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Confused by library and database terminology? See our list of commonly used terms. Standard definitions are based on the Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science.
If you'd like to suggest a new term to add to this list, contact us.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T
Abstract
A brief summary of the main points of a book, article or other work that helps users decide whether the content is relevant to their search.
Basement
Auckland Central Library holds some collections in the basement, also known as stack. Items from the basement can be requested at any Central City Library reference desk. Check the item details on the catalogue to confirm if the item is available for loan outside the library.
Boolean
Boolean searching allows the user to combine words or phrases using basic commands such as AND, OR, and NOT in order to limit or expand a search. An explanation of how to use boolean searching can be found in the help section of most databases.
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The catalogue
The main tool for locating books, magazines and other material in the library. Auckland City Libraries' catalogue is available via our website, and can be accessed both within the library and from home. A variety of search options are available, including title, author, subject and ititle keyword searches. You can also check your personal details, request items, and renew items currently on loan.
Citation
A brief description of a book, article or other work that gives enough key information on its author, title, date, publisher and page numbers so that it can be found.
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Database
An online collection of information that can usually be searched by a variety of methods (keyword, title, location, etc). Databases are usually large, frequently updated, and focus on a particular subject or field. Databases are often used to index articles within magazines or newspapers. Auckland City Libraries offers a large range of databases via the Digital Library.
Dewey Decimal system
The Dewey Decimal system is a hierachical system for classifying books and other library materials by subject, first published in 1876 by Melvil Dewey. Non-fiction titles have numbers on their spines which are frequently called shelf-numbers or call numbers - these numbers are derived from the Dewey sequence.
Digital Library
A collection of resources available in electronic format. Auckland City Libraries' Digital Library includes fulltext databases, index databases, e-books and image databases. To access the Digital Library you will need your library barcode and PIN number.
If you are not currently a member and would like to join, please visit our membership information page.
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Expanders
Expanders let you broaden the scope of your search, in the same way as the boolean operator 'OR'. They do this by widening your search to include words related to your keywords or by searching within the fulltext of documents.
Field
A space allocated for a particular kind of information about an item. Examples include author field, title field, and date field.
Fulltext database
An electronic resource that retrieves the entire text of a book, article or other work.
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HTML
Short for HyperText Markup Language, HTML is the form in which web pages display information. Often given as an option for viewing articles in a fulltext database.
Index database
An electronic resource that can be searched to find books, articles or other works. Results usually include an abstract telling you what the work is about, and a citation telling you where to find it.
Interloan
Interloans are an example of resource sharing between libraries. Material that is not owned by one library system might be available at another. Customers submit a request to their own library asking that the material they require be sought from elsewhere in New Zealand or from around the world. For more information, see Auckland City Libraries interloan services.
ISBN
ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. The ISBN is a unique ten-digit publisher's code assigned for purposes of identification to a specific edition of a book prior to publication.
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Keywords
Significant words that can be used to search different fields of information in databases. Keywords usually find terms from the title field, subject headings, contents notes, abstract or fulltext of the record.
Limiters
Limiters let you focus your search in a variety of ways. Most databases let you limit your results by date, by format (eg PDF only), or specify fulltext only. Check the help section of the database you're in for more information.
Mark list
Some databases allow you to 'mark' particular articles or records and save them to a 'mark list'. This allows you to view them later in your session or print, email or save them. These records stay on your mark list until you clear them or finish your search session.
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PDF
Short for Portable Document Format, PDF is a way of formatting documents so that different kinds of operating systems can display them. To view PDF files you will need the Adobe Acrobat program installed on your home computer.
Peer-reviewed
Means that an article has been critically evaluated by a number of experts in the subject area or field.
Primary source
A document or record used in research that contains firsthand information on a topic. Primary sources include original manuscripts, diaries, letters, and photographs.
Proximity operators
Used to focus a search so that keywords appear within the same sentence or paragraph. Different databases use different operators (eg 'adjacent to', 'near' or 'within'). Use the help section of the database you're searching to find examples.
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Request, hold or reserve
When a book or other item is currently on loan, library members may 'request' to have it next. This can be done either through a staff member or via the catalogue. Library members may also place a request for an item to be sent from one Auckland City Libraries location, to be collected at another Auckland City Libraries location. There is a charge for this service. For more information, see loan periods & charges.
Stack
Auckland Central Library holds some collections in the basement, also known as stack. Items from the basement can be requested at any Central City Library reference desk. Check the item details on the catalogue to confirm if the item is available for loan outside the library.
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Stop word
A frequently used word that is usually ignored by a database in a keyword search. Examples include: a, an, as, at, by, for, from, of, on, the, to.
Subject terms
A carefully selected list of terms used to describe the subject of a document. Subject terms are different from keywords because they are assigned to a document, whereas keywords appear somewhere within it.
Truncation & wildcards
Truncation and wildcards are expanders that allow you to broaden the scope of your search by finding variants of the same word. For example, if your symbol was an asterisk (*), then cook* would find cook, cooks, cookery, cooking, and cookbook. Check the help section of the database you're searching to find which symbols to use.
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