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A

abbreviation

A shortened form of a written word or phrase used for brevity in place of the whole, commonly made by omitting letters from one or more parts.

Examples:

assoc for association

BTW for by the way

abridgment

A shortened edition of a written work, usually prepared by someone other than the original author, which preserves the overall meaning and manner of presentation of the original. Synonymous with condensation. Also spelled abridgement.

abstract

A brief summary of the content of a book, article, speech, report, dissertation, etc. In scholarly journals, the abstract usually appears at the beginning of an article, after the article title and author(s) name(s), and before the text. See also: abstracting service.

abstracting service

An indexing service which provides both a citation and an abstract or summary of each item listed.

academic library

A library which is an integral part of a college, university, or other post-secondary educational institution, administered to meet the needs of its students, faculty, and staff for scholarly information and research services. See also: graduate library and undergraduate library.

access point

A name, term, or code under which library materials can be searched and identified; a unique element which serves as a point of entry to a file of information.

accession

In technical processing, to enter documents and other materials which have been added to a library collection in a accession record. Also, any document or item which has been accessioned and added to a library collection.

accession number

A number assigned consecutively to each document or item as it is added to a library colection. Accession numbers are recorded in an accession record maintained by the technical services department.

accession record

A list of documents or items added to a library collection, in the order of their addition. Normally, the list includes the accession number, bibliographic identification, source, and cost of each item. Synonymous with accession catalog and accession file.

accredited library school

In the United States, a library school whose degree program has been accredited by the American Library Association, as opposed to an approved library school whose program has been recognized or certified by a state board or educational agency as meeting its standards. Some approved library schools are also ALA accredited.

acknowledgments

The section of a book in which the author acknowledges the contributions of others to the work. Usually appears in the front matter after the preface or foreword, and before the introduction. In some cases, acknowledgments are included in the preface. Also spelled acknowledgements.

acquisition number

A unique number used by the acquisitions department of a library to identify a bibliographic item on a purchase order. In some libraries, standard codes such as the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) or ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) are used as acquisition numbers.

acquisitions

The department within a library which is responsible for ordering and purchasing new materials. In smaller libraries, the acquisitions librarian may also be responsible for collection development.

acronym

A word formed from the first (or first few) letters of several words. Examples: NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) and WWW (World Wide Web).

adaptation

A book which has been edited or rewritten, in part or in its entirety, for a specific purpose. Converted to a literary form other than the original, to serve a different purpose; for example, a novel adapted for performance on the stage, or a play adapted for the screen.

added copy

An additional copy of an item already held which is nevertheless added to a library collection. Compare with duplicate.

added edition

An edition of an item added to a library collection which differs from the editions of the same title already owned by the library.

addendum

Brief printed matter, less extensive than a supplement, which is included in a book after the text has been typeset. Usually printed separately on a slip of paper and inserted at the beginning or end of the text. See also: tipped in.

adult services

Materials, services, and programs designed to meet the needs of the adult patrons of a public library, as opposed to services for children and young adults. See also: reader's advisor.

advance copy

A copy of a book or other publication sent out before the official publication date for purposes of review or promotion, sometimes unbound or in a binding other than the publisher's binding. Copies sent out unbound are more properly termed advance sheets. Compare with review copy.

Alexandria

A city in ancient Egypt, founded by Alexander the Great, which became a major center of Hellenistic culture, and the site of the largest scholarly library in antiquity, all destroyed in the fullness of time. See also: papyrus.

allegory

A story in which people, things, and happenings have a symbolic meaning, usually for the purpose of expressing or explaining a moral principle. See also: parable, fable, and literal.

allusion

A figurative or symbolical reference. Also, an implied indication or indirect reference. A casual mention.

almanac

An annual publication containing useful statistics and facts, both current and retrospective. Almanacs may be general (example: World Almanac and Book of Facts) or related to a specific field or discipline (example: Almanac of American Politics).

alphabet

The complete set of characters used in writing a language or indicating speech sounds, usually arranged in a traditional order.

alphabetical

In the usual order of the letters of the alphabet of a language. In this glossary, the terms are listed in alphabetical order.

alphanumeric

A contraction of alphabetic-numeric, referring to a character set containing alphabetic letters, numbers, and/or special characters. Common in usernames and passwords. Example: smith019

alternative title

The second part of a title that consists of two parts, each of which is a title in itself. The two parts are joined by the word or or its equivalent in another language. Example: Shakespeare's play The Tempest; or, The Enchanted Island. Compare with subtitle.

American Library Association (ALA)

The leading professional organization of public and academic librarians in the United States. Click here to view the ALA homepage.

americana

A term used in the book trade and by collectors to refer to all books about the Americas. Not all Americana are published in the Americas.

analects

A collection of literary fragments or excerpts.

analytics

A note in an entry in a library catalog which lists the contents of an anthology or collected work.

annals

A periodical which records the transactions of an organization, or events and developments in a specific field or discipline. Broadly, a list of events recorded in chronological order. See also: chronicles.

annotation

A critical or explanatory note, usually included in a bibliographical reference or citation, which may provide information about the author and content of the work cited. See also: critical annotation.

annual

Issued once a year, every year.

annual review

A survey of the major publications in a subject or field during a specific year.

Examples:

Annual Review of Anthropology

Annual Review of Biochemistry

Annual Review of Genetics

Annual Review of Psychology

anonymous

A publication in which the author's name does not appear and cannot be traced through catalogs, bibliographies, or other sources.

anthology

A collection of extracts from the works of various authors, selected by an editor and sometimes limited to a specific literary form or genre such as short stories, poems, and/or plays. The works included are listed in the table of contents at the beginning of the collected work.

antiquarian bookseller

A bookseller who deals in old, rare, out of print, and secondhand books.

antonym

A word whose meaning is opposite to that of another. The opposite of synonym.

apocryphal work

A work of doubtful authorship or authenticity; not genuine.

appendix

A supplementary part of a written work, not essential to the completeness of the text, which contains information too long to be included in footnotes, such as statistical tables or explanatory material. The appendix usually appears in the back matter at the end of the text before the index.

approval plan

An arrangement by which a publisher or wholesaler assumes responsibility for selecting and supplying, subject to return privileges, all publications, as issued, which fit a library's pre-established collection profile. The profile usually specifies subject areas, levels of difficulty, formats, price ranges, languages, etc. Some plans provide advance notification slips, instead of sending the publications themselves. Compare with blanket order. See also: collection development.

approved library school

In the United States, a library school whose program is recognized or certified by a state board or educational agency as meeting its standards. Some approved library schools are ALA-accredited.

archives

An organized collection of the noncurrent records of an institution, government, organization, or corporate body, or the personal papers of an individual or family, preserved in a repository for their historical value. Managed and maintained by an archivist. Also refers to the physical repository itself.

article

A work of prose, usually on a specific topic, identified by its title (or heading) and often by its author(s), and published in a book or periodical containing several such works.

athenaeum

A name applied to certain proprietary libraries, reading rooms, and buildings housing libraries, particularly in 19th century New England.

atlas

A book of maps. Some atlases are thematic. Example: The Times Atlas of World Exploration. See also: cartography.

audiocassette

See : audiotape.

audiotape

A continuous strip of thin magnetic tape on which may be recorded electrical signals which, with the proper playback equipment, may be converted to sound. The most common size in libraries is 150 mils, stored on audiocassette. Synonymous with tape recording.

authentication

In archives, the process of determining, usualy through research, that a document or its reproduction is what it appears or purports to be. Compare with certification.

author

The writer of a book, essay, story, play, poem, etc. Some books have two or more joint authors.

In most online library catalogs, the term author is used in its broadest sense to include joint author, editor, playwright, director, composer, performer, artist, creator, etc.

author index

An index in which the headings of index entries consist of the names of the individuals and/or corporate bodies responsible for creating the intellectual content of the works indexed. Compare with name index.

authority control

Methods by which the authoritative forms of the names, subjects, and uniform titles used as headings in any file of bibliographic records are established, and consistently applied and maintained as new records are added. In larger libraries, authority control may be provided by a fee-based commercial service.

autobiography

An account of one's life written by oneself. Autobiographies of famous people are often written with the assistance of a ghost writer. See also: biography.

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B

back

The sewn or binding edge of a book and that part of the case or binding between the two hinges or joints upon which the title and author's name usually appear. See also: spine.

back file

A file consisting of the issues of a periodical which precede the current issue, usually stored in hardcopy (printed volumes) or on microfilm or microfiche.

back matter

Pages at the end of a book following the text which may include appendices, notes, bibliographies, the list of contributors, and indices. Synonymous with end matter and subsidiaries. See also: front matter.

backlist

Publications no longer new which the publisher keeps in stock to meet a continuous demand. See also: out of print.

banned book

A book whose sale has been prohibited or suppressed by secular or ecclesiastical authorities because its content is considered objectionable or dangerous. See also: censorship.

barcode

A printed label containing machine-readable data in the form of vertical bars of equal width but in whose variable heights are encoded the frequencies or values of the data represented. The data on the label can be read by an optical scanning device into an attached computer. In libraries barcodes are used to identify books for circulation and inventory, and to link a borrower's library card to the appropriate patron record in the library's computerized circulation system.

beginning reader

An illustrated book published specifically for young children who are learning to read, in which the text is brief, the vocabulary limited, and the type size large. See also: juvenile collection.

belles lettres

From the French, meaning beautiful letters, referring to polite literature such as poetry, essays, fiction, drama, and literary criticism.

best-seller

A book which is currently in such high demand in bookstores and libraries that large numbers of copies are sold and circulated. Periodicals which publish book reviews often include best-seller lists for fiction and nonfiction, and sometimes for children's literature.

biannual

Issued twice each year.

bibelot

A book of exceptionally small size, usually valuable for the rarity of its format. Also known as a thumb book.

biblioclast

A person who destroys books. Fortunately this mental aberration occurs infrequently.

bibliographer

A person who describes and lists books and other publications, especially with regard to such characteristics as authorship, publication date, typography, edition, etc. The result of such work is known as a bibliography.

bibliographic instruction (BI)

See: library instruction

bibliography

A list of references for further research and reading at the end of a book or article. Long bibliographies may be published separately in book form and are usually written by a bibliographer. Style manuals for various bibliographical formats (APA, MLA, etc.) are usually available at the reference desk in academic libraries. See also: annotation, critical bibliography, and selective bibliography.

bibliolatry

An excessive reverence for books. Also, excessive enthusiasm for a literal interpretation of the Bible.

bibliomania

An obsession with collecting and possessing books, especially rare books and editions.

bibliometrics

The use of statistical methods to study the usage of materials and services within a library, or to analyze the historical development of a specific body of literature, particularly its authorship, publication, and use.

bibliopegy

The art of bookbinding.

bibliophile

A person who loves and treasures books, especially their physical form, and is able to distinguish the quality of editions.

bibliophobia

A fear or dread of books; an aversion to books in their printed form.

bibliopole

A bookseller, especially one who deals in rare books and editions.

Bibliotheque nationale de France

The national library of France. Click here to connect to the homepage of the BNF.

bibliotherapy

The use of specially selected books in a planned reading program to facilitate the recovery of patients suffering from mental or emotional illness.

biennial

Issued every two years.

bi-monthly

Issued in alternate months (six times per year).

bindery

An establishment for performing one or more of the various types of binding. Some large libraries have their own bindery in the technical processing department. Smaller libraries usually send materials in need of binding to a commercial bindery.

binding

The outside cover of a volume of printed pages. Books with softcover bindings are called paperbacks. Those in hardcover are bound in boards covered in cloth or leather. Also refers to the process of applying a cover to the pages of an unbound publication. See also: library binding, reinforced binding, and custom binding.

binding edge

In binding, the edge at which the leaves of a book are affixed to one another, usually by means of glue to a strip of cloth or paper.

biobibliography

A list of works by various authors (sometimes by a single author) which includes brief biographical information about the author(s).

biography

A written account of a person's life, written by another. The person who writes a biography is called the biographer. The person written about is known as the biographee. Also refers also to the branch of literature and history which describes and analyzes the lives of actual people. See also: autobiography.

BIP

An abbreviation which stands for Books In Print, a multi-volume reference set which indexes, by author, title, and subject, books currently available for purchase. BIP also includes a directory of publishers.

biweekly

Issued twice each month. Synonymous with semimonthly.

blank

An unprinted leaf in a book, often found at the beginning and/or end.

blanket order

A plan according to which a publisher or wholesaler agrees to supply to a library one copy of all publications issued, without return privileges. Such plans normally have limits established by prior agreement between the publisher and the library. Compare with approval plan.

bleed

In printing, to run an illustration off the edge of the page without leaving space for a margin.

blind reference

A reference in an index or catalog which sends the reader to a heading which does not appear within the same index or catalog.

block letter

A letter in a typeface without serifs in which the strokes are of equal width and boldness. Synonymous with sans-serif.

blurb

The publisher's description and recommendation of a new book, usually printed on the front flap of the dust jacket. Brief excerpts from favorable book reviews may be printed on the back of the book jacket. See also: puff.

board

A general term for the sheet, usually of strawboard or millboard, which gives rigidity to one of the sides of the cover of a book. The plural boards refers to both sides of a book cover.

Bodleian Library

The library of Oxford University in England. The original medieval library was severely damaged in 1542, then refounded in 1598 by Sir Thomas Bodley, a former diplomat. Its combination of buildings constructed from 1490 to 1970, and its vast holdings, makes it unique among the world's great libraries. Its collections are particularly strong in English literature, history, and typography. The Bodleian has been a legal depository library since 1662. Click here to connect to the homepage of the Bodleian Library.

body matter

The text of a printed work, as distinct from the display matter, or illustrations.

boldface

A typeface which is thicker and darker than the normal font, used mainly for emphasis and for headings. Also spelled bold face.

bolt

The folded edge of paper at the head, tail, or fore-edge of a single sheet in an uncut book, known respectively as the head-bolt, tail-bolt, or fore-edge bolt. The folded edge at the back of a sheet is known as the back fold and is either sewn or glued to the other folded sheets (called signatures) in the process of binding.

book

A collection of leaves of paper, parchment, vellum, or other material (whether written, printed, or blank), affixed in in some manner to one another, with or without a case or cover. Also, a literary work or one of its volumes.

As defined by the U.S. Postal Service, a publication qualifying for the fourth-class postal rate consisting of 24 or more pages, at least 22 of which bear printing, which contains primary reading material, with advertising limited to book announcements. According to UNESCO, a nonperiodical literary publication consisting of 49 or more pages.

book band

A narrow strip of printed paper (usually colored), which is placed around the jacketed cover of a book to call attention to a special characteristic, for example, that it is available at a reduced price, or received an award, or is available from a library on reserve, or has been borrowed for a library user via interlibrary loan and therefore has a nonstandard due date.

book catalog

A catalog in the form of a bound or loose-leaf book. Such a catalog may be printed, handwritten, or generated by a computer.

book cloth

Cotton or linen cloth, colored, sized, glazed, and embossed or otherwise processed for use in covering books published in hardcover. See also: buckram.

book club

A commercial company that sells new books through the mail to subscribers who must usually agree to purchase a minimum number of titles each year. A selection, or selection list, is normally sent to subscribers each month for approval. Some book clubs offer books of general interest, others specialize in books on a certain subject or within a specific field or fields. See also: book club edition.

book club edition

An edition offered by a book club which may be specially reprinted for club distribution, purchased from the publisher's stock by the club (usually at a discount), or produced as an original edition for subscribers only. Specially reprinted editions may be inferior in quality to the trade edition.

book collecting

The process of acquiring a collection of books based on their content, history, rarity, or other bibliographic characteristics. A person who systematically acquires books in a specific field of knowledge, or within certain historical or bibliographic parameters, is known as a book collector. See also: bibliophile and bibliomania.

For a brief but fascinating essay on the history of book collecting, please see A Dictionary of Book History by John Feather (New York: Oxford University Press,1986) beginning on page 36.

book drop

A slot, chute, or box used for returning books and other items to a library, particularly when it is closed to its users.

book fair

A trade exhibition, usually held annually, in which book publishers and distributors display their wares. The first international book fair was held in France at Lyons during the late medieval period. The Frankfurt Fair began in the 1490s and is still the chief marketplace for publishers who wish to sell copyrights, translation rights, and other privileges to overseas buyers.

book jacket

See: dust jacket.

book hand

A formal style of handwriting used by scribes in preparing books, distinct from the cursive hand used for letters and other written documents.

book lift

A mechanical device for transporting books from one floor, or stack level, to another in a library.

book light

A very small electric light designed to attach, usually by means of a clip, to the cover of a book for reading in bed.

book list

A selected list of books, sometimes with brief descriptive notes and usually in some kind of order (by author, title, subject, etc.). See also: reader's advisor.

book rest

A portable device similar to the music rest on a piano which is placed on a table or desk to hold a book at an angle convenient for reading. Book rests are also available for indoor cycles and for bedtime reading.

book scout

A person who travels, visiting obscure or remote bookshops, secondhand stores, and book sales, in search of books or editions desired by librarians, private collectors, and/or antiquarian booksellers.

book stamp

A mark of ownership consisting of an inked impression made from a wood, metal, or rubber stamp on the cover, title page, or endpaper of a book.

book stock

The totality of books comprising a library's collection.

book trade

The operations and arrangements which exist in a nation for the distribution and sale of books to the public, including retail outlets, wholesalers and dealers, publishers and their associations, and booksellers' organizations.

book truck

A wheeled cart with two or three shelves for transporting books in a library. See also: reshelving cart.

Book Week

A local or national annual event in which librarians, booksellers, and publishers often cooperate to arrange book displays, lectures, and public readings for the purpose of promoting books and stimulating interest in reading, particularly among young people.

bookcase

A framed set of two or more shelves, either single- or double-sided, for storing books and other materials. In libraries, bookcases are usually constructed from either wood or metal.

bookend

An L- or inverted T-shaped movable piece of wood, metal, or plastic placed at the end of a row of library materials to keep them upright. Decorative bookends are sometimes given as gifts.

booklet

See: pamphlet.

bookmark

A piece of paper, leather, or other material placed between the pages of a book to mark a place. Handcrafted decorative bookmarks are sometimes given as gifts. In older or more expensive editions, a piece of narrow ribbon, long enough to extend the length of the pages, may be glued to the top of the spine for use as a bookmark. A ribbon used in this way is called a register.

bookmobile

A large motorized van, specially equipped with shelves and a desk to serve as a traveling branch library in communities not otherwise served by a public library.

book-on-tape

A book the text of which has been read onto audiotape, usually by a professional reader. Originally books-on-tape were produced for the visually impaired, but the market has expanded to include joggers and walkers who like to listen as they exercise, individuals who must spend long hours driving, and others who would rather listen than read. Synonymous with talking book.

bookplate

A small paper label, indicating the name of a book's owner, glued to the inside of the front cover or to the front endpaper. Decorative bookplates are sometimes given as gifts.

books-by-mail service

The circulation of library materials by mail to registered borrowers who request them by telephone or through a mail-order catalog. Most often seen in public libraries located in rural areas. See also: outreach and bookmobile.

bookseller

A person in the business of selling books, either new or used, especially one who owns a bookstore. Compare with dealer.

bookworm

The larva of a moth or beetle which destroys books by boring through their covers and pages. Also, a slang expression for a person whose appetite for reading is voracious, or who prefers reading over most other activities.

Boolean searching

A method of combining concepts in keywords search which allows the searcher to use three logical commands (sometimes called operators).

The OR command is used to expand or broaden search results by including synonyms and related terms.

Search statement: violence or conflict or aggression

The AND command is used to narrow search results. Each time another concept is added using and the search becomes more specific. In some online catalogs, and electronic databases, the and command is implicit -- there is no need to type it in a keywords search.

Search statement: violence and television

Or just: violence television

The NOT command is used to exclude unwanted records from search results.

Search statement: television not video

When two different Boolean commands are used in the same search statement, parentheses must be included to indicate which command is to be performed first (syntax).

Search statement: television and (violence or aggression)

Or just: television (violence or aggression)

See also: truncation and nesting.

border

A continuous ornamentation which runs close to the edges of a cover or page of a book or other printed publication.

borrower

A person who charges out books and other items from a library. Most libraries require borrowers to register and receive a library card before borrowing privileges are granted. Identification is usually required of new applicants.

boss

A metal knob or cleat, sometimes embellished, which is firmly attached to the cover of a book, usually at the corners and the center, for the purpose of decoration, and to protect against accidental damage and normal wear-and-tear.

bowdlerize

To alter the text of a literary work by changing or omitting objectionable words or passages. Derived from the name of Thomas Bowdler who in 1818 published an expurgated edition of the works of Shakespeare. Synonymous with expurgate. See also: censorship and unexpurgated edition.

box

In printing, an area within a larger area of type, or within or between columns of type, delineated by rules or white spaces, for the purpose of emphasizing or calling attention to the text and/or illustration(s) printed within. Also refers to a square or rectangular border of one or more lines printed around a section of type, consisting of rules which may be embellished at the corners.

braille

A tactile system of embossed print invented for the blind by Louis Braille, which uses combinations of six raised dots arranged in columns three dots high and two dots wide to represent the letters of the alphabet.

branch library

An auxiliary library service outlet with facilities which are separate from the central library in the system, with at least a basic collection of materials, a regular staff, and established hours, but a budget which is usually controlled by the central library. Such an outlet is managed by a branch librarian. See also: bookmobile.

broadside

Originally a large sheet of paper printed across one side only and intended to be read unfolded or posted. Synonymous with broadsheet. Now used to refer to folded sheets printed on one or both sides.

brochure

A nonserial publication consisting of a few leaves of printed material, stitched or fastened together, but not bound. From the French word brocher (to stitch). Synonymous with booklet or pamphlet.

browse

To look through a library collection or scan a library catalog in a general, rather than specific, search for titles of interest. To facilitate browsing, books on the same subject are assigned similar call numbers, which groups them together on the shelf.

buckram

A filled book cloth with a heavy woven base, used in binding books which will be heavily used.

bulk

The thickness of a book without its cover, which is normally less after binding than in its unbound state. Also, the thickness of a sheet of paper in relation to its weight as measured in thousandths of an inch. Publishers sometimes bulk a book to make it appear larger, by printing it on thick lightweight paper.

bull

A document, letter, edict, or decree issued by the Pope, to which the Pope's official seal (Bulla) has been affixed.

bulletin

A periodical, usually in the form of a pamphlet, issued by a government agency, society, or institution containing announcements, news, and other information of current interest.

byline

The line of type, usually at the beginning, but sometimes at the end, of a newspaper or magazine article which indicates its authorship.

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C

Caldecott Medal

An honor awarded annually since 1938 under the auspices of the American Library Association to the illustrator of the most distinguished picture book published in the United States during the preceding year. The medal is donated by the family of Frederic G. Melcher. See also: Newbery Medal.

Click here to see a list of Caldecott Medal winners.

calendar

A list of the days in a year, usually arranged by month, and within each month by week, which sometimes indicates major national and religious holidays. Also refers to an almanac which lists important days for special purposes within a year, as in the case of a university calendar.

A chronological list of the documents included in a given collection (rolls, charters, state papers, etc.) with annotations to indicate the date and contents of each.

calender

A machine used in paper production consisting of metal rollers between which a sheet of paper is passed to give it a smooth surface by closing the pores in its surface. The degree of smoothness depends on the amount of pressure applied by the rollers.

call number

A unique location code which appears on the spine of a book, and also in the entry which corresponds to the record which represents the work in the library catalog.

Most research and academic libraries use Library of Congress call numbers which begin with letters of the English alphabet.

Example: PN 2035.H336 1991

Most school and public libraries use Dewey Decimal call numbers which begin with Arabic numerals.

Example: 996.902 H75

call slip

A form which must be filled out by a registered borrower to request delivery of an item from the closed stacks of a library.

calligraphy

The art of fine handwriting; beautiful penmanship. A highly trained penman is known as a calligrapher. See also: illuminated.

cameo binding

A binding style in which the center of the boards is stamped in relief, in imitation of a medallion, and sometimes decorated. Synonymous qwith plaquette binding.

camera-ready

Typescript which has been fully edited and is ready to be photographed as part of the process of book production.

capital letter

A large letter, the only form of the written Roman alphabet prior to the 4th century A.D. Also, any letter written or printed in a form larger than, and usually different from, that of the corresponding small letter. Abbreviated cap. See also: upper-case, lower-case, small capital, and rustic capital.

caption

A brief title or description which appears immediately beneath or adjacent to an illustration or photograph on a printed page. Also a heading at the beginning of the text of a chapter or other section of a a book or periodical.

caricature

A deliberately distorted picture or imitation of a person, performance, or literary style achieved by the exaggeration of certain features or mannerisms peculiar to the object of satire. See also: cartoon.

carrel

A small room or alcove in the stacks of a library, deisgned for individual study. Also a free-standing, unenclosed desk, often equipped with a shelf and light, and with low partitions at back and sides to provide privacy for individual study.

cartography

The art or work of making maps or charts. The person who makes or produces maps is known as a cartographer.

cartoon

A drawing, frequently published in a magazine or newspaper, caricaturing or symbolizing in a satirical manner, some action, situation, or person of current interest. In newspapers, political cartoons usually appear on the editorial page. The creator of such a drawing is known as a cartoonist.

cartouche

A scroll-shaped ornamental frame appearing in the corner of a map which gives the title, the name of the cartographer, the scale, and other information pertaining to the map. In older maps, the cartouche is often decorative. Sometimes seen on older book bindings.

case binding

Binding in which a hard cover is made separately from the book and subsequently attached to it, usually consisting of two boards and an inlay covered with cloth, leather, or paper. The process of attaching the case by pasting the endpapers to the boards is known as casing-in.

case sensitive

A computer system or software program in which upper-case and lower-case letters are not interchangeable as input. World Wide Web addresses (URLs) are case-sensitive, but e-mail addresses usually are not.

case study

In the social and medical sciences, a careful and thorough examination and analysis of the behavior of one individual or event in a population or series.

casebook

A book containing the records of actual cases in law, psychology, sociology, and other fields, for study and reference.

casing-in

See : case binding.

catalog

A list of books, periodicals, maps, and other materials, arranged in a definite order. In most modern libraries, the catalog is online (computerized). The activity of preparing entries for a library catalog is called cataloging and is usually performed by a librarian known as a cataloger.

cataloging-in-publication (CIP)

A prepublication cataloging system in which participating publishers provide galley proofs or front matter of new books to the national library or other centralized cataloging agency, for preparation of a bibliographic record which is returned to the publisher and printed on the verso of the title page. This program began at the Library of Congress in 1971 and is now worldwide.

catchword

A word or part of a word printed in a prominent place at the top of a page or column which repeats the first and/or the last heading which appears on the page or in the column, as in a dictionary. In early books, the word or part of a word given below the last line on a page, anticipating the first word of the following page.

CD-ROM

An acronym which stands for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory. A small plastic disk, 12 centimeters in diameter, similar to audio compact disks, used for publishing and storing information in digital format. The information is read from the disk by a small laser beam.

censorship

The prohibition of distribution, circulation, or display of a work by a governing authority on grounds that it contains objectionable material. Compare with suppressed.

central library

A library which functions as the administrative center of a library system, where processing and management are centralized and the principal collections are located. Synonymous with main library. See also: branch library.

certification

In archives, the formal act of attesting to the official identity and character of a document or its reproduction. Compare with authentication.

chap book

A small inexpensive paperbound book containing a popular tale, legend, poem, or ballad, sold in the street by hawkers or chap men during the 17th and 18th centuries.

chapter

A main division of a book, or other written work of fiction or nonfiction, which is complete in itself, but related in theme or plot to those which precede and follow it. Chapters are listed in the order of their appearance in the table of contents in the front matter at the beginning of a book.

chapterheading

A heading which consists of the number and title of a chapter within a manuscript, book, or other publication.

character

Any convenient mark, sign, or symbol used in writing or printing, including digits and letters of the alphabet. Also, a fictional person in a play, novel, or short story.

charge

To record the loan of a book or other item to a library borrower. In modern libraries, this task usually involves the use of a computer. See also: library card and barcode.

chart

A map specifically designed to meet the requirements of navigators, showing soundings, currents, coastlines, etc. Also, a map showing meteorological phenomena or heavenly bodies. See also: cartography.

check list

A comprehensive list of books, periodicals, or other material, which provides the minimum amount of description or annotation necessary to identify the works recorded. Briefer than a bibliography.

checkout period

The fixed period of time for which an item in the circulating collection of a library may be checked out by a registered borrower. Synonymous with borrowing period. The period may vary according to the format of the item.

In most libraries, items (except reserves) may be renewed unless a hold has been placed by another person. Fines are usually charged for items returned after the due date unless they have been renewed.

chronicles

A list of events described and recorded in the order in which they occurred. The treatment is fuller and more connected than in annals.

chronology

A book which lists events and their dates in the order of their occurrence. Chronologies are usually shelved in the reference collection.

CIP

See: cataloging-in-publication.

circa

A Latin word meaning about. Used to indicate lack of certainty concerning a date. Abbreviated c. or ca.

Example: c. 1922 (meaning about 1922)

circulating collection

Books and other library materials which may be checked out by registered borrowers. In most public libraries in the United States, circulating materials are shelved in open stacks.

circulation desk

The point of service where books and other materials are checked in and out of a library, usually located near the entrance. Items on hold or reserve are usually available at the circulation desk.

citation

A written reference to a specific work (book, article, dissertation, report, musical composition, etc.) by a particular author or creator which identifies the document in which the work may be found. Citation format varies from one field of study to another. Citation style manuals are usually available at the reference desk in academic libraries.

clasp

A metal fastening on the cover of a book, which may include a lock to prevent the book from being opened, except by the person who possesses the key. Often found on personal diaries.

classic

A work, widely recognized as outstanding, which appears in several editions, and in translations and adaptations, and which is the subject of criticisim and commentary, and continues in print long after its intitial publication. Example: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

clearinghouse

An organization, or unit within an organization, which functions as a central agency for collecting, organizing, storing, and disseminating documents and which assists in research by maintaining records and referring questions to appropriate sources. Example: ERIC.

cliche

A phrase over-used to such an extent that it is avoided by serious writers. Cliches in a specific language are sometimes collected and published in dictionary form.

clipping

A page or pages, or a piece of a page, cut or torn from a printed publication, usually from a newspaper or periodical, sometimes arranged in a clipping file. Synonymous with cutting. See also: tear sheet.

closed stacks

Any shelving area in a library which is restricted from public access. Retrieval of materials is usually by special request. Compare with open stacks.

coauthor

See: joint author.

codex

An ancient manuscript written on wax-covered tablets of metal, wood, or ivory, called codices. Later, a manuscript written on vellum or paper, bound together like a book, particularly the Scriptures or literary classics.

coffee table book

An expensive book, usually of fairly large size (oversize), containing high-quality graphics (pictures, photographs, maps, etc.) and relatively little text. Designed for display in the home, and for casual browsing rather than cover-to-cover reading, coffee table books are marketed on the basis of the visual appeal of their brightly colored dust jackets.

collate

To determine, usually by detailed examination of signatures, leaves, and illustrations, if a copy of a book is complete and perfect, and to compare it with descriptions of perfect copies listed in bibliographies. Also, to compare page by page, and line for line, to determine if two books are identical copies, or variants of the same text. In binding, to check the sections of a book for correct sequence after gathering.

collation

In cataloging, the physical description area of a bibliographic record. In binding, a list of the signatures of a book which indicates the number of leaves in each.

collected edition

An edition of works by an author which were previously published separately, in some cases by different publishers. Such a collection may be issued in a single volume or in a multi-volume set of uniform style.

collected work

A book of works by different authors (essays, stories, poems, plays), selected for publication by an editor. See also: anthology.

collection development

The process of planning and building a coherent and useful collection of library materials over a period of years, based on an assessment of the information needs of the library's regular clientele, including selection, de-selection (weeding), and planning for resource sharing. See also: collection management.

collection management

The application of quantitative techniques, such as statistical amd cost-benefit analysis, in collection development.

collective biography

A work, in one or more volumes, consisting of separate accounts of the lives of several individuals, written by one or more biographers. Example: Dictionary of American Biography.

colophon

A statement given at the end of the text, or on the verso of the title page, which gives information about the printer, typeface, grade of paper, and binding, and the names of those involved in the production of a book.

color plate

An illustration in color, usually numbered and listed by number in the front matter of the book. Compare with monochrome plate.

column

One of two or more vertical sections of printed text separated from each other by a ruled line or blank space as in newspapers. The length of a newspaper article is usually expressed in column inches.

commentary

A collection of critical or explanatory notes on a work, either issued independently or accompanying the original text; for example, a commentary on the Bible.

compact disk

A laserdisk sound recording medium which requires special equipment for playback. In most libraries, compact disks are shelved or stored separately, often in specially constructed display cases. In some libraries, a compact disk player is available for listening.

compact shelving

A type of library shelving which is specifically designed to maximize the strorage capacity of a given space by incorporating movable elements such as shelf ranges on tracks.

compendium

A work which presents in condensed form the principal points of a larger work, or which treats a large subject briefly or in the form of an outline.

compilation

A collected work formed by putting together works of various authors, or the various works of a single author, without editorial alteration of the original text, as in the case of an anthology. The person who assembles such a work is known as a compiler.

compiler

A person who produces a collected work by selecting written or printed material from the works of various persons or bodies, or who selects and assembles in a single publication material from the various works of a single person or body. See also: editor.

composite author

Each of the several authors contributing parts of a composite work in which each part is a separate, readily distinguishable entity. Compare with joint author.

composite work

An original work produced as a result of the collaboration of two or more authors in which the contribution of each forms a separate and distinct part within a planned whole.

composition

The putting together of words, as in the writing of prose or poetry, or as an exercise in writing done as schoolwork. Also, the preparation of copy and assembly of type for printing.

computer literacy

Skill in using computer software and hardware to find the information one needs, and to communicate effectively with others.

computer program

A set of instructions, written in a specific programming language, which a computer follows in processing data, performing an operation, or solving a logical problem. See also: software.

concordance

An alphabetical index of all the words, or principal words, in any work, or in the works of a single author, showing the location of each word in the text, its context, and sometimes its definition(s).

condensation

See: abridgment.

content

The essential matter or substance of a book or discourse. Also, the matter dealt with in a field of study.

contents note

A note in a bibliographic record which lists the individual works contained in a book or other item, whether they be chapters, essays, or anthologized works such as stories, poems, or plays.

context

The parts of a sentence, paragraph, or text which occur just before and after a specific word, phrase, or passage, and determine its precise meaning. Also, the entire situation, background, or environment relevant to an event, personality, etc.

continuation

A book only partly written by the original author and continued by another writer. Compare with sequel. Also, a work issued as a supplement to one previously published, or a part issued in continuanace of a monograph, serial, or series. See also: standing order

continuous pagination

The numeration, in a single continuous series, of the pages of two or more volumes or parts of a set of books or other items, or the issues of a periodical contained in a single volume.

controlled access

The restriction of entry into, or use of, a library collection to members of the library's user group and to other categories of people who are specifically granted library privileges. For example, libraries at large private universities often limit access to all or part of their collections to registered students, faculty, and staff.

controlled vocabulary

An indexing system in which the indexer, in assigning descriptors or subject headings to works, selects a list of preferred terms. All other synonymous and closely related terms become lead-in vocabulary, indicated by a brief instruction to See or Use the preferred term. See also: cross-reference and natural language.

contour map

See: relief map.

copy

A single specimen of a manuscript or printed document. Libraries sometimes purchase heavily-used items in multiple copies. Also refers to the result of a reproduction process, or to matter which is to be typeset in the process of printing.

copyright

The exclusive legal right granted to an author, editor, composer, playwright, publisher, or distributor to publish, produce, sell, or distribute a literary, musical, dramatic, or artistic work, within certain limitations.

In the United States, copyright is controlled by laws passed by Congress. Notice of copyright usually appears on the verso of the title page of a book. Restrictions may apply to the use of copyrighted material by persons other than the author or creator of the work. Click here for more information about Copyright & Fair Use in the United States. See also: fair use.

copyright piracy

The unauthorized reproduction or use without permission of work protected under copyright law. Such infringement may be subject to legal action by the copyright holder.

corner

The juncture of two edges of the cover of a book. Corners can be rounded, square, or mitred.

countersunk

In bookbinding, a book cover with a depression stamped or pressed into the surface to hold a label, inlay, or decoration.

cover

The outside of a printed publication which serves to protect its pages. Books bound in cloth or leather over boards are said to be published in hardcover. Books bound in softcover are called paperbacks. Periodicals are almost always issued in paper covers.

cover story

An article in a popular magazine which corresponds to the illustration and headline or title which appears on the cover of the issue. Usually longer, and sometimes better-illustrated, than the other articles in the same issue. Some periodical indexes and electronic databases indicate in the citation which articles are cover stories.

coverage

The scope or degree of completeness of a library collection, of a specific section within a collection, or of any catalog, index, database, bibliography, or other list of library resources.

credit

A statement at the beginning or end of a film, videotape, or television or radio program which identifies the author or scriptwriter, director, producer, cast, and other personnel responsible for creating the work.

credit line

A statement giving the name of a photographer, artist, author, agency, or publication responsible for the picture, photograph, or quotation being used in an article or book.

critical annotation

An annotation which includes an evaluative statement as well as descriptive information about each source cited in a bibliography or list of references.

critical bibliography

The comparative and historical study of books as physical objects. Synonymous with analytical bibliography.

Critical or analytical bibliography is divided into three main types:

• Textual bibliography is the study of the relationship between the published text and the text as conceived by the author.
• Historical bibliography focuses on the history of books and of the people and institutions which produce them.
• Descriptive bibliography is the detailed physical description of books and other printed material.

critical edition

An edition of a work which reflects the results of scholarly research and examination of manuscripts, documents, letters, and earlier texts by the editor.

criticism

The evaluation and analysis of a work of art or literature in which the primary considerations are the nature of the work, the intentions of the artist or author, the effect of the work on those who perceive or read it, and its relationship to other works of similar nature or style.

cropped

A photograph or illustration from which a part of the top, bottom, or sides is omitted in the process of reproduction, to bring it into proportions which fit the space allowed on the page.

cross-reference

In cataloging and indexin