Glossary and Index

Click on any highlighted item to go to the page describing it.

[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]

Multilingual Glossary from the ALA

A

abstract: A brief summary of a work which tells enough to allow a reader to decide whether of not it has the information sought; in many cases, it also contains keywords and/or terms used to index the work so that it can be retrieved.

access: method by which a computer refers to records in a file. (Keenan, p.57)

annotation: A note which accompanies an entry in a bibliography, which tells what the item is about. It differs from an abstract in that it need not necessarily be a summary of the contents. It can be objective, evaluative, or promotional, depending on the purpose of the bibliography

audiovisual: items that are not completely dependent on printed words to transmit meaning as they use audio (sound) and visual (picture) formats. (Keenan, p.2)

Author-date reference: a style of citing that places the name of the author, and the year a work was published in the body of the text. Also known as Harvard style.

B

baud: unit measuring the speed of transmission of data over telecommunications lines. (Keenan, p.61)

bibliography: list of materials or documents dealing with a particular subject area, individual (Keenan, p.3); a list of sources used in the preparation of academic work.

Boolean searching: A method of combining two or more search terms to increase or restrict the amount found.

browser: Software used to access Web documents (e.g. Netscape, Internet Explorer)

C

call number: Set of symbols which identifies an item in a library collection and indicates its location

catalogue: list of materials available in a particular collection, arranged in a systematic order. (Keenan, p.3).

CAVAL: Cooperative Action by Victorian Academic Libraries Reciprocal Borrowing Program - Victorian tertiary staff and students are able to borrow material from other participating Victorian libraries

CD-ROM: A form of electronic database, containing organised and related information. Most are available via the library databases page, a few must be used in a specified branch library.

citation: reference to a document or part of a document from which a passage is quoted, or to a source regarded as an authority for a statement or proposition. (Keenan, p.22)

citing: the process of acknowledging the sources of your information and ideas

client: software program that is used to contact and obtain data from a server software program on another computer, often across a great distance

cookie: piece of information sent by a web server to a web browser that the browser software is expected to save and send back to the server whenever the browser makes additional requests from the server

course code: a set of numbers and letters assigned by Monash to various courses e.g. AFC1010, HSY3250

D

database: see electronic database

descriptors: terms assigned to database records to place them within categories

Dewey Decimal Classification: classification scheme used extensively for the shelf arrangement of books in libraries. (Keenan, p.27)

directory: see subject gateways

discussion lists: email groups devoted to communication about a particular topic or interest

Document delivery: library unit that arranges the loan of material for staff and postgraduate students from other libraries throughout the world

domain: internet address of the organisation hosting a webpage or email server

downloading: transfer of information from one computer to another, or to a floppy disk. (Keenan, p.80)

E

electronic database: A general term for many methods of storing information electronically. In the library this includes CD-ROMs and the library catalogue.

email: (electronic mail) transmission of letters and other documents from one computer to another through a telecommunications network. (Keenan, p.81)

endnote: a style of citing that places a number in the body of the text. This number refers to a citation listed at the end of the text. Also known as Vancouver style

EndNote: a software program used for assembling lists of useful sources

end user: person with an information need (Keenan, p.29)

evaluation: the process of deciding whether an information source is appropriate to your needs

F

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions - a common abbreviation on the Web.

fields: portion of a reference or unit record representing a specific item of information, such as the author, title etc. (Keenan, p.30)

FLISU: now Library services for off-campus students - a library unit that provides services to Monash distance education students

footnote: a style of citing that places a number in the body of the text. This number refers to a citation listed at the bottom of the page. Also known as Vancouver style

FTP: File Transfer Protocol makes it possible to send data contained in files between computers.

G

Gopher: Software that searches and retrieves documents on remote computers for display on yours. Information is presented via menus

H

Harvard style: a style of citing that uses the Author-date system

hold: the process of requesting that an item that is on loan to someone else be held for you when it is returned.

holdings: items in the stock of a library (Keenan, p.8)

home page (or homepage): Several meanings. Originally the web page that your browser is set to when it starts up. The more common meaning refers to the main web page for a business, organization, person or simply the main page out of a collection of web pages

host: main computer of a local or remote network. (Keenan, p.92)

HSS: or Humanities & Social Sciences Library, former name of the Matheson Library. Also previously known as Main Library. Building 4 on the Clayton campus.

HTML: HyperText Markup Language - the computer language that forms the basis of web pages.

http: HyperText Transfer Protocol - allows servers and browsers to communicate on the WWW

I

Intercampus loan: the process of having an item brought in from another campus. In the library catalogue use the Send a request, Hold function.

ILL or Interlibrary loan - the process of having an item brought in from another library or university, see Document delivery

index: systematic guide to the contents of a file, document, or group of documents

information literacy: an understanding and set of abilities enabling individuals to 'recognise when information is needed and have the capacity to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information', from Australian and New Zealand Information Literacy Framework, 2004 (pdf, 406kb) .

Internet: An array of many computer networks linked via common communications protocols, which includes major educational, research, and governmental institutions in some seventy countries

IP as in TCP/IP: Internet Protocol - a standard that allows for the transmission of data across networks. (Keenan, p.116) Every machine that is on the internet has a unique IP number.

ISBN: International Standard Book Number: An internationally agreed on standard number that identifies a book uniquely.

ISP: Internet Service Provider - a company that facilitates access to the web

ISSN: International Standard Serial Number: An internationally agreed on standard number that identifies a serial publication uniquely

J

Java: Programming language used to write Web applications

JavaScript: Programming language used in Webpages

journal: another name for a serial

K

L

literature search: A systematic and exhaustive search for published material on a specific topic

login: 1. The account name used to gain access to a computer system 2. The act of entering into a computer system

M

Main Library: former name of the Matheson Library. Also known as Humanities & Social Sciences Library (H&SS). Building 4 on the Clayton campus.

Matheson Library: formerly known as Humanities & Social Sciences Library (H&SS), or Main Library. Building 4 on the Clayton campus.

metasearch engine: a program that allows you to search across many search engines at once

microfiche: A sheet of film bearing a number of microimages in linear array.

microfilm: A length of film bearing a number of microimages in linear array.

microform: generic term for all forms of micro records, including microfilm and microfiche.

mirror: refers to mirror sites which are web sites or FTP sites that maintain exact copies of material originated at another location, usually in order to provide more widespread access to the resource

modem: MOdulator, DEModulator. A device that you connect to your computer and a phone line, that allows the computer to talk to other computers through the phone system

Monalisa: Monash University library's interface for accessing networked electronic databases.

monograph: Literally means a single written item, and often used to mean a book. (Keenan, p.10)

N

network: group of physically dispersed computers linked to each other to share information resources. (Keenan, p.107)

networked database: a database located on a central server so that it can accessed by multiple users

O

online catalogue: see OPAC

online database: stored on servers elsewhere, and the library pays for permission to connect to and search these databases. Some can be searched over the Internet, others require a dedicated PC here in the Library.

OPAC: Online Public Access Catalogue - catalogue where information is stored on a database loaded in a computer, which can be used via a remote terminal. Fancy way of saying library catalogue.

OVID: software that allows database searching.

P

paraphrase: a rewritten extract from another source. No quotation marks are used, however a citation is still necessary.

password: word, code or set of characters used to identify a user and permit access to a computer system (Keenan, p.112)

peer review: a formal process whereby articles submitted to a journal or conference are sent to several established scholars in that field of study. These reviewers may suggest improvements before deciding if the article should be published or included in the conference. See: How to identify academic resources

periodical: primary material published at regular or irregular intervals. A type of serial. (Keenan, p.12). The terms journal, magazine, periodical and serial are often used synonymously.

phrase searching: a search process that allows you to combine words so that you only get records where the words are next to each other in the order specified

plagiarism: taking, using, and passing off as your own, the ideas or words of another. This is the case even when you cite the source in the body of your text or in your references, or both.

primary material: the raw, often factual data that underpins research

Q

quotation: the copying of words of text originally published elsewhere. Direct quotations generally appear in quotation marks and end with a citation.

R

ready reference: provision of quick answers to factual questions, using standard sources such as dictionaries, almanacs and directories

record: A unit in a file or database

reference: A direction from one heading or entry to another

reference list: contains ALL the sources cited in a text or essay, and supports your research and/or premise

reference source: any publication from which authoritative information may be obtained. Not limited to reference works

reprint: 1. A new printing of an item made from the original tye image, commonly by photographic methods. The reprint may reproduce the original exactly, or it may contain minor but well-defined variations. 2. A new edition with substantially unchanged text.

S

subject gateways: organised lists of webpages, divided into subject areas by human

search engine: programs that enable you to search using keywords which describe the subject you are looking for

search strategy: plan of a search for information.

secondary material: interpretation and commentary of primary material by others

serial: publication issued in successive parts that is intended to be continued indefinitely, usually multiauthored and sequentially numbered. (Keenan, p.13) Also known as a journal.

server: Can refer to the machine that stores files of many users and programs that can be shared, or to the program that allows communication with a browser.

Sir Louis Matheson Library: see Matheson Library.

source: see reference source

spam: unsolicited electronic mail; the internet version of junk mail

stand-alone CD-ROM: a database that is not available on the network

subject heading: word or group of words expressing a subject under which all items on that subject are filed. (Keenan, p.51)

T

TCP/IP: protocol that allows dissimilar computers to connect to a network. (Keenan, p.126)

Telnet: standard protocol for remote connection. Often used to connect to older online catalogues.

thesaurus: Guide to use of terms, showing relationships between them, for the purpose of providing standardized, controlled vocabulary for information storage and retrieval

truncation: shortening or cutting off part of a search term so that it can be matched against other terms with the same stem or root. (Keenan, p.53)

U

UNIX: The communications operating system used on servers. As opposed to the operating system on a personal computer (e.g. DOS), UNIX allows multiple users and uses at the same time

URL: Uniform Resource Locator -- Web address

V

Vancouver style: a style of citing that uses the footnote or endnote system

virtual library: access to electronic information in a variety of remote locations through a local online catalogue or other gateway, such as the internet

Voyager: previous name for the Monash University library catalogue or OPAC

W

Web: see World Wide Web

webpage: an individual page of information loaded onto the WWW

web site: A file of related web pages of text and graphics linked through hypertext

wildcards: see Truncation

World Wide Web (WWW): a network of many thousands of servers linked together by a common protocol.

X

Y

Z

Z39.50: a standard that defines how computers search in library catalogues. The Library of Congress is the Maintenance Agency and Registration Authority for this standard, see http://www.loc.gov/z3950/agency/

Sources:

1. The Information Professional's Glossary. School of Information Resources and Library Science. Arizona http://www.sir.arizona.edu/resources/glossary.html