Archives, The
A room on the lower level in which special and non-circulating materials of historical value are kept for posterity. Ask at the circulation desk about how to access archival material.
Boolean Searching
Using terms such as "AND", "OR", and "NOT" as well as parentheses and asterisks, to make your search more specific. These terms are called "operators".
Call Number
The numbers and letters on the label on a book's spine or on other media. These numbers are part of the Dewey Decimal System (see below).
Catalog
The list of all of the books and other media available from the library. Search the catalog online via Owl Search.
Circulation Desk
The main desk at the front of the library where items are checked out or returned.
Database
An electronic collection of (mostly) scholarly journal articles, generally sorted by discipline. Find them via a link on the library website or by using Owl Search.
Dewey Decimal System
A means of classifying and organizing books and other materials numerically. The numbers and letters on item labels represent the subject matter of the book and make it easier to find one item among thousands. The "stacks" (see below) on the lower level are labeled with ranges of Dewey decimal numbers.
Hold
Requesting a "hold" on an item signals the library staff to set the item aside at the circulation desk for you to pick up later.
I.L.L.
ILL stands for "interlibrary loan". If our library does not have an item that you are searching for, you may request that we have it mailed from another library. Request an ILL via a form on the library website and you will be notified when it arrives.
Journal
A periodical publication of peer-reviewed scholarly articles. These are found in the library's databases (see above) although some print copies can be found as well.
Non-circulating
An item that is available for use inside the library only and can't be checked out. These are usually reference materials or the most recent issue of a periodical (see below).
Owl Search
The primary tool for searching the library's catalog, as opposed to Google. Clicking on the large orange button on the library's main web page will bring up the search box.
Peer-reviewed
A journal article is "peer reviewed" when it has been critically appraised by other scholars for accuracy and merit. Peer reviewing ensures greater assurance of scientific merit.
Periodical
A newspaper, journal, or magazine.
Reserves
Books or other materials that have been set aside for the semester by professors for the benefit of their students. These can be borrowed for a brief amount of time and often must be read inside the building. They are kept behind the circulation desk and can be requested there.
"Stacks, The"
"The stacks" refers to the rows and rows of bookshelves on the bottom floor. These are organized by the Dewey Decimal System (see above) and are mostly non-fiction. Signs on the ends of the shelves show the range of Dewey numbers found there.
