21. The point or idea which is at the core of and to be proved by a scholarly work. Also a name for a paper or project produced in partial or complete fulfillment of the requirements for a Master's degree program.

1. A reference __________ is another name for a Works Cited listing. 

2. Any publication originating in or issued with the imprint of, at the expense of, or by the authority of any government or governmental agency.

3. Where materials are placed to be used by all students in a class. 

4. A __________ journal is a type of periodical whose articles are written, generally, by professional academics and reviewed by the author's peers before being published. Differs from a magazine or a trade journal. 

5. A shorter work that makes up part of a larger work like a journal volume or an encyclopedia. 

6. A collection of records describing information resources. Usually computerized. 

7. An evaluative summary of a work. Unlike an abstract, it attempts to tell how good an information source is. 

8. The letters and/or numbers assigned to a book to give it a unique location in a library. Generally based upon the subject of the book. 

9. A type of microform product used for preserving print materials. This has a rectangular rather than a roll format. 

10. The act of taking another's intellectual property and passing it off as one's own. Severely punished in academic settings. 

11. To check out an item to someone. 

12. An identification number used with computerized information systems to ensure that individuals have secure access to information about themselves and/or information restricted to their user community. 

Hints (Look at these terms in giving your answers!)

Created by Kate Manuel
Send comments and questions to: libinstr@lib.nmsu.edu.
Page last updated on Thursday, July 7, 2005