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VOCABULARYLibrary SkillsMs. Carr

+DDC

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

+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.

+REFERENCE

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

+NONFICTION

Literature that is based on fact. These library materials are arranged by Dewey Decimal Classification 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 Database

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 freeWeb.

+Biography

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

+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.

+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. They often have letters underneath their numbers that refer to the author’s name or book title.

+Boolean Logic

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

+Circulation Desk

The place in the library where materials are borrowed and returned.

+Fiction

Stories that are made up by authors, and do not offer factual types of information. These books are arranged alphabetically by the author’s last name.

+Keywords

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

+FREE WEB

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