Glossary

AACR2 - Anglo-American Cataloging Rules, 2nd ed. The rules for bibliographic descriptions and headings upon which library cataloging is based.

Access point - Any word or heading (subject, author, title, etc.) in a bibliographic record that can be used to locate the record.

Accompanying Materials - Materials such as teacher's manuals, workbooks, guides, sound recordings, etc. which may accompany an item.

Added Entry - Secondary access point or any other than the main entry (for example, the author is the main entry and joint authors, illustrators, editors, etc. are added entries).

Analytical entry - Entry for part of a work, as a story in a collection or a video in a set of videos. Can be either in the form of author-title or title entries and are also included in a contents note in the record.

Authority work - Verifying forms of subject headings, authors, and series titles in the local catalog using a standard such as LCSH; and providing cross references from forms not used to those used, and to narrower and related terms.

Bibliographic record - A catalog entry whether on a card or in a computer's database, giving full cataloging information for an item in a library.

Call number - A combination of numbers and letters that identifies an item and the order in which it is placed on the shelves. Consists of a classification number and a Cutter number and may include a date and/or workmark.

Catalog - Organized set of bibliographic records that represent the holdings of a particular collection. May be in the form of cards, book, computer outprint microform (COM) or an online public access catalog (OPAC).

Chief source of information - The source prescribed by AACR2 as the major source of data for use in bibilographic description. For example, the chief source of information for the title and statement of responsibility for a book is the title page.

CIP - Cataloging in Publication. A program sponsored by the Library of Congress providing a partial bibliographic description on the verso of the title page of books. This is usually done Pre-publication and does not always present an accurate description of the book after it is published.

Copy cataloging - Adapting a copy of the original cataloging produced by another library. For example, downloading and editing records from a bibliographic utility like OCLC, adapting them for use within a local OPAC.

Cutter number - A combination of leters and numbers used to distinguish an item with the same classification number and organize under that classification number alphabetically by author, title, or other entry. Named for the table used for this purpose first devised by C.A. Cutter.

DDC - Dewey Decimal Classification.

Descriptive cataloging - The part of cataloging concerned with identifying and describing an item in a bibliographic record and the selection of access points.

Entry - A representation of a bibliographic record at a particular point in a catalog under a heading or access point, such as the author, title, joint authors, , editors, illustrators, subjects, etc.

Field - Separately designed element of a MARC record which may contain one or more subfields. For example, the title and statement of responsibility are in the 245 field of a bibliographic record.

Fixed Field - A MARC record field that is of fixed length. The fixed field that is found in all MARC records is the 008 field. All audiovisual records should contain the 007 fixed field. Since format integration, records containing multiple item types should also contain the 006 fixed field.

GMD - General Material Designation. Term given in the bibliographic record to indicate the type of material, for example, the GMD in the 245$h for a video is [videorecording]

Indicator - Element identifying the content of a field or special treatment of that field in the MARC record. Examples: 04 indicators in 245 field indicate that the title is the main entry and that the title begins with an article with four nonfiling characters (the article "The" and the space after it); 0 indicator in second positon of a 650 field indicates that the subject heading is LCSH.

ISBN - International Standard Book Number. A distinctive number assigned to an item. Recorded in the 020 field of a MARC record.

ISSN - International Standard Serial Number. A distinctive number assigned to a serial by ISDS (International Serials Data System--a network of national and international centers sponsored by UNESCO). Recorded in the 022 field of a MARC serials record.

Joint author - A person who collaborates with one or more associates in producing a work in which their individual contributions are not distinguishable.

LC - Library of Congress.

LCC - Library of Congress Classification.

LCCN - Library of Congress Card Number. Assigned by the Library of Congress when the biblographic record is created. Recorded in the 010 field of a MARC record.

LCSH - Library of Congress Subject Headings. The subject headings and cross-references approved by the Library of Congress.

Leaf - A single thickness of paper; two pages, front and back.

Main entry - The major access point chosen for a bibliographic record; all others are added entries.

MARC - Machine Readable Cataloging. The format used for bibliographic description in computer-readable form.

Monograph - A complete bibliographic unit, either as a single work or a collection, and though it may be issued in successive parts, is not intenteded to continue indefinitely.

Name-title added entry - An added entry including the name of the person or corporate body responsible and the title of a work. Can be used to identify a portion of a work, a related work, or a larger work of which it is a part.

OCLC - Online Computer Library Center. A bibliographic network; originally Ohio College Library Center. http://www.oclc.org/oclc/menu/home1.htm

Original cataloging - Creating a bibliographic record for the first time, without the aid of cataloging for that item produced by other libraries.

OPAC - Online Public Access Catalog. The library's "card catalog" online.

Parallel title - The main title or title proper written in another language or script.

Periodical - Publication with a distinctive title appearing in successive parts issued at regular intervals, intended to continue indefinitely, and usually containing articles by several contributors in each issue. Does not include proceedings, journals, memoirs, or newspapers of corporate bodies primarily related to their internal affairs.

Recto - The page on the right in a book; The side of a leaf to be read first.

RLIN - Research Libraries Information Network. The bibliographic network of RLG (Research Libraries Group) based at Stanford University and made up of large research libraries. http://www.rlg.org/

Serial - A publication in successive parts issued regularly or irregulary and intended to continue indefinitely. Includes periodicals, newspapers, proceedings, reports, memoris, annuals, and numbered monographic series.

Series - Separate works related in subject or form that are issued successively by the same publisher, in uniform style and with a collaborative title.

Subfield - A segment within a field of a bibliographic record designed for particular content. For example, the title proper is in the $a subfield of the 245 field, the other title information or subtitle is in the $b of that field, and the statement of responsiblitity is in the $c of the 245 field.

Subject cataloging - Assignment of subject headings and classification numbers to an item.

Subject heading - A word or group of words indicating the subject of a work.

Subject subdivision - A word or group of words added to a subject heading to give it a more specific meaning.

Subtitle - Additonal title information or a secondary title usually used expand or limit the title proper.

Title proper - The main or chief title of an item, not including any parallel title (in another language) or other title (subtitle) information.

Uniform title - Title chosen for unifying a work when it has appeared under varying titles.

Variable field - A MARC record field of variable length (as opposed to the fixed length fields 006, 007, 008).

Verso - The page on the left in a book; The side of a leaf to be read second. For example, the verso of the title page is the side on the back of the title page.

WLN - Western Library Network. A regional bibliographic network based at the state library of Washington, serving libraries mainly in several Northwestern states. http://www.wln.com/

Other Glossaries:

Glossary of Library Terms (Rutgers University)
Glossary of Library Terms (Stephen F. Austin State University)
Glossary of Library Terms (Univ. of Connecticut Libraries)
The Information Professional's Glossary (Univ. of Arizona)