A
Abstract: an article summary
Article: found in journals & databases; a distinct section of writing

B
Bibliography: the history, identification, or description of writings or publications; list of sources used
Boolean Operators: AND, OR, NOT; used in searching to narrow or broaden results

C
Call Number: a combination of characters assigned to a library book to indicate its place on a shelf
Catalog: a list of records that represent the holdings of a library or group of libraries. most online catalogs are searchable by author, title, subject heading, and keywords
Circulation Desk: service desk where books and other materials are loaned or charged out to library users
Citation: information which fully identifies a publication: a complete citation usually includes author, title, name of journal (if the citation is to an article) or publisher (if to a book), and date. Often pages, volumes and other information will be included in a citation

D
Database: contain articles, journals, e-books, etc.; a usually large collection of data organized especially for rapid search and retrieval

E
Electronic: this usually describes anything that can be accessed with a computer; CD-ROM and online databases are examples
Electronic Journal: A digital version of a print journal, or a journal-like electronic publication with no print counterpart (example: EJournal), made available via the web, e-mail, or other means of internet access.

H
Holdings: materials owned by a library

I
Interlibrary Loan: this service provides access to materials that cannot be found at TWU Library; also known as ILL
Index: A guide to the contents of a single work, or a print or electronic collection of citations to articles, books and other materials, often searchable by subject or author.

J
Journal: a scholarly periodical that publishes issues; found in databases; available in print and electronic>

K
Keyword: memorable word or term that can be used for searching

M
Magazine: general-interest periodical for a wide audience; may usually be purchased at the super-market; ex. People
Microfilm: Documents that have been placed on photographic film and reduced in size. A machine called a reader is necessary to view material in this format.
Microfiche: Flat plastic sheets containing pages from documents that have been reduced in size. A machine called a reader is necessary to view material in this format.
Microform: General term applied to documents that have been photographed and reduced in size. Common formats include microfilm and microfiche. Microforming helps preserve materials and save storage space.

O
Online Catalog: database that lists the books, journals, photographs, media, etc. available in a library; also known as OPAC
OPAC: Online Public Access Catalog - usually referred to as the online catalog or library catalog

P
Periodical: term for anything published at regular intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, etc.); this would include magazines, journals, and newspapers
Print: available in paper; not electronic or online

R
Recall: if an item is put on hold that has been checked out for at least 3 weeks, OR if it is needed for a course Reserve, it can be recalled by Circulation Staff. A Recall Notice will be sent to the patron who currently has the item, informing them that it has been recalled and that it is necessary for them to return the item within 10 days
Reference: answering questions about research or finding information; available on the 1st floor of TWU Library
RefWorks: tool used by TWU students to create & organize their bibliographies
Reserves: professors place materials here to be used by all students in a class; these items are available from the circulation desk on the 1st floor

S
Stacks: the area of the library where books and periodicals are shelved
Subject Guide: books, databases, abstracts & indexes organized by librarians to help you do research on a particular subject

T
Texas Documents: found on the first floor of the library; items published by state of Texas agencies
Truncation: the dropping of characters and the addition of a symbol (?, $, #, +) at the end, beginning, or within a word in a keyword search to retrieve variant forms of that word.