Like all disciplines, information management has terminology that might be new to you. It also has familiar terms that might have unfamiliar meanings. This glossary will help you grasp the vocabulary of information management. Access to some of these resources is restricted is restricted to those who are on campus, registered with the University Libraries.
|
A B C D E F G H I J K L M NO P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Abstract - Holdings -- Index - PubMed In-Process Citations -- Reference Collection - World Wide Web |
Reference collection - a collection of often-used resources such as dictionaries, directories, handbooks, and encyclopedias; these resources can only be used in the library. Contrast with reserve collection.
Reference assistance - library services that helps you find the information you need. The reference staff members can help you figure out what information you need, show you how to use the resource, how to find what's relevant and available, and how to get a copy of the information. [Health Science Campus -- Main Campus]
Reference list - the list of cited references at the end of a source. These citations support statements made within the source. Contrast with bibliography.
Remote access – accessing online resources (books, journals, databases, etc.) from off campus; for licensed resources, users must authenticate before accessing them
Reserve Collection - a collection of often-used resources such as textbooks, slides, and article photocopies put in this collection by faculty members or the library; these resources can be checked out for a limited period of time; also called Reserves. Contrast with reference collection.
RSS – acronym for Real Simple Syndication, RSS is a way of sharing regularly updated news and information using a feed; to view RSS feeds, you need an RSS reader
RSS Reader – software that organizes and displays RSS feeds for ease of reading. A reader may be stand-alone software, a web site like Bloglines.com, or a browser plug-in. Some email programs have a built-in RSS reader.
Science Citation Index - a resource that allows searching by cited references and cited author; available both online and in print. There are also citation indices for the social sciences and the arts and humanities. [Instructional Materials -- Connect]
Search engine - a Web tool that consists of a searchable database of Web sites. Search engines are populated and maintained by computer programs, so they tend to contain more sites than directories. A popular search engines are Google. Compare with a Web directory.
Search strategy – how a search for information is structured. For searches in databases, the search strategy including the terms used to search, how terms or search sets are combined, how the search is limited, etc. A good search strategy can make the difference between finding the information you need easily and spending a lot of time finding nothing. A reference librarian can help you develop a good search strategy.
Serial - a resource that is published in sections over time, such as a journal or a set of books such as Methods in Enzymology. Compare with a monograph.
Set – a single search in a database; complex searches can be developed by combining search sets using Boolean operators
Site - a location on the Internet, such as a Web site; do not confuse with cite or sight
Social Science Citation Index - see Science Citation Index
special collections - a collection of protected materials, such as rare books. Usually access to and use of materials in special collections are restricted.
Stacks – library-talk for shelves; “book stacks” and “journal stacks” are two commonly used phrases in libraries
Stored records – databases and online catalogs usually have a feature that allows one to designate relevant records to be printed, emailed, or exported. Stored records go by a variety of names, such as Folder or Clipboard. In most databases, when you exit a database, the stored records are deleted.
Structured abstract - a descriptive summary commonly used research articles that identifies the main parts of the research study. Common headings used in structured abstracts include Background, Objectives, Design, Setting, Subjects, Methods, Results, Findings, Interpretation, and Conclusion.
Style manual - a handbook that provides information about manuscript preparation and citation format. Examples include the Council of Science Editors Style Manual, the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, and the American Medical Association Manual of Style. Some of these styles have been summarized on the Web.
Subject heading search - a technique in online searching using controlled vocabulary to search for a topic. Subject heading searching offers a number of advantages over word searches. Subject heading searching controls for synonyms, variations in spelling, and homonyms. It also provides access to features such as focusing, expanding, and subheadings.
Textword search - see word search
Truncation - a technique in online searching that allows broader retrieval with a textword search. Commonly, right-handed truncation is available. A search for infect$ might retrieve "infect", "infects", "infecting", "infectious", "infected", and so on. Some systems allow internal truncation: wom?n would retrieve "woman" and "women". Truncation symbols and techniques vary among online systems, so consult Reference Assistance or online help for details on a specific online system.
Uniform Resource Location (URL) - an Internet address; usually begins with http://
University Libraries Online Catalog - the University Libraries' online catalog. [Instructional Materials -- Connect]
Virtual reference – getting help from a reference librarian using email, chat, instant messaging, etc.
Web directory - a Web tool that organizes other Web sites into categories. This categorization is done by humans, so directories tend to contain fewer sites than search engines, but the sites are more information-rich. They can either be general, such as Yahoo!, or subject-specific, such as HardinMD. Compare with a search engine.
Wiki – a web-based resource in which people collaboratively write, edit, correct, and delete information (though some wikis restrict who can do what); the most popular wiki is Wikipedia, a wiki-based online encyclopedia. (Make sure you check with your instructor to see if it is okay to use Wikipedia for course assignments.)
Word search - also called "textword search" or "keyword search"; a technique in online searching where the system retrieves records that contain the entered terms, like a Google search. These types of searches tend to be messier than subject heading searches because they commonly retrieve irrelevant articles and miss relevant records. Truncation and Boolean operators are commonly used with textword searches. Contrast with subject heading searches.
World Wide Web (Web) - the part of the Internet that uses hypertext and graphics.
Contact Mulford Reference Assistance at (419) 383-4218 or MulfordReference@utoledo.edu. Chat and IM reference are also available.
