| Abstract |
A short summary of an article’s content, usually provided by the author. It can help the researcher to decide whether or not to read the entire article. |
| Bibliographic Database |
A set of structured computer records that describe a unit of information, such as articles, books, or media. |
| Bibliography |
A list of books, articles, or other works. This is often in the form of a reference list, which identifies the works the author has referred to (cited). Bibliographies can also take the form of a full-length work on a given subject. |
| Call number |
A combination of numbers and letters, typically on 2-4 lines, that uniquely identifies an item in a library’s collection. These are constructed according to one of several standard classification schemes, such as the Dewey Decimal System or the National Library of Medicine Classification. Lewis Library uses NLM call numbers. |
| Catalog |
See Library Catalog. |
| Circulation |
The use of a library’s physical materials through check out and check in. |
| Circulation Desk |
The library service area where items are checked out for use and returned after use. |
| Citation |
The identifying information for an article, book, or other information object. It must contain enough information for a reader to locate the item cited. A typical citation contains information about the author(s), title, publisher or publication, and the date of publication. Other elements may be required, depending on the nature of the work. Style guides, such as the AMA, APA, and Chicago manuals, specify how citations should be constructed and written. |
| Course Reserves |
Materials that have been designated by an instructor for the use of students in a specific course. See the Reserve Materials page for more information about requesting, accessing, and using reserves. |
| Descriptor |
A descriptive term that is assigned to an item in a bibliographic database so that it can be located and retrieved. Similar to subject heading and index term. |
| DOI |
Digital Object Identifier. This is a permanent and unique combination of numbers and letters, assigned by the publisher of a work, which can be used to locate it wherever it is available online. Example: DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevD.15.2752 |
| E-book |
An electronic book, typically delivered over a computer network. E-book capabilities vary by vendor, but most offer hyperlink navigation and keyword searching within the text. Printing and downloading functions are usually available, but are restricted to protect copyrights. Viewing of
some e-books is limited to one or two UNTHSC users at the same time. |
| E-journal |
An electronic journal that provides its content over the Internet. Some are accessible to anyone, but many others require purchase of a subscription. Lewis Library maintains access to thousands of e-journals. |
Electronic Resources (E-resources) |
Term used to describe all of the information products that a library provides through a computer network. This includes electronic books and journals, bibliographic databases, and library website pages. |
| Index |
See Periodical Index. |
| Index Term |
Word or phrase that is part of the controlled vocabulary used to describe what a book, article, or other item is about. Index terms are assigned as part of the bibliographic record, which allows similar works to be retrieved efficiently. Similar to subject heading and descriptor. |
| Interlibrary Loan |
A library service that allows patrons to borrow items not available in their library from another library outside the local area. In the case of single articles or book chapters, a copy is usually provided that becomes the property of the requestor. |
| ISBN |
International Standard Book Number. Unique identifier that describes the specific edition and format of a book. Example: 0071493743 |
| ISSN |
International Standard Serial Number. A unique identifier assigned to a journal, magazine, or other serial publication. Example: 0012-3692 |
| Journal |
A collective work of articles in a given field of knowledge, usually published on a regular schedule. Journals are scholarly in purpose and intended for a specialized audience. |
| Library Catalog |
A set of structured records that describe the holdings of a library. The Lewis Library Catalog, available online, contains records for charts, media, models, and printed books and journals. All e-books have a catalog record, but not all e-journals. (The Journal Finder provides comprehensive access to both print and electronic journals.) |
| Link Resolver |
An online utility that uses information in a bibliographic record for an item, such as a journal article, to find related records and to provide hyperlinks for the user. Linking success depends on the quality of the data in the original record and the availability of records in other resources. |
| MeSH |
Medical Subject Headings, an extensive set of indexing terms developed by the National Library of Medicine. The MeSH terms are assigned to the articles added to the MEDLINE database. They are also used to describe books and other items in the Lewis Library Catalog. |
| NLM Classification |
The call number system developed by the National Library of Medicine for arranging library materials in the field of medicine and related sciences. It is used to organize books in the Lewis Library. |
| Peer-reviewed |
Peer-reviewed journals are those that require submitted articles to be reviewed and approved by a group of experts in the field prior to publication. |
| Periodical Index |
A finding tool that tells the researcher where to find an article in the literature covered by the index. Article citations are typically listed by subject and by author. In recent years, most periodical indexes have moved from print to an online format, and are now provided in the form of databases that provide not only citations, but also abstracts and, in
some cases, the full text of articles. |
| Podcast |
An audio or video file that is made available on the Internet for download and playback using a computer or a mobile device such as an Ipod. Most podcasts have RSS capability, which can automate the download process for the user. |
| Reference List |
Also called a bibliography, the reference list contains citations for all of the other works referred to (cited) by the author(s) in their work. |
| Reference Services |
Research assistance provided by librarians and other library staff members. Lewis Library provides a range of reference services, from suggesting resources to extensive literature searching. Patrons can request reference service through a web form, by phone or fax, or by visiting the library. |
| Reserves |
See Course Reserves. |
| RSS |
A web publishing technology that allows end users to automatically receive new digital content from the provider. Originally used for text files, RSS is now also used to deliver audio and video content. Various types of RSS readers are used to capture and play the content, and many of them are available free of charge. |
| Search Alerts |
Automated database service that periodically runs a user’s saved search parameters and notifies him or her by e-mail if new results are found. Search alerts are a feature of the Lewis Library catalog and many of the Library’s research databases. |
| Subject Heading |
A standardized word or phrase that is used to describe what a book, article, or other item is about. Subject headings are assigned to items in a catalog or other database so that items can be efficiently located and retrieved. Similar to descriptor and index term, but subject headings are used more broadly across libraries and literature. |
| VPN |
Virtual Private Network. A software application that creates a secure connection between a public computer network and a private one. At UNTHSC, Information Technology Services provides this software to enable authorized users to access resources on the UNTHSC network from off-campus locations. |
Wireless Network (Wi-Fi) |
A communication system that uses low-power microwave radio signals to connect laptop computers, PDAs, and web-enabled cell phones to the Internet. |
