Common Library Terms
abstract
Brief summary of the content of a book, article, speech, or other material.
access point
Name, term, heading, or code in a bibliographic record with which library materials may be
searched, identified, and retrieved.
database
Comprehensive collection of related data (articles or other materials) organized for convenient
online access.
full-text
Refers to a database or other electronic resource that provides the entire text of the works it
contains (e.g., journal articles), in addition to the citation and abstract of each work.
hard copy
Printed material, as opposed to information in microform or digital format.
holdings
All materials (print, non-print, and electronic) owned by a library.
monograph
Publication intended to be complete.. Books or reports are usually monographs.
ISBN (International Standard Book Number)
Unique 10- or 13-digit number given to every book or edition of a book before publication to
identify the publisher, title, edition, and volume number. The four-part code identifies the item
concisely, uniquely, and unambiguously. The four parts of the ISBN are: Group identifier (e.g.,
national, geographic, language, or other convenient group), publisher identifier, title identifier,
and check digit.
issue
As of October 1, 2014
Page
International numerical code that identifies concisely, uniquely, and unambiguously a serial
publication.
1
ISSN (International Standard Serial Number)
Common Library Terms
All copies of a specific periodical title published on the same date.
serial
Term describing a wide range of publications issued in successive parts with no predictable end
in sight. Magazines, journals, newspapers, annual reports, some conference proceedings, and
annual reviews are examples.
periodical
Publication distributed on a regular schedule (e.g., weekly or monthly). Popular
periodicals are called magazines and scholarly periodicals are called journals.
Newspapers are also periodicals.
journal
Publication distributed periodically (weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc.), devoted to a
specific field or subfield of knowledge. Journals usually contain scholarly articles written
by professors, researchers, or experts in a subject area.
magazine
Periodical intended for the general public rather than for scholars (e.g., Newsweek, Time,
Business Week).
newspaper
Serial publication printed and distributed daily or weekly containing news, opinions,
advertising, and other items of general interest.
e-journal
Page
2
Website graphically modeled on an existing print journal, or which provides access to an
online journal for which there is no print counterpart; also called electronic journal.
As of October 1, 2014