Library Terminology
Book/Journal Search
If you cannot find a book or journal in the library and it has not been checked out, you may fill out a book/journal search form at the circulation desk. A search will be conducted for the item for 3 days. If it is found, the circulation staff will hold the item for you and notify you by phone. If this item is not located within 3 days, you may request it through Interlibrary Loan.
Bound Periodical
Several journals or magazines are organized together in one hard cover so that they appear to be a book-like volume. They are shelved alphabetically by title on the west side of the second floor of the library.
Browsing Room/Leisure Reading
It is located in the southwest corner of the 2nd floor and houses the current issues of some popular magazines and newspapers.
Call Number
A combination of letters and numbers assigned to each book, videocassette, or other item. Bradley University librarians use the Library of Congress call numbers to arrange books and other types of materials on shelves, to identify each item uniquely and also to group together items on similar subjects.
Charge/Check Out
The process of lending library materials to patrons. For more information, please see BORROWING FROM BRADLEY.
Circulating
Material that can be checked out of the library. Some materials, such as those in Reference, and Special Collections are non-circulating.
Government Documents
Bradley University's Cullom-Davis Library is a depository for both state and federal documents. The majority of the government publications are federal documents classified under the Superintendent of Documents Classification System (SuDoc) and shelved in a separate collection on the east side of the second floor. The remaining government documents are state documents and are integrated into the library's Library of Congress (LC) classified collections, and can be accessed via the online catalog.
Hold
When a book or other item is currently checked out, the library allows another borrower to place a "hold" on it by filling out a form at the circulation desk. The person to whom the material is checked out will not be permitted to renew the item, and the person placing the "hold" will be next in line to check it out after it is returned.
Holdings
The materials (print and nonprint) that are listed in the library catalog and owned by the library. Synonymous in this sense with "library collection."
In process/Received
Term to indicate material has been received in the library but has not yet been cataloged. If you are in the library and discover the item you want is "in process," and you need the item urgently, please notify a librarian.
Interlibrary Loan
For use by Bradley University faculty, students, and staff only. If the library does not own a book or other material, you may request that it be borrowed from another library. For more information, please see BORROWING FROM OTHER LIBRARIES. Non-Bradley patrons should request interlibrary loan from their home library.
Microfiche
A card-shaped sheet of film used to store miniaturized printed book, newspaper or journal which can be magnified and copied only with the aid of a reader-printer machine. The ERIC document collection is available on microfiche, filed according to the 6-digit ED number assigned to each document. Back files of periodicals and government documents may also be available on microfiche. Abbreviated: "fiche."
Microfilm
A roll of film used to store miniaturized printed book, newspaper or journal which can be magnified and copied only with the aid of a reader-printer machine.
Microform
Microforms include microfiche and microfilm. Back issues of some periodicals in the Library are on microform stored in the cabinets on the 1st floor, filed alphabetically by title.
Non-Circulating
Materials which can not be checked out of the library, such as those in Reference, and Special Collections .
Online Catalog
The Library Catalog will help you find books, journals, and other materials owned by Bradley Library. It does not include individual articles in magazines or journals, for which you need to use Journal Indexes.
On Order
An item with this designation has been ordered but not yet received.
Oversize
A book that is too large to be shelved in normal call number sequence on the shelves of the library. All oversized books that can be checked out are shelved in the lower level of the library, organized by Library of Congress Classification System.
Periodical
A magazine, journal, newspaper, newsletter, or annual publication that is published at regular intervals. Bound periodicals are shelved alphabetically by title, located on the shelf of the library 2nd floor of the library, west side.
Recall
You may recall a book at the Circulation desk if it is checked out. The material will be due two weeks from the date recalled, unless the original due date is earlier. When the book is returned, the circulation staff will hold the book for you and notify you by phone.
Renew
You can extend the amount of time you have an item on loan. To avoid fines, material must be renewed on or before the due date. Renewals can be done electronically on Library Catalog.
Request Option (Patron-initiated borrowing)
You may request an item from another library by using the Library Catalog. Press "Options," then "Request," and fill in your patron ID.
Reserve
Materials are put on reserve to give a shorter loan period (from two hours to seven days), usually at the request of the instructor to assure access to all students enrolled in a specific course. The Reserves Desk is located in the Reserve Room on the east side of the entrance of the Library. The collection consists mainly of books, photocopies of articles, homework solutions, sample tests and lecture videotapes. For more information, please see RESERVES.
Shelving
An item with this term is temporarily unavailable because it has not yet been replaced on the shelf.
Stacks
The term "stacks" generally refers to the areas in the library where the books are housed. It can also mean the bookshelves on which library materials are arranged.
Subject Heading
A word or phrase assigned to materials which describe the subject of the work. The Cullom-Davis Library uses subject headings listed in the Library of Congress Subject Headings, the big red books near the Reference Desk.
Page updated: August 23, 2006