Broader
term
In a hierarchical classification system, a subject heading
or descriptor that includes another term as a subclass, for
example, "Libraries" listed as a broader term under
"School libraries." In some indexing systems, a
subject heading or descriptor may have more than one broader
term, for example, "Documentation" and "Library
science" under "Cataloging." 1.
Browser
Computer Programs that provide access to sites on the World
Wide Web and the Internet. For example, Netscape Navigator,
Microsoft Internet Explorer, Motzilla.
Call
number
A unique code printed on a label attached to the
outside of an item in a library collection, usually the lower
spine of a book or videocassette. Call numbers are also displayed
in library catalog record, to identify the specific copy of
the work and give its location on a library shelf.
In
most collections, a call number is composed of a classification
number followed by additional notation to make the call number
unique. This gives a classified arrangement to the library
shelves that facilitates browsing. Generally, the class number
is followed by an author mark to distinguish the work from
others of the same class, followed by a work mark to distinguish
the title from other works of the same class by the same author,
and sometimes other information such as publication date,
volume number, copy number, and location symbol. 1.
Catalogues
A list of items in a collection systematically ordered to
enable users to retrieve the record of each item by searching
the fields under which it is catalogued, that is, the title,
author, etc.
Citation
A reference which lists the bibliographic details of the material
paraphrased, mentioned or quoted in your research. The reference
provides information such as title, author, journal title,
volume, issue, publisher and date of publication so as to
identify the specific resource used.
Collection
A number of documents (books, reports, records, etc.) assembled
in a single physical or virtual location by one or more persons,
or by a corporate entity, and arranged in some kind of systematic
order to facilitate retrieval. See also: library collection.
1.
Collusion
(unauthorised collaboration)
involves working with others without permission to produce
work which is then presented as work completed independently
by the student. Collusion is a form of plagiarism. Students
should not knowingly allow their work to be copied. 6.
Common
knowledge
Something which is generally known. Information which
is not of a specialist or arcane nature,
nor which requires specific study or training.
Copyright
Copyright is a type of legal protection for people who express
ideas and information in certain forms. The most common forms
are: writing, visual images, music and moving images. 3.
Refer
also to: Australian Copyright Council Online Information Centre
3.
Database
A large, regularly updated file of digitized information
(bibliographic records, abstracts, full-text documents, directory
entries, images, statistics, etc.) related to a specific subject
or field, consisting of records of uniform format organized
for ease and speed of search and retrieval and managed with
the aid of database management system (DBMS) software. Content
is created by the database producer (for example, the American
Psychological Association), which usually publishes a print
version (Psychological Abstracts) and leases the content to
one or more database vendors (EBSCO, OCLC, etc.) that provide
electronic access to the data after it has been converted
to machine-readable form (PsycINFO), usually on CD-ROM or
online via the Internet, using proprietary search software.
Most databases used in libraries are catalogs, periodical
indexes, abstracting services, and full-text reference resources
leased annually under licensing agreements that limit access
to registered borrowers and library staff.1.
Descriptors
Used in databases, a list of terms indexed with the bibliographic
record and represents the subject content of the item.
Editor
1. In publishing; a person who reviews and checks the content
of a document before publication so as to assure its quality
and accuracy.
2. In computing; an application used to make changes to the
text in existing programs or documents.
Evaluate
To assess or appraise the quality, relevance, objectivity
and accuracy of information.
Footnote
A brief note at the bottom of a page explaining or expanding
upon a point in the text or indicating the source of a quotation
or idea attributed by the author to another person. Footnotes
are indicated in the text by an arabic numeral in superscript,
or a reference mark, and are usually printed in a smaller
size of the font used for the text. When numbered, the sequence
usually starts with 1 at the beginning of each chapter but
may occasionally start with 1 at the beginning of each page.
Compare with endnote and in-text citation. 1.
Full-text
1. Documents available online which are complete and entire.
2.
An electronic resource that provides the entire text of a
single work (example: Britannica Online) or of articles published
in one or more journals, magazines, and/or newspapers. For
example, a bibliographic database that provides the complete
text of a significant proportion of the works indexed, in
addition to the bibliographic citation and (in many cases)
an abstract of the content (example: JSTOR). Also spelled
full text and full text.1.
Groupwork
A formally established project to be conducted by a number
of students in common, resulting in a single piece of assessment
or a number of associated pieces of assessment. 6.
Home
Page
The first or main page of a site on the World Wide Web, displayed
whenever a user logs on to a Web browser and opens the site
address (URL). The filename at the end of a homepage address
is often home.html, index.html, main.html, or something similar.
A well-designed homepage gives the title of the site, name
of author, host, date of last update, notice of copyright,
table of contents, and links to subpages providing more detailed
information about the site, usually the best starting point
when navigating the site for the first time. Also spelled
homepage. 1.
Information
literacy
Skill in finding the information one needs, including
an understanding of how libraries are organized, familiarity
with the resources they provide (including information formats
and automated search tools), and knowledge of commonly used
research techniques. The concept also includes the skills
required to critically evaluate information content and employ
it effectively, as well as an understanding of the technological
infrastructure on which information transmission is based,
including its social, political, and cultural context and
impact. 1.
Information
sources
Each item of information is created in context to its
originator's purpose, whether it was to inform, entertain,
or educate and its quality and value depends on the information
need
IP
Stands for 'Internet Protocol'.
It is the numerical address of every computer connected to
the Internet; somewhat like a person's telephone number. It
consists of four groups of numbers with each group separated
by a full-stop. For example, 333.128.267.909
Instructional
words
Instructional words indicate the approach required in
responding to an assignment, and provide clear indication
of how to construct or write an answer to a question. Common
instructional words include; analyse, comment, contrast, discuss,
evaluate, explain, outline, review and summarise.
Intellectual
Property
1. The rights of creative workers in literary, artistic, industrial
and scientific fields which can be protected either by copyright
or trademarks, patents, etc. 5.
2. Tangible products of the human mind and intelligence entitled
to the legal status of personal property, especially works
protected by copyright, inventions that have been patented,
and registered trademarks. An idea is considered the intellectual
property of its creator only after it has been recorded or
made manifest in specific form. 1.
Interlibrary
Loan
When a book or other item needed by a registered borrower
is checked out, unavailable for some other reason, or not
owned by the library, a patron may request that it be borrowed
from another library by filling out a printed interlibrary
loan request form at a service desk, or electronically via
the library's Web site. Some libraries also accept ILL requests
via e-mail or by telephone, usually under exceptional circumstances.
Materials borrowed on interlibrary loan may usually be renewed
on or before the due date. 1.
Internet
Service Provider (ISP)
A company that provides access to the Internet for a fee.
Invigilator
Person acting as a supervisor during exams.
Journal
A publication with a set title, issued at regular and stated
intervals (eg. quarterly), which is intended to continue being
published for an indefinite period into the future. A Journal
contains documents, usually articles, written by different
authors. The contents of any specific issue of a given journal
will vary, however, most journals publish documents which
deal with a particular academic discipline, subject or area
of research. For example, Journal of Air Transportation, International
Journal of Educational Research.
Journals
and especially scholarly journals, contain articles written
by individuals with specialist knowledge and relevant qualifications
in the subject and who will often have conducted the original
research as described in the article. Articles are accompanied
by extensive citations, a bibliography and commonly also include
an abstract.
Keyword
1. A word (or phrase) used when searching an index such as
an online database. Unlike Subject Headings, keywords are
not part of the Subject Vocabulary of the database.
2. Descriptive word or phrase found in a record in an electronic
database that aids in retrieval of documents. In full-text
searching, every word in a document becomes a keyword. A thesaurus
is often constructed to list acceptable keywords.4.
Legitimate
collaboration
Any constructive educational and intellectual practice that
aims to facilitate optimal learning outcomes through interaction
between students. 6.
Library
collection
The total accumulation of books and other materials owned
by a library, cataloged and arranged for ease of access, which
often consists of several smaller collections (reference,
circulating books, serials, government documents, rare books,
special collections, etc.). The process of building a library
collection over time is called collection development. Synonymous
with holdings. 1.
Limiting
Allows search results to be limited by specific fields included
in the database records. For example, many databases allowing
limiting by language, year of publication, publication title
title, full-text only, etc.
Local
Area Network or LAN
A communications network restricted to a relatively small
geographic area, often within a single building or group of
adjacent buildings such as a college, university, or corporate
campus, consisting of at least one high-speed server, client
workstations, a network operating system, and a communications
link. 1.
Magazine
A popular interest periodical usually containing articles
on a variety of topics, written by various authors in a non
scholarly style. Most magazines are heavily illustrated, contain
advertising, and are printed on glossy paper. Articles are usually
short (less than five pages long), frequently unsigned, and
do not include a bibliography or list of references for further
reading. Most magazines are issued monthly or weekly for sale
at newsstands, in bookstores, and by subscription. 1.
See also: Journal
Metasearch
A search for information using software designed to optimize
retrieval by querying multiple Web search engines and combining
all of the results. Dogpile, ProFusion, and Monster Crawler
are commonly used metasearch engines. 1.
Narrower
term
In a hierarchical classification system, a subject heading
or descriptor representing a subclass of a class indicated
by another term, for example, "Music librarianship"
under "Librarianship." A subject heading or descriptor
may have more than one narrower term (also "Comparative
librarianship" under "Librarianship"). 1.
Nesting
In a search strategy, grouping similar terms together
within parentheses to control the order in which a complex
search is performed. Nesting allows the use of two or more
boolean operations within the one search
statement.
Network
A group of physically discrete computers interconnected to
allow resources to be shared and data exchanged, usually by
means of telecommunication links and client/server architecture.
Most networks are administered by an operations center that
provides assistance to users. The largest "network of
networks" in the world is the Internet, allowing users
of computers of all types and sizes to communicate in real
time. 1.
Paraphrasing
To restate, concisely and in your own words, the sense
or meaning of a text or passage from a book or journal article,
etc.
Peer
reviewed
In academic publishing, a "quality control"
and editorial procedure whereby a panel of experts checks
(reviews) the validity and accuracy of the content of a document
prior to its publication. The peer review process is a distinguishing
feature of scholarly journals and is crucial to maintaining
high standards and accuracy and authority.
Periodical
A magazine or other publication where the issues appear at
stated or regular intervals and which is intended to go on
indefinitely. Usually, each issue contains articles by several
contributors.
See also: Journal
See also: Magazine
Periodical
index - a collection of citations to journals or magazines.
A good periodical index provides numerous access points, from
author and title, to subject and publisher, to allow the user
to find the needed information.
Plagiarism
The presentation of the thoughts or works of another as
one's own. This includes:
- Copying or paraphrasing material from
any source without due acknowledgment
- Using another's ideas without due acknowledgment
- Working with others without permission
and presenting the resulting work as though it was completed
independently.6.
Refereed
see Peer Reviewed
Reference
A conventional word or phrase used in a work to refer
the reader to another part of the text (see above or see below)
or a similar word or phrase used in an index, catalog, or
reference work to direct the user from one heading or entry
to another (see or see also). Also refers to any Latin phrase
used in footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies to refer the
reader to works previously quoted or cited, for example, ibid.
and op. cit. Sometimes used synonymously with citation.
Also refers to a letter written in support of a person's application
for employment or housing, usually by someone familiar with
the applicant's qualifications or reputation, or to a person
who agrees to be contacted for such a recommendation, usually
by telephone. 1.
Reference
book
A book designed to be consulted when authoritative information
is needed, rather than read cover to cover. Reference books
often consist of a series of signed or unsigned "entries"
listed alphabetically under headwords or headings, or in some
other arrangement (classified, numeric, etc.). The category
includes almanacs, atlases, bibliographies, biographical sources,
catalogs, concordances, dictionaries, directories, discographies
and filmographies, encyclopedias, glossaries, handbooks, indexes,
manuals, research guides, union lists, yearbooks, etc., whether
published commercially or as government documents. Long reference
works may be issued in multivolume sets, with any indexes
in the last volume. Reference works that require continuous
updating may be published serially, sometimes as loose-leaf
services. 1.
Referencing
styles
A set of rules for the consistent method of formatting in-text
references and bibliographies. The style used may be determined
by the subject area, your lecturer or School. Some of the
more popular referencing styles include, APA, Harvard, Chicago,
MLA and Vancouver.
Related
Terms
A
descriptor or subject heading closely related to another term
conceptually but not hierarchically, for example, "Media
specialists" listed as a related term under "School
libraries." 1.
Reliability
The quality of being reliable, reliableness. 2. Statistics.
The extent to which a measurement made repeatedly in identical
circumstances will yield concordant results. 2.
Research
strategy
A plan or scheme by which the activity of searching for
and assessing information found is carried out. A search strategy
usually involves a number of steps. Firstly, the analysis
of the major concepts of the topic. Secondly, defining relevant
keywords and their synonyms. Thirdly, searching appropriate
information sources (eg. databases), and fourthly, assessing
the quantity and quality (relevance) of the information found.
Search
engine
A Web site comprised of a large database of Web sites.
A search engine's spider collects the Web pages. The search
engine then allows visitors to do keyword searching to find
appropriate pages.
Search
Terms
Keywords or phrases used in a search strategy to retrieve
relevant records from a catalogue or library database.
Secondary
source
Any published or unpublished work that is one step removed
from the original source. Secondary sources usually describe,
summarise, analyse, evaluate, derive from, or are based on
primary source material. For example, a review, critical analysis,
second-hand account, or biographical or historical study.
Also refers to material other than primary sources
used in the preparation of a written work.
Self-plagiarism
- reusing your own
work that has been submitted previously as an assessed item
for another course.
Serial
see: Journal
Synonyms
A word or phrase that has the same (or very nearly
the same) meaning as another term in the same language, for
example, the terms "book jacket" and "dust
jacket." Synonyms in a language are collected in a thesaurus,
available in the reference section of most libraries. 1.
Synthesizing
An skill used to analyse and integrate information and
develop knowledge of concepts and interpretations. Foe example,
reading several journal articles to identify common theories
from different points of view.
Thesaurus
A book that lists words in groups of synonyms and related
concepts. 2.
For example, The Macquarie Thesaurus, Roget's
Thesaurus.
Timeliness
The quality of being timely. 2.
The importance of timeliness of sources of information varies
depending on its use. For topics relating to current technologies
it is important the information is up-to-date. For other information
needs it may be more relevant to use original or older sources
for its historical significance.
Truncation
The dropping of characters and the addition of a symbol
at the end, beginning, or within a word in a keywords search
to retrieve variant forms. Truncation is particularly useful
in retrieving the singular and plural forms of a word in the
same search.
Example:
*librar* to retrieve records containing "interlibrary,"
"intralibrary," "librarian," "librariana,"
"librarianship," "libraries," "library,"
etc.
In
most online catalogs and bibliographic databases, the end
truncation symbol is the * (asterisk), but since the truncation
symbol is not standardized, other symbols may be used (?,
$, #, +). In some databases, the user may add a number after
the symbol to specify how many characters the symbol may represent
(example: facet?1 to retrieve "facets" but not "faceted"
or "facetiae").
As
a general rule, it is unwise to truncate fewer than four characters
(example: art* retrieves "artist," "artistic,"
"artistry," and "artwork" but also "artichoke,"
"artillery," etc.). Some databases are designed
to truncate automatically. Searchers are advised to read carefully
any help screens before truncating in an unfamiliar database.
Synonymous with character masking. 1.
URL
Stands for Uniform Resource Locator.
URLs are the "names" of Web sites and read as punctuated
statements. For example; www.newcastle.edu.au - which is the
web name of the University.
Validity
The quality of being valid in law; legal authority, force,
or strength. 2. The quality of being well-founded on fact,
or established on sound principles, and thoroughly applicable
to the case or circumstances; soundness and strength (of argument,
proof, authority, etc.). a. In the phrase of...validity. 2.
Wildcards
In some databases and search engines the search software allows
the user to insert a special character in the middle of a
search term to retrieve records containing words with any
or no characters in that position. Wildcards are useful for
retrieving irregular plurals and variant spelling of words.
The wildcard symbol will vary between databases.
