Glossary
	The glossary is a collection of words and definitions, in alphabetical order, that relate to a specific theme.   Our glossary has words about essays, researching, the Internet, computers, and the library.   If you can’t find a word listed here, check the dictionary or ask Ms McCarthy for help.
"One's mind, once stretched by a new idea, never regains its original dimensions." -Oliver Wendell Holmes

Aa
Abstract		a brief summary of an article
Annotated bibliography		a list of citations to books, articles, and documents followed by a brief descriptive paragraph. The purpose of the annotation or description is to inform the reader of the relevance, accuracy, and quality of the sources cited.
A.P.A.		American Psychological Association.  A style format used for citing sources when preparing and submitting a research paper.
Bb
Bibliography		a list of the sources used in preparing a research paper.  Other popular terms used to describe a bibliography are “Works Consulted” or “Reference List” or “Works Cited”.
Boolean		a method in which Boolean operators (AND, OR, NOT) are used when searching for information in a database. These terms help narrow or broaden the search.
Browser		a software application that finds and displays Web pages, and allows the user to jump from link to link.  Browser’s can also present multimedia information, including sound and video. Examples: Internet Explorer, Firefox.
Cc
Call number		the numbers and letters found on the spine of a book indicating where the book can be found on the library shelf
Citation		the act of mentioning or acknowledging something from a book or other source: giving credit where credit is due
Cross-reference		references that lead from an incorrect or incomplete subject heading to a correct one or lead to related topics for additional information, “see” and “see also”
Dd
Database		a collection of organized records of journal articles, newspapers, pictures or other data
Dewey Decimal Classification System		a system of organizing library material where books on the same subject sit together on the shelf. This system was invented by Melvin Dewey in 1876.
Directory		on the Web, a directory is a list of resources organized by topic and sub-topic; a subject guide.  It is compiled by people.
Downloading		copying a file from another computer to your computer
Ee
Ff
Fiction		a story invented by the imagination
Gg
.gif, GIF		Graphic Interchange Format.  A format for displaying images on the Web.
Hh
Hard copy		a book, or printed copy not in electronic format
Hit		a successful match during a search in a database
Home page		the first thing you see when you open a Web site.  It often tells what you can find at the site.
.html, HTML		Hypertext Markup Language.  A computer file with clickable linking parts.
Hypertext		a type of document that contains links to other documents
Ii
Icon		a picture representing an object or concept
Index		a list of items pointing to the location of each item. For example, an index at the back of a book gives the page number of a needed subject.
Internet		the world-wide network of computers that enables people to share information without ever leaving their desks. The World Wide Web allows interaction with the Internet through the use of images and hypertext links.
Jj
Java		a programmable language used to create animations and interactive features on World Wide Web pages
Journals		a periodical or publication which is issued on a regular basis
.jpg, JPEG		Joint Photographic Experts Group.  A compression technique used for saving images and photographs.  This method reduces the file size of the images without reducing the quality.
Kk
Keyword search		a search for articles that contain your search words
Keywords		search terms generally found in any searchable field (i.e. subject headings, author, title, summaries)
Ll
Limit search		an option that lets you qualify your search to be more specific i.e. limit by type of material, publication date etc.
Link		a connection between two Web pages allowing you to go from one Web page to another by clicking on a link
Mm
M.L.A.		Modern Language Association.  A style format used for citing sources when preparing and submitting a research assignment.
Modem		your computer’s telephone.  Your computer uses a modem to connect to other computers
.mp3, MP3		a format used for the compression and reproduction of CD-quality audio, which can be downloaded and listened to on a computer or handheld device
Multimedia		the use of a computer to combine and present text, graphics, audio and video
Nn
Networked computers		a group of computers which access the same programs or data at the same time
Non-fiction		a work that draws its information from history or fact
Oo
Online, on-line		the state of being connected to a network, typically the Internet.
OPAC, O.P.A.C.		Online Public Access Catalog. The computer database of a library’s collection.
Pp
Paraphrasing		putting another person’s ideas into your own words
.pdf, PDF		Portable Document Format.  A computer file which displays documents in their original format
Periodical		any publication that is issued on a regular basis.  Magazines, scholarly journals and newspapers are types of periodicals.
Plagiarism		using another person’s ideas or expressions as your own.
Plain text		a file which displays no special formatting or graphics.  The file extension is .txt
Primary sources		the use of actual historic sources (i.e. government documents, speeches, news footage, eyewitness accounts etc.)
Qq
Quote		copying exactly as it was written or said, and giving credit to the author
Rr
Ss
Search engine		a computer program that indexes Web sites.  It looks for Web pages that contain keywords you enter.  i.e. Google
Secondary source		a secondary source is where other people write about or comment on a topic. Examples are: biographies, writing about literary or philosophical texts, political or historical events, discussions of scientific data, or studies of issues.
Software		the programs that tell your computer how to carry out the commands you give it.  The programs may be for word processing, art, music, games or many other things.
Subject search		to seek information by topic (as opposed to author or title). In many indexes and catalogs, a "subject" search implies searching by the use of standardized subject headings assigned by the indexers, as opposed to keyword searching, where the user essentially guesses at words included in titles or abstracts of relevant items
Summarizing		the act of cutting down a selection of work to about one-third of its original length.  Its purpose is to shorten a passage without sacrificing its basic meaning.
Tt
Truncation		the process of dropping off letters from a word in a search in order to locate all possible combinations of the term and using a specific character to show truncation i.e. whal* would locate items about whale, whales, and whaling.
.txt		a file which displays in simple text with no special formatting or graphics.
Uu
URL		Uniform Resource Locator.  The address for a Web page.
USB Key		a small, lightweight, removable data storage device used to store data on a computer.
User interface		the ease of use of an electronic resource i.e. clear menu options, print instructions, ways to modify a search.
Vv
Ww
Web page		a single screen on the World Wide Web
Wild card		a symbol used in searching to represent one or more letters. It is most often used to find plurals and other variations of words. Commonly used symbols include "?" "*" "+" and “-“. See also truncation.
World Wide Web or WWW		the World Wide Web allows interaction with the Internet through the use of small images called icons and hypertext links. It is often referred to as the "graphical side of the Internet," due to its heavy use of images and other graphics.
Xx
Yy
Zz