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
- A
- abstract
- An abstract is a short summary describing the main idea or content of a work such as an article, book, or dissertation. Abstracts are provided along with citation information in many periodical indexes, and may be written by either the paper's author or an indexer
- accession number
- a number assigned to an item when it is added to the library catalog; it indicates only the chronological order in which materials were added
- Adobe Acrobat Reader
- A free program for viewing PDF files, used in many full-text electronic journals
- alert
- Notification (by e-mail) about new publications added to the database
- audio-visual materials
- Audio-visual materials convey information mainly via sound and image instead of by text.
- authentication
- The process of identifying an individual by a computer, usually based on a username and password.
- author search
- A search for an article or book by a particular author in an electronic catalog or index
- B
- back issue
- Any issue of a periodical older than the most recent issue.
- barcode number
- The 12-digit unique number appearing beneath the barcode found inside the front cover of a book
- basic index
- The Basic Index is a combined index of the terms from all title fields, keywords and abstracts.
- bibliographic database
- A database which provides descriptive records of items such as book(chapter)s, articles and conference proceedings.
- bibliographic reference
- A reference (or citation) is a brief bibliographic description of an article, book or other document.
- boolean operator
- Boolean operators, otherwise known as logical operators, are used to construct complex searches in a database. There are 3 logical operators: AND, OR and NOT.
- boolean search
- a search for an article or book using Boolean operators
- broader term
- In a hierarchical classification system, a descriptor that includes another term as a subclass, for example, "Libraries" listed as a broader term under "School libraries"
- browser
- A program that accesses the World Wide Web and reads hypertext
- browsing
- To look through a library collection, catalogue, bibliography, index, bibliographic database in a casual search for items of interest, without clearly defined intentions.
- C
- call number
- An alphanumeric code which identifies an item in the library collection and indicates its location on the shelves. Call numbers are listed in the catalog and marked on the book's spine label.
- carrel
- A working space for one reader, providing a somewhat secluded study area by means of front and side screening
- CAS Registry Number
- A unique identifying number assigned to a chemical by the Chemical Abstracts Service. Useful for searching for a particular chemical in some databases, including Chemical Abstracts.
- catalogue
- A compilation of records describing the contents of a particular collection or group of collections.
- CGI
- Common Gateway Interface; a programming mechanism for web servers.
- citation
- The pertinent information needed to find the full text of a publication. Citations are provided in bibliographies, indexes, and the lists of references in scientific publications.
- citation index
- A bibliographic index which allows the user to trace research forward in time by searching for articles that have cited a known relevant article
- cited article
- An article referenced in another scientific publication.
- cited author
- An author whose publication has been referenced in a scientific publication.
- Citrix
- A program that allows DOS and Windows programs and databases to be run in a World Wide Web environment
- classification
- The arrangement of knowledge into specific groups or systems
- closed stacks
- Library collections to which patrons have no direct access. Upon request, library staff will retrieve items to be borrowed or consulted.
- coden
- A unique alphanumeric code assigned to titles of serial publications; can be used for searching in some catalogs and indexes
- collation
- The physical description (e.g. number of pages, size, etc.) of an item in a catalogue record.
- cookie
- A piece of information sent to a browser by a Web Server, the browser then returns that information to the Web server. This is how some Web pages "remember" your previous visits
- copyright
- a form of protection (provided by law) to the authors of "original works of authorship".
- corporate author
- An organization (e.g., a business, government agency, institution, etc.) considered to be the author of a work.
- coverage
- In bibliographies, the range of years and number and type of publications included
- cross-reference
- Directions that lead you from one subject or name to another in a catalog or index.
- cumulative index
- A compilation of previously published indexes. The cumulation includes all the information in the prior, individual indexes, which can then be discarded.
- D
- DARE
- Digital Academic Repositories (DARE is a project with the aim to store the results of all Dutch research in a network of so-called "repositories")
- data bank
- The actual, substantive, factual information which goes into a database
- database
- A standardized collection of information in computerized format, searchable by various parameters; in libraries often refers to online catalogs and bibliograpies.
- depository library
- A library which has been designated by a government to receive and keep a selection or all of that government's published documents
- descriptor
- In bibliographies, a subject heading assigned to an item by the indexers
- dissertation
- A treatise (thesis) written by a candidate for a Ph.D
- DLO
- Foundation for Agricultural Research (in Dutch: Directie Landbouwkundig Onderzoek), part of Wageningen University and Research Centre
- DOI - digital object identifier
- A unique code used by publishers in the identification and exchange of the content of a digital object. The DOI consists of two parts: a prefix assigned to each publisher by the administrative DOI agency and a suffix assigned by the publisher that may be any code the publisher chooses.
- domain name server (DNS)
- A DNS translates between a machine name (e.g. library.wur.nl) and that machine's numerical IP internet address
- due date
- The date of the last day of the loan period
- E
- electronic journal
- A publication, often scholarly, that is made accessible in a computerized format and distributed over the Internet. An electronic journal or e-journal often has a traditional paper counterpart.
- entry
- A single listing of a publication in a catalog or index
- F
- facsimile
- An exact replica of a book or manuscript, both in text and physical appearance
- FAQ
- A list of frequently asked questions and their answers.
- field
- The part of a database record reserved for a particular type of data; for example, in a library catalog, author, title, ISBN, subject headings, etc. would all be stored in specific fields
- firewall
- A software program that limits access to a WWW site and provides a degree of security
- full text
- The entire content of an item, such as an article, book, or encyclopedia, available in electronic format.
- G
- H
- hit
- An item identified or retrieved in a catalog or index search
- holdings
- A library's collection of materials
- I
- ibid.
- Abbreviation for Latin ibidem, 'in the same place.' Used in references and citations to refer to the last work cited, saving re-typing the author and title
- impact factor
- A quantitative measure of the frequency with which the "average article" published in a given scholarly journal has been cited in a particular year or period, this is used in citation analysis
- imprint
- Information about the publication of a book; usually: the publisher's name, place and date of publication
- in press/to be published
- In the process of being printed, but not yet available.
- in print
- Still being published, and therefore available for purchase
- information specialist
- An information specialist provides expertise in acquiring, evaluating and searching information resources in all formats. At Wageningen Ur Library, informatio specialists can perform online literature searches, define a customised search profile for your SDI, give advice on literature searches in general, perform citation analyses, search for patent information and give advice on personal documentation systems and appropriate software
- interlibrary loan
- A cooperative arrangement between libraries, whereby users can borrow items from other libraries within the system.
- IP number
- Internet Protocol Number; a 4-part number, separated by dots, which identifies a specific machine on the Internet.
- ISBN
- International Standard Book Number; a numerical code given to a book which uniquely identifies it.
- ISSN
- International Standard Serial Number; a numerical code given to a serial (periodical) which uniquely identifies it.
- J
- journal
- A periodical publication in which researchers report the results of their work to their peer community.
- K
- keyword
- A significant word in the title, abstract or text of a work. Controlled keywords can be added to a publication by a librarian.
- keyword search
- Searching for books or articles in an electronic catalogue or index by using keywords
- L
- lending desk
- The service point at which books and other materials are checked in and out of a library
- library acronym
- Abbreviation of the name of a library location
- literature retrieval
- Searching bibliographic databases for reference to scientific literature
- loan period
- The length of time for which a library patron may borrow an item.
- loan request
- Request to borrow a publication from the library
- M
- marked list
- List of titles (records) found in a search that are marked by the user (to be saved, e-mailed or printed)
- microfiche
- A small sheet (4" x 6") containing microfilmed images of pages, read with a microfilm reader.
- monograph
- A non-serial work, complete in one part or set, usually on a narrowly defined single topic.
- my library
- Personal library, allows the user to create an own list of shortcuts, to set up alerts and to have off-campus acces
- N
- narrower term
- A term that is more specific in meaning than the more general term it is related to in a hierarchical structure
- numeric data files
- Numeric data files are those with significant numeric content, either statistical, coded, or graphically displayed
- O
- OCLC WorldCat
- This database is an online catalog of the holdings of books, journals, and other materials held by thousands of OCLC member libraries.
- off-campus access
- Access to restricted library sources (e.g. electronic journals, bibliographies) from a location outside Wageningen UR
- online literature retrieval
- Searching bibliographic databases for referencec to scientific literature.
- OPAC
- Acronym for Online Public Access Catalog
- open access
- Book stacks to which users have free access to browse and retrieve items on their own, as opposed to closed stacks
- P
- patron
- Any person who uses the resources and services of a library
- PDF file
- Portable Document Format; a document-encoding process developed by Adobe that maintains page layout, fonts and graphics and can include many other features, e.g. hyperlinks.
- peer review
- The process in which a new book, article, etc., is submitted by the publisher to experts in the field for critical evaluation prior to publication, a standard procedure in scholarly publishing
- periodical
- A serial (journal, magazine) which is published at regular intervals, is numbered, contains separate articles, and has no pre-determined end date
- periodical index
- A cumulative list of periodical articles in which the citations are entered by subject (or in classified arrangement) and sometimes under the author's last name.
- photocopy request
- Request to receive a photocopy of a publication from the library
- plug-in
- A software module that adds a specific feature to a web browser, enabling it to perform specific functions.
- preprint
- A portion of a work printed and distributed in advance of the publication date announced for the whole, for example, an article to be published in a periodical
- primary literature
- The original writings on a subject. Includes technical reports, conference literature, patents, theses, and journals.
- publication date
- The date an item (book or journal issue) was published.
- publisher
- The person, company or organization responsible for placing a book, journal, or other publication on the market
- Q
- R
- record number
- Number of a decription of a publication in the Library Catalogue
- refereed journal
- A journal in which articles have been evaluated by an independent expert in the field of research before acceptance for publication
- reference
- An indication of where to find specific information, for example the references cited in scientific publications or bibliographic databases.
- reference works
- Materials such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, directories, etc., to which you can refer for authoritative facts.
- refine search
- Limiting search results by refining the search
- related term
- A descriptor closely related to another term conceptually but not hierarchically
- renewal
- An extension of the loan period on an item, granted to the current borrower.
- repository
- A place where something is stored, e.g. a site with all publications originating from Wageningen UR
- reservation
- Reserve a publication that is not yet available or borrowed by someone else
- restricted access
- Access to sources for use only by students and staff of Wageningen UR
- S
- SDI
- Selective Dissemination of Information: enables you to store a search profile and let it run automatically each time a new update of a database is loaded.
- search results
- A list of documents that match the search request
- secondary literature
- Material published about the primary literature (collections, reviews, popularizations, textbooks, encyclopedias, handbooks, etc.), and tools which point the user to primary sources (abstracts, indexes, bibliographies).
- serials
- Any publication issued in successive parts, usually (though not always) at regular intervals, and intended to be continued indefinitely. Serials include: periodicals, newspapers, magazines, annuals, yearbooks, journals, memoirs, proceedings, transactions, and numbered monographic series.
- series
- Group of separate items issued under a collective title, as well as under individual titles.
- set
- A collection of references resulting from a search statement in a bibliographic database.
- SFX
- SFX is a system for making direct links from references in databases and bibliographies.
- shortcut
- Frequently used information resource, e.g. bibliography, catalogue, database or e-Journal
- Special Collections
- Part of Wageningen UR Library that administers the international collections of rare and old books, journals and nursery catalogues, as well as botanical and zoological illustrations, manuscripts, prints, photographs
- stacks
- Rows of bookshelves in a library
- streaming video
- Video stored on the Internet that plays as it arrives, rather than waiting until the whole file has downloaded
- subject heading
- A term, name, or phrase used as an access point in a catalogue or index which is arranged by topic
- subject portal
- Starting pages for scientific information by topic in Wageningen UR's fields of expertise
- subject search
- To seek information by topic (as opposed to author or title).
- subtitle
- An explanatory phrase following a main.
- T
- Table of Content alert (TOC alert)
- Notification by e-mail of the Table of Contents for each new online issue of the journal that is subscribed
- thesaurus
- An organised list of all the subject headings or descriptors used in a particular database, catalog, or index.
- theses
- Often refers to the treatises written by candidates for the Master's Degree, as distinct from doctoral dissertations.
- title search
- To search for an item by (words from) its title
- truncation
- Truncation is a symbol put at the end or in the middle of a word in order to catch all variant endings or spellings of that word when searching a database.
- U
- union catalogue
- A combined catalog for an entire library system or group of cooperating libraries.
- URL
- Uniform Resource Locator; an address that specifies the location of a file on the Internet (e.g. http://library.wur.nl/).
- V
- W
- Wageningen UR
- Wageningen University and Research Centre
- web search
- A search for information on the Internet, using a web search engine such as Google or Yahoo.
- X
- Y
- Z
 Wageningen Digital Library, 14 July, 2006
|