Southern Ontario Library Service

EXCEL: A certificate program in
managing a small public library

ABFO -

Association des bibliothécaires francophones de l’Ontario 

Abridged edition -

Reduced form of a work  - by condensation or omission of details. 

Guidelines established by a library or library system to control how its computer systems and equipment may be used. For example, some libraries forbid the use of computer workstations for commercial activity. Libraries often post a printed statement of acceptable use policy near the workstations to which it applies and/or make the policy statement available on the library's Web site. 

The ability of a patron to make use of the materials in a library collection, including the physical accessibility of works in print or microform. In bibliographic databases, the method by which a computer retrieves records in a file depends on how they are arranged in storage. In computing, the privilege of using a computer system or online resource, which is usually controlled by the issuance of access codes to authorized users. In a broader sense, the ability of a user to reach data stored on a computer or computer system.

A name, title, term, code, etc. under which a bibliographic record may be searched and identified. 

Accession number -

A number assigned to each book or item as it is received by the library. 

Recognition of services provided by others to the author.

A further voluntary step in the Ontario Public Library Guidelines process enables a public library to submit its services to an external assessment and seek accreditation by its peers. Although the Guidelines can remain a purely local tool, particular to each community, their value increases in a provincial context. The opportunity for a library to measure itself successfully against a set of objective, widely accepted guidelines, and strengthens the individual library and the public library service of the province as a whole. 

Acquisitions department -

The section of a library which orders and receives print and non-print materials from publishers, agents, and distributors. 

An additional entry other than the main entry in a catalogue. Added entries include subject, title, joint author, illustrator, editor, translator, and series entries.

The space left unoccupied between two parallel bookcases or shelf ranges to allow for passage of library staff and patrons. Under U.S. ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requirements, minimum aisle width in public buildings, such as libraries, is 36 inches. In Canada, the National Library of Canada has recommended this distance for accessibility purposes.

American Library Association 

Association of Medium sized Public Libraries of Ontario (acronym pronounced as a word)

The information system of the Library and Archives Canada and an important resource for the Canadian library and research community with a database of over 30 million records and 15 million holdings from 1,300  Canadian libraries.

A serial work that is issued once a year. 

The Annual Survey of Public Libraries provides important data on library services and operations in Ontario. Completion of the Annual Survey of Public Libraries is one of the requirements for receiving the library operating grant. This form must be completed by all library boards, and First Nations and Local services boards that have established libraries.

An additional section at the end of a book or document.

Administrators of Rural/Urban Public Libraries of Ontario

Association of Small Public Libraries of Ontario (acronym pronounced as a word)

This term relates to the reproduction of sound, especially to the sound part of a telecast as opposed to the video (picture) portion. 

A flat, plastic shell which holds a sound recording on a 1/8" magnetic tape that stays inside the cassette.

An audiotape is a ribbon of acetate or polyester which has a metallic oxide coating on one side. When this coating is exposed to the magnetic field of a recording head, the metallic particles are arranged in a pattern corresponding to the sound being recorded. In other words, an audiotape is a magnetic tape recorded in analog form.

See Personal author.

The name of the author of a work used as an entry in the catalogue. This is usually the main entry.

Letters and/or numbers assigned to a work to identify the main entry and maintain alphabetical order for works with the same classification number; also known as book number or cutter number. Together, the author number and the classification number make up the call number. 

A record of the proper form of names, subjects, or series used in a catalogue. The purpose of an authority file is to keep entries uniform. 

The maximum capacity of the speed of transmission of a line in an electronic communications network, measured in bits per second, bytes per second, or Hertz (cycles per second). On the Internet, the amount of information in digital format which a given connection can carry. During periods of peak usage, bandwidth may determine speed of transmission, particularly in the case of large files, such as those containing graphics and/or audio.  

A bit is short for binary digit. They are the 0s and 1s that data is converted into so it can run down transmission lines. A byte is eight bits and is equivalent to one character such as the letter "s". The size of a computer's memory is the number of bits it can store measured in kilobytes. One K is 1,024 bytes.

A description of the contents of a book prepared by the publisher and generally found on a book jacket or in a publisher's catalogue.

The main part of a book that follows the preface and introduction and precedes bibliographies, references, and indexes. 

The part of a catalogue entry that begins with the title and ends with the imprint. 

A collection of more than 48 pages which has a distinctive title and is fastened together in a binding.

A paper cover placed around a book to protect the binding. Sometimes called a dust jacket, dust cover or dust wrapper.

See Author number.

An annual publication listing all types of books published and distributed in the United States which are available for purchase. 

A book which has been read onto audio cassette or a CD, usually by a professional reader or, in some cases, by the author. Originally, books-on-tape were produced for the visually impaired, but the market has expanded to include joggers and walkers who like to listen to tapes as they exercise, individuals who must spend long hours driving, and others who would rather listen than read. Synonymous with audiobook and talking book. Due to copyright procedures, all books on tape produced by the CNIB remain restricted to those with visual impairments.

A person who takes out books and other items from a library. Libraries generally require borrowers to register and receive a library card before borrowing privileges are granted. Some form of identification is usually required of new applicants. Not all library users are registered borrowers--in most public libraries, anyone may use reference books and materials from the circulating collection onsite. 

A library in London, England which serves as the national library of the United Kingdom. It receives deposit copies of material published in the U.K. (Formerly known as the library of the British Museum.)

A client program (software) that is used to look at various kinds of Internet resources, e.g. Netscape navigator or Internet explorer.

An electronic storage area where subscribers can post or retrieve messages. Some bulletin boards are run in-house by small companies. Others are offered by commercial on-line services such as Compuserve or Prodigy which also offer other services, including links with the Internet. 

Community Access Program (Industry Canada)

County and Regional Municipality Libraries (acronym pronounced as a word) – replaced by ARUPLO 

Chief Executives of Large Public Libraries of Ontario (acronym pronounced as a word)

Canadian Library Association

The symbolic notation used to identify and locate a particular work. Usually consists of the classified number, an author number, and include other identifying symbols.

An annual publication listing all types of books published in Canada and available for purchase. 

The microfiche catalogue published by the National Library of Canada, listing materials by Canadians, about Canada, or published in Canada. Formerly also in the form of a printed catalogue.

A catalogue prepared on 7.5 cm x 12.5 cm card stock.

A list of books, periodicals, maps, and other materials, arranged in a definite order. In a card catalogue, the list of the holdings of a library is printed or typed on catalog cards filed in separate sections by author, title, and subject, or in a single alphabetical sequence, in the long narrow drawers of special filing cabinets. Many libraries have converted the card catalogue to a machine-readable (computerized) format, known as an online catalogue. The activity of preparing bibliographic records for a library catalog is called cataloging.  

Compact Disc-Read Only Memory, a plastic optical disk, 12 centimeters in diameter, similar to an audio compact disc, used for publishing and storing information in digital format. The information is read from the disc by a small laser beam inside a CD-ROM drive. In libraries, CD-ROMs are used primarily as a storage medium for bibliographic databases and full text resources, such as encyclopedias and other reference works. CD-RW is a variation that allows the user to write onto the CD through the drive. 

A service which deals with programs and collections for children.

The section of a library which controls the lending of materials to borrowers, keeps records of the transactions, processes holds, and registers borrowers.

Canadian Institute for Scientific and Technical Information. A federal agency which specializes in scientific and technical information and, along with the National Library, is an important element in the Canadian interlibrary loan and information retrieval system.

Any systematic arrangements of knowledge. Specifically, a symbolic notation consisting of numbers, letters, or both, representing the subject of a work.

 Wide-area (WAN) or local-area network (LAN) architecture which makes it possible for a client computer (usually a PC workstation) to request information or processing from a server machine equipped to provide what is requested, as opposed to a system using dedicated terminals connected to a minicomputer or mainframe. The server can be a high-speed microcomputer, a minicomputer, or even a mainframe. Also refers to the software which establishes the connection between client and server.

The part of an entry providing a physical description of a work. For a book, the collation includes pagination or number of volumes, illustrations, and size.

Consortium of Ontario Libraries. Formally established in 1998, this group has negotiated a number of province-wide licensing agreements on specific electronic resources.

One who produces a collection of works by selecting and putting together matter from works of various persons or bodies.

The exclusive legal right to publish, reproduce, and sell a literary or artistic work for a specific number of years.

The date of the copyright as given in the book, usually on the back of the title page, and usually preceded by the symbol (c).

An organization or group of persons that is identified by a name and that acts as an entity. Includes associations, conferences, institutions, businesses, and government agencies.

The binding that holds the leaves of the book together. It is usually made of heavy cardboard or a similar material. In order to withstand wear, the cardboard may be covered with another material.

The title printed on the cover of an item.

Central Processing Unit. The ‘brain’ of a computer which performs arithmetic, logic and control operations. 

 The bringing together, into one issue or one alphabetical arrangement, a group of issues which were originally published separately.

See Author number. 

A continuously updated computer file of related information, abstracts, or references on a particular subject, arranged for ease and speed of search and retrieval. Databases are usually created and maintained with the aid of software known as a ‘database management system’. An on-line library catalogue is also a type of database - this time, of bibliographic records.

An inscription to honour or compliment a patron, friend, or relative, usually printed on the first leaf following the title page of a book.

The cataloguing process concerned with describing the work bibliographically.

The use of computer hardware and software for page layout, graphic design, and printing to produce professional quality, camera-ready copy.

The classification system developed by Melvil Dewey. All knowledge is divided into ten categories and each category is subdivided into ten subcategories. It is a numeric notation.

A catalogue in which all the entries (main entry, personal name added entries, corporate name added entries, title added entries, series added entries, and subject entries) are filed in one alphabetical sequence. 

Data transmitted as discrete and discontinuous voltage pulses (off and on) represented by the binary digits 0 and 1, known as bits. In digitized text, each character is represented by a specific eight-bit sequence called a byte. Most computers used in libraries transmit data in digital format. 

Generally speaking, the term "disk" is used when referring a computer disk, with the floppy disk or the hard disk. The name "disc" which is spelled differently from the term "disk" is used when referring to compact discs or CD-ROM. In the literature on computer technology, however, there are inconsistencies in the use of these two terms.

The process of converting data (printed material) to digital format. In information systems, digitization usually refers to the conversion of text or image (photograph, illustration, map, etc.) into digital signals, using some kind of scanning device, to enable the result to be displayed on a computer screen. In communication, digitization refers to the conversion of continuous analog signals into pulsating digital signals.

A catalogue with more than one alphabetical sequence. Usually consists of two parts: subject entries in one alphabetical sequence, all other entries in another alphabetical sequence.

The unique name that identifies an Internet site, the domain name is the address of the computer on the Internet where the Web page is located. For example, sols.org is the domain name portion of the Southern Ontario Library Service Web site address, http://www.sols.org and olsn.on.ca is the domain name portion of the Ontario Library Service-North Web site address, http://www.olsn.ca. 

A type of optical disk, the same size as a compact disc but with greater recording capacity, partly because it is double-sided. DVD is expected to supersede video CDs, laserdiscs, and videotape, as the preferred medium for motion pictures for home use. DVD players can also read most CD media.  

A book composed or typed on a computer, or converted from print to digital (machine-readable) format by scanning or some other process, for display on a computer screen. Although the first hypertext novel was published in 1987 (Afternoon, A story by Michael Joyce), e-books did not begin to capture public attention until March 2000 when Stephen King published the novella “Riding the Bulle”’ online. Within 24 hours, the text had been downloaded by 400,000 computer users.

A variety of computer systems which allow communication between computer users. Usually, messages are sent to and saved at a “mail-box” address rather than using direct interaction between users. Common name for electronic mail.

All those copies of a work produced from substantially the same type image.

A part or subsection of an area in the description of a catalogue entry (e.g. the title proper "element" in the title and statement of responsibility "area").

A sheet of paper at each end of a book which is inserted by the binder to help fasten the sewn sections to a cover. One half is pasted onto a cover of a book; the other is pasted to the end leaf of a section.

A single record or listing of a work in a catalogue, index, bibliography, etc.

Current material of contemporary interest, such as newspaper clippings and pamphlets. 

Frequently asked question - A document that lists and answers the most common questions on a particular subject is often referred to as a FAQ. 

A roll of 35mm film containing still pictures for projection. Older versions have titles written on the film; some versions have accompanying audiocassettes to provide the sound.

In the context of the Internet, the process of preventing the users of a specific computer, computer system, or computer network from accessing specific types of information, usually by means of special software designed to screen content and block access to sites considered inappropriate. Filtering is used primarily to prevent children from accessing sexually explicit material, and by employers to prevent employees from engaging in recreational activities while on the job. The controversy surrounding filtering involves issues of censorship and intellectual freedom.

Faculty of Information and Media Studies (University of Western Ontario). This is a new acronym for the former School of Library and Information Science (SLIS).

Faculty of Information Studies (University of Toronto) 

The unprinted leaves in the front or back of a book that are not end papers.

A note at the foot of a page, usually in smaller type than the text, giving a reference, an authority, or an elucidation of matter in the text.

An illustration facing the title page. 

File transfer protocol - A very common method of moving files between two Internet sites. FTP is a special way to log in to another Internet site for the purposes of retrieving and/or sending files. Often, library databases are sent to the INFO database manager by FTP.

This is the technical definition for hardware or software used to communicate between two systems which are initially ‘incompatible’. A gateway package converts procedures and protocols to allow a network and a system to communicate together. In the field of Internet, what used to be described as a ‘gateway’ is now more commonly called a ‘portal’. See: portal

A term that is used in a catalogue entry to indicate the class of material (i.e. medium) to which an item belongs (e.g. motion picture, sound recording, video recording, microform, etc.)

A list of terms with their definitions.

Any publication originating with, authored by, or published by a government or any of its agencies.

A two-dimensional representation whether opaque (poster, photo, drawing) or intended to be viewed or projected without motion by means of an optical device (slide, filmstrip). 

A brief title of a publication appearing on a leaf preceding the title page.

The published record of Parliament proceedings.

A mass data storage device which usually are placed inside but which could also be an external device placed next to a computer. The device holds large volumes of data and/or a number of software programmes.

The hardware of the computer consists of a central processing unit (CPU), at least one disk drive, a hard drive, a monitor/display screen, and a keyboard. Software is then needed to make the computer run.

The first name, word, or phrase of a catalogue entry.

Heritage and Libraries Branch of the Ministry of Culture. This Ministry is responsible for public library service in Ontario. Formerly known as the Cultural Partnerships Branch. It is the Libraries Unit within that branch that develops provincial policies for the public library system. 

The request of a patron that the library material which is currently unavailable be held and the patron notified upon its return to the library. Also called a reserve.

Authors of Web pages use a special formatting language, called Hyper-text markup language, or html, to create the individual Web pages. 

The place of publication, name of publisher, and date of publication in an entry.

Interlibrary loan; lending and borrowing activities among autonomous library boards. When a book or other item listed in the catalog is checked out or unavailable for some other reason, or the library does not own the item, a registered borrower may request that it be borrowed from another library, usually by filling out a printed form. Some libraries allow interlibrary loan requests to be submitted electronically via the library's Web site or by e-mail.

A list of topics, names, etc., treated in a book with references to the pages where they occur. A guide by author, subject, or title to information in other published sources such as periodicals, which gives sufficient bibliographic information to enable a user to retrieve the material. A term sometimes used by patrons for the library catalogue.

Information Network for Ontario. A resource sharing network for Ontario public libraries. Incorporates a Web-based database which lists the holdings of libraries from across the province and an interlibrary loan system. The electronic database was originally designed as a CD-ROM product but now is available via the Internet from the Ontario Library Service Web site through software, from Fretwell-Downing, called VDX.

A major service of a library which assists patrons to find the information they need, either by answering their questions directly or referring them to an appropriate source.

see ILL/ILLO.

The fiber-optic network of networks which interconnects computers of all types throughout the world, enabling users to communicate via e-mail, find information on the World Wide Web, transfer data and program files via FTP, and access remote computer systems, such as library catalogs, via Telnet. The Internet began as ARPAnet, a project of the U.S. Department of Defense, and now has millions of users worldwide. Synonymous with Net.   

A private network inside a company or organization that uses the same kinds of software that you would find on the public Internet, but that is for internal use only.

A preliminary part of a book that tells what the book is about and how the author intends to cover the subject.

no Canadian rights
NE, NEP - new edition pending
NOP - not our publication
OP - out of print
OS - out of stock
NYP - not yet published
TOP - temporarily out of print
TOS - temporarily out of stock

IP stands for ‘Internet protocol’, the physical address of a client or server computer attached to a network governed by the TCP/IP protocol, written as four sets of Arabic numerals separated by periods (example: 123.456.78.9). Each IP address has an associated alphanumeric Internet address in the’ Domain name system’ (DNS) which is easier to remember. DNS is a table for translating numerical IP addresses (example: 123.456.78.9) into the alphanumeric domain name addresses (example: www.thisuniversity.edu) which are familiar to Internet users, and vice versa.

International standard book number - an internationally agreed upon standard number that uniquely identifies an item.

Internet service provider - A company or organization in the business of providing accounts which allow individual computer users to connect to the Internet, usually via a telecommunication channel, in exchange for payment of a low monthly fee.

International standard serial number - This is similar to an ISBN, except that it is assigned to periodical publications and the same number appears on every issue of that publication. 

A supplier, usually a wholesaler, who stocks a wide range of items. Using jobbers reduces the work load in the acquisitions department, since it then becomes possible to secure from one source items produced by many different publishers.

A person who collaborates with one or more associations to produce a work. 

A collection of information in different media, usually on a specific topic, designed to be used and stored as a unit. 

 Librarians’ Advisory Committee - Committees of public library CEOs who meet to advise the OLS-North on user needs and concerns. First Nations communities also use the LAC format, in both southern and northern Ontario to meet and identify common concerns.  

 Local area network - A communications network restricted to a relatively small geographic area, often within a single building or group of buildings, such as a college, university, or corporate campus, consisting of at least one server, client workstations, a network operating system, and a communications link. LANs handling high-speed communication over the Internet use optical fiber as a transmission medium. Compare with wide area network (WAN).

Books and periodicals set in 16 or 18 point type, sometimes larger, with more white space, thick dark characters and non-glare paper to provide ease of readability. 

The sheets of paper that make up the book's contents.

The total accumulation of books and other materials owned by a library, organized and catalogued for ease of access by its users. A library's complete collection may consist of several smaller collections, for example, the reference collection, circulating collection, serials, government documents, rare books, etc. Synonymous with holdings.

The national library of the United States. Also serves as the depository library for material published in the U.S. (commonly referred to as LC.)

The classification system developed to organize the holdings of the Library of Congress. It is an alpha-numeric system that permits expansion. 

The seven-digit order number which allows librarians to order card sets from the Library of Congress. The number appears in CIP data. 

A formal written contract between a library and a vendor for the lease of one or more bibliographic databases or online resources, usually for a fixed period of time in exchange for payment of a periodic fee or per-search charges. Most licensing agreements limit the number of simultaneous users.  

Software responsible for the management and distribution of e-mail messages to members of a mailing list. Electronic mailing lists (listservers) provide forums for Internet users to participate in discussions or receive information on thousands of topics. You can join a listserv on a topic or group, and then e-mail addressed to the listserv name is copied to each member of the group. 

Follows the table of contents and indicates the places in the book where illustrations are to be found.  

An arrangement of computers linked together so they can get data from one another or share programs. 

Acronym for the grants from the’ Library Strategic Development Fund’ of the Ministry (formerly known by the term ‘Library Project Grants’). Often involves digitization projects. 

A full catalogue entry giving all the information necessary for the identification of a work. This entry serves as the basis for all the other entries in the catalogue, which usually appear as the main entry with additional headings at the top. The main entry can also be defined as the form of an entry that would be used in a catalogue that is restricted to one entry per bibliographic item. 

Machine Readable Cataloguing - An international standard digital format for describing bibliographic items, developed at the Library of Congress, to facilitate the creation and dissemination of computerized records between libraries and between countries.

A generic term for non-print materials such as films, filmstrips, slides, video recordings, audio compact discs, audiotapes, CD-ROMs, machine-readable data files, and computer software.

A flat sheet of film, usually 105 mm x 148 mm (4" x 6") containing several rows of images in reduced size. 

A roll of film on which are images of pages in reduced size.

A photographic image on film that must be magnified on special machines in order to be read. Formats include microfilm, microfiche, aperture cards, etc.

A contraction of modulator-demodulator, originally a peripheral device capable of converting digital pulses into analog frequencies for transmission over a telephone line, and data received in analog frequencies into digital pulses for display on, or processing by, a digital computer. A modem also dials the telephone line, answers calls, and controls transmission speed. Modems are built into newer microcomputers.

A publication which is not designed to be published in successive parts at regular or irregular intervals but which is complete in itself, e.g. a book.

A program printed on a roll of film to be projected on a screen. Films have been available in 8mm, Super-8mm, and 16mm, 35mm, and 70mm widths, although the 35mm and 70 mm are rarely available in public libraries. Each type of film requires a different type of projector for playback. 

Refers to the delivery of information which combines different content formats such as motion video, audio, still images, graphics, animation, and text. 

The depository library for material about Canada, by Canadians, or produced in Canada. Maintains the Canadian Union Catalogue in which the holdings of the principal library collections in Canada are listed. Publishes Canadiana.

The printed book catalogue listing holdings of the Library of Congress since 1953 and the holdings of major North American libraries since 1956. Also referred to as NUC.

A group of computers, interconnected in such a way that data can be transferred among them, usually by means of a client/server system. Networks are usually administered by an operations center which provides assistance to its users. The largest network in the world is the Internet. Also, two or more organizations engaged in the exchange of information through common communication links, for shared objectives. When the organizations are libraries, the arrangement is known as a library network.

National Film Board/Office nationale du film. Created in 1939, the National Film Board of Canada (NFB) is a public agency that produces and distributes films and other audiovisual works which reflect Canada to Canadians and the rest of the world. The Web address is www.nfb.ca   

A borrower's card issued to a person who does not reside within the legal boundaries of the area served by a library or library system, usually upon payment of a modest fee and renewable at regular intervals. 

A system of numbers and/or letters used to represent a classification scheme. Mixed notation uses two or more symbols -- letters and numbers (e.g. Library of Congress classification). Pure notation uses one kind of symbol -- either letters or numbers (e.g. Dewey Decimal classification).

Additional information included in the catalogue entry to give the user a more extensive idea of the nature of the material. 

Ontario Association of Library Technicians.

Ontario Library Association. The Web site for the OLA is www.accessola.org

Ontario Library Service - a term which refers to both Ontario Library Service-North (OLS-N) and the Southern Ontario Library Service (SOLS). 

Ontario Library Service-North. The Web site for the organization is www.olsn.ca 

Ontario Library and Information Technology Association (a division of OLA)

Ontario Library Boards Association (a division of Ontario Library Association). Formerly known as OLTA or Ontario Library Trustees’ Association.

The 1990 Ontario Public Library Strategic Plan was intended to give a common purpose and direction to the diverse public library community. Its aim was to ensure effective, accessible, equitable and excellent library service to all residents of Ontario.

All Ontarians, regardless of where in Ontario they live and work, have a right to public library service that meets basic, widely accepted norms of library practice and service. The Guidelines offer a method for libraries throughout the province to meet basic service levels and to continue to grow to meet the ever-changing needs of their communities. The Guidelines are essentially a developmental tool. The primary target group is small, medium and county public libraries, but the Guidelines may be adapted for use by other interested libraries.

When computers were first introduced to the business world, each system was a unique machine. Both the users and manufacturers learned the advantages of separating the programming (software) from the physical equipment (hardware) used to execute the programs and deliver the results. Eventually, the connections between many hardware devices became standardized. Similar examples of open systems in the field of electronic hardware can be found in telecommunications and consumer electronics. A similar idea of interchangeable sections in software took longer to be accepted but is beginning to work. 

Ontario Public Library Association (a division of OLA).

Ontario Public Library Network – In 2001-2002, the Ontario Public Library Network Taskforce received $73,030 to create a digital toolkit and centre of digital expertise for public libraries across Ontario. OPLN created a technical HelpDesk, in cooperation with the Peterborough Public Library. The live phone service, “24by7 TEK desk” and the web-based service (www.24by7.ca) provide Ontario public libraries with no cost, tier one computer system support. 

A system of numbers or letters used to indicate the total number and order of pages in a work.    

A printed publication of 48 pages or less, bound in paper covers.

The record in an electronic circulation system which contains data pertaining to a borrower's account (address, telephone number, items on loan, holds, unpaid fines). In many libraries, the record can be accessed by barcode scanner, as well as by computer keyboard. Some online catalogs allow a registered borrower to view his (or her) own patron record after entering an authorization code. Legislation requires that the patron records must be kept confidential.

Pay Equity is "equal pay for work of equal value". The Pay Equity Act requires that jobs be evaluated, and work, mostly or traditionally done by women, be compared to work mostly or traditionally done by men. Pay Equity is "equal pay for work of equal value", which is not the same as "equal pay for equal work". Equal Pay for Equal work, covered by the Employment Standard Act, requires employers to pay men and women equally for doing the same job or substantially the same job. The Pay Equity Office (PEO) is responsible for implementing and enforcing the Pay Equity Act. The Web site for the Pay Equity Commission is http://www.gov.on.ca/lab/pec/ 

A publication issued in successive parts, each with the same title but a different number. Most periodicals are issued at regular intervals and in paper covers.  

The person chiefly responsible for the creation of the intellectual or artistic content of a work. 

A statement which defines the parameters of action for an organization and provides a basis for the board and staff to carry out their responsibilities.

Co-operative ventures among libraries to purchase and share materials.  PoP - (Point of Presence, also Post Office Protocol) - are two commonly used meanings. A ‘Point of Presence’ means a city or location where a network can be connected to, often with dial up telephone lines. So if an Internet company says they will soon have a POP in Orangeville, it means that they will soon have a local phone number in Orangeville and/or a place where leased lines can connect to their network.

A physical connection on a computer or network device, usually in the form of a socket, which allows data to be received from, and transmitted to, an external device. In library systems, the number of ports available for log on determines the number of users who can access a system simultaneously. Most libraries reserve a fixed number of ports for local use and designate the remaining for remote access. 

A Web site or service that offers a broad array of resources and services, such as e-mail, forums, search engines, and on-line shopping malls. The first Web portals were online services, such as AOL, that provided access to the Web, but by now most of the traditional search engines, including Yahoo!, have transformed themselves into Web portals to attract and keep a larger audience.

A note preceding the body of a book which states the origin, purpose, and scope of the work.

The person or firm that manufactures printed materials. 

A user whose behavior disturbs the normal functioning of the library. Problem patrons include those whose actions annoy others, persons who use the library for purposes other than reading and study, and individuals who deface library property or remove library materials from the premises without checking them out. Many libraries have invested in a security system to handle theft. Libraries with persistent problem patrons sometimes hire a security guard to maintain order during the hours the library is open.

A prescribed method for carrying out a particular responsibility or action. 

Video which patrons may show to public gatherings, such as classes, meetings (vs. home use for private viewing).

Library work that deals with patrons and their use of the library collection.

The date of the first printing of an edition.

The person or corporate body responsible for issuing a work. 

Random Access Memory. A group of memory chips which function as the primary workplace for processing within a computer. RAM is that part of a computer’s memory in which data may be added, deleted or altered by the user.

A service which suggests reading materials to patrons. The staff member involved in readers' advisory work may recommend specific titles; compile reading lists by genre, theme, or subject; or instruct readers in the use of the library and its resources.

Actual objects (artifacts, specimens, etc.) rather than replicas.

The right-hand page of an open book.

The library service which helps patrons by providing information and instruction on the use of library resources, in response to questions posed by users.

Reproduction of an earlier edition of a work without alteration.

Refers to the changing of old bibliographic records (usually in the form of catalogue cards) into a machine-readable format. In the conversion, a record for each item held by the library must be entered into a computer database. There are a number of options - keying the information into the database directly using library staff or using an outside source, or using bibliographic records already in a machine-readable form, choosing the records you have and copying the records to your own database. 

Request for Proposal - a call for proposals made by a library to suppliers or consultants to search for the most appropriate equipment or service. 

A hardware device designed to route the tiny packets of data which comprise electronic messages from one wide area network (WAN) or local area network (LAN) to another by the most efficient path or route.  

Record Sequence Number - A number assigned in the cataloguing process to provide unique identification for each individual catalogue entry.

Title repeated at the top of every page or every alternate page. 

Scanners can be very useful in libraries, particularly to help with resource sharing. You can use scanners for document management, to convert material to machine-readable form and to pick up copyright-free clip art from old books and magazines. While there are inexpensive machine-readable clip art programs available (i.e., CorelDRAW, Micrografx Graphics Works), clip art is not the only use for scanners.

An extensive annotation describing a bibliographic work, subject heading, or classification number.

A guide in a catalogue or index that directs a user from a name or subject to related names or subjects.

A guide in a catalogue or index that directs a user from the form of a name or subject that is not used to the form of the name or subject that is used.

The process by which library materials are chosen to meet the needs of patrons.

A publication issued in successive parts at regular or irregular intervals, usually to be continued indefinitely. Included are periodicals, newspapers, proceedings, reports, and annuals.

A number of separate works usually related to one another in subject matter or form, usually issued in succession by the same publisher; each of the separate works has an individual title as well as sharing a common title known as the series title.

A host computer on a network which answers requests for files and data from client computers connected to it. Also refers to the software that makes the process of serving information possible. Servers are distinguished by the type of function they perform (examples: application server, database server, file server, proxy server, intranet server, mail server, print server, and Web server). 

A record of materials in a library. Entries are arranged in the same order as the materials on the shelf.

A translucent photograph mounted in a 2" by 2" holder, placed in trays for projection of pictures.

Programs which enable a computer to carry out specific operations such as word processing and database management. The computer itself is the hardware and the program is the software.

Southern Ontario Library Service. The Web site for this organization is www.sols.org

A service which provides programs and assistance to groups with special needs such as disabled, multilingual or ESL.

The part of a book which holds the front and back covers together and conceals the sewn or bound edge of a book.

The International Standard Number (ISN), e.g. International Standard Book Number (ISBN), International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) or any other internationally agreed upon standard number, that uniquely identifies a bibliographic item. 

The part of a bibliographic item or catalogue entry which indicates the "author" of a work, that is, the person or organization responsible for the intellectual content of the book.

That part of a divided catalogue that contains the subject entries.

The cataloguing process concerned with selection of subject entries and a classification number.

A catalogue entry under a heading that describes the subject.

A word or group or words indicating the subject of a work in a catalogue or index.

The right granted by a publisher to receive a periodical for a prescribed period of time, or for a specific number of issues, in exchange for payment in advance of a fixed fee. Persons who receive Internet access from an ISP are also considered subscribers, as are libraries which license databases from a vendor.

A secondary title that usually gives an indication of the scope of the work. 

The list of chapter headings, subheadings, etc., usually found at the beginning of a publication. 

Generally used for the spoken recordings on cassette or CD prepared specifically for, and available to, people with visual or motor impairments. Generally the term ‘books on tape’ is used for recordings on cassette or CD that are in general circulation for use by anyone.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol, a communications protocol (set of rules) implemented in 1982, that allows different types of computers connected to the Internet to communicate with each other. The TCP part of the protocol ensures that the total amount of information sent (bytes) is received correctly. The IP part provides the mechanism for routing the information packets (the message) to get to the destination address as efficiently as possible.

All the activities and processes concerned with acquiring, organizing, preparing, and maintaining a library's collections. The two main branches of technical processing are acquisitions, which may include collection development, and cataloging. Together they comprise the technical services department of a library. This work usually does not require direct contact with library patrons.

The body or contents of the work.

The name of a bibliographic work.

A page at the beginning of the publication listing the title, name of author, editor, etc. and usually the imprint.

A list of the added entry headings for a given work in a catalogue. 

A catalog of the holdings of more than one independent library, or of a library system, indicating the location of each item by the name or location symbol of the library or libraries which own it.

A basic catalogue card, in the form of a main entry. Such cards may be used for all entries if the appropriate heading is added at the top of each card. 

(Uniform Resource Locator) - Each Web page is identified by a special address called the URL or the unique address of each Web page at the Web sites on the World Wide Web. For example, the URL for the SOLS is http://www.sols.org while the Web site for OLS-North is http://www.olsn.ca  

Virtual Document Exchange – This is the Web-based Interlibrary Loan management system software used by libraries in Ontario. The system was developed by Fretwell-Downing. 

The left-hand page of an open book.

A collection of materials such as pamphlets, clippings or illustrations which are kept either in folders in a filing cabinet, or stored in pamphlet or magazine boxes stored in shelves. Also known by the terms information file and pamphlet file.

A system used to record television programming on 1/2" tape in videocassette.

Electronic transmission of sounds and pictures that involves television technology. The recording or playing back of programs on tape or disc requires a television receiver or projector.

Sending the picture portion of a video program to a reflective screen, as with motion pictures and slides and not to the electronic screen of a television set. 

A plastic shell containing a video recording on a roll of tape that stays inside the cassette. The tape width is commonly 1/2", in either VHS or Beta format. For education or broadcasting, the width can be 3/4", although this is less common.

A magnetic tape on which the electronic impulses of the video and audio portions of a television programme or event can be recorded. 

A "library without walls", in which the collection and resources are not maintained on paper, microform, or in any tangible form, but are accessible electronically. Such libraries exist only on a small scale, but in many traditional libraries, current and retrospective periodical literature is rapidly being converted to digital format.  

In the bibliographical sense, a book distinguished from other books by having its own page and usually independent pagination. 

(World Wide Web) An easy-to-use interface for accessing the global network of information available on computers of all types and sizes which are connected to the Internet. The "Web" was designed in 1989 by researchers at CERN in Switzerland. Mark Andreeson, a student at the University of Illinois, later devised a simple point and click system called Mosaic, which evolved into the Netscape Navigator Web browser.

A Web server that provides 24-hour access to one or more interlinked pages which collectively represent the presence of an organization, company, individual, or work on the World Wide Web. The main page, or welcome page, is known as the homepage. 

A network linking machines in widely separated (distances exceeding a mile or two) locations, usually through interconnection of several local area networks by the use of routers and gateways. 

The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is the ‘standards’ organization in the United States. An ANSI committee, Z39, was responsible for standardization in the field of library work and related publishing practices. This work is now done by the National Information Standards Organizations (NISO). Z39.50 is one of the standards or protocols for the exchange of information. It is a client/server-based protocol which allows computer users to query a remote information retrieval system (server) using the software of a different system, and displays results in the interface of the system used for input (client). 

The acronyms and selected terms printed here have been compiled from the following documents and/or publications.

ILC Glossary of Internet terms.

The Web address is http://www.matisse.net/files/glossary.html 

ODLIS: Online dictionary of library and information science.

Webopedia: Online encyclopedia for computer and Internet terms.