Library Terminology

Dictionary of common library terms.

A

Abstract

A brief summary or description of a work (e.g., article or book).

Access Points

Text and/or numeric terms used to search bibliographic records.

Materials which are purchased for library use. Activities related to obtaining library materials by purchase, exchange, or gift, including pre-order bibliographic searching, ordering and receiving materials, processing invoices, and the maintenance of the necessary records related to acquisitions. (ALA Glossary)

Almanac

A collection of useful information, data, and statistics relating to countries, personalities, events, and/or subjects.

Analytic

A bibliographic record for a part of a publication, including an article in a journal, magazine, or newspaper; a chapter in a book; or an individual volume within a large set of volumes.

Annal

A record of events from a single year.

Annotated Bibliography

A list of sources accompanied by a brief summary or critical statement about each source.

Annotation

A note accompanying an entry in a bibliography, reading list, or catalog intended to describe, explain, or evaluate the publication referred to.

Annual

A publication that is issued once per year (e.g., report, yearbook, or directory).

Anthology

A collection of many works by various authors, usually on the same subject or within the same genre, or the same author.

Appendix

A section of a work containing supplementary material (e.g., tables, graphs, maps, or supporting documents).

Article

An work published within a journal, magazine, or newspaper. They are generally about a very specific topic and shorter in length than a book.

Atlas

A work exclusively containing maps, plates, engravings, tables, etc.

Audiovisual

Information presented in non-print format that utilizes both sight and sound (e.g., films, television programs, or slide presentations).

Author

The person(s) and/or organization(s) that created the work.

Authority File

An online, standardized list of subject, series, and name headings used by libraries to help connect related works by preventing spelling and phrasing variations.