Vocabulary

barcode ** — The identification number placed on a book that contains **
 * electronic information about its author, title, call number and other important information stored in the OPAC. **

barcode reader ** — The device that scans and records a borrower’s name, the barcode of the library materials borrowed and information about when those materials are due back. **

biography ** — A nonfiction book about a person’s life. Biographies are arranged by their subject’s last name and are often labeled with the letter “B” above their call numbers. **

call number ** — The number, usually on the spine of the book, that lets you know where books and other materials are located in the library. Call numbers often have letters underneath their numbers that refer to the author’s name or book title. **

Online catalog ** — A database of a library’s collection, online that offer records of library materials. Entry points for your search include authors, titles, keywords and subjects. Call numbers are used to trace books to their shelf using the Dewey decimal system. **

circulation desk ** — The place in the library where materials are borrowed and returned. **

Dewey Decimal System ** — The system used by school and public libraries all over the world to classify nonfiction library materials by subject. Invented by Melvil Dewey, Dewey Decimal Classification divides all of knowledge into ten main categories and further into more specific numbers, often followed by numbers preceded by a decimal point. **

fiction ** — Novels and short stories that are made up by authors, and do not offer factual types of information. Fiction books in the library are arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name. **

free Web ** — The part of the Web searchers can access through standard search engines. **

keywords ** — Words selected to type into a search box. Good searchers choose these words carefully and connect them with Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT). (Continued) **

nonfiction ** — Literature that is based on fact. Nonfiction library materials are arranged by Dewey Decimal Classification numbers. **

OPAC: the Online Public Access Catalog ** — a database used for locating library materials. Library users search the OPAC by looking up authors, titles, subjects, or keywords and phrases. **

reference ** — Nonfiction books that contain a lot of information and are valu- able to many library users. Reference books generally do not leave the library. Dictionaries, atlases and encyclopedias are examples of reference books. Libraries may have some of their reference materials online. Reference books are often labeled with the letter “R” above their call numbers. **

research process ** — The steps students take in research — asking good focused questions, searching strategically, locating, evaluating, analyzing, synthesizing, and documenting information and communicating new knowledge. The process is likely to involve students in note-taking and using graphic organizers. **

subscription databases ** — Online databases made available to library users that may contain magazine and newspaper articles, radio and television transcripts, and reference materials. Libraries and schools pay to subscribe to these services, which contain information not available on the free Web. **

Boolean logic ** — Strategies used in keyword searching. Searchers use AND or +, OR, NOT or --, to help them combine terms and focus their searches. **


 * • If the Internet provides so much information, why should students continue to use libraries? **