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A quick glance at this list can help you finish library assignments efficiently.

Abstract -summary of a book or article.

Academic Article -see Scholarly article.

Atlases -books containing maps. Some maps are general and some are focused on one area.

Bibliographies -lists of books, articles, essays, web sites, and other sources about a particular subject.

Catalog -and electronic tool that shows the user where to find a book owned by the University Libraries. The Catalog provides the location, call number, and status of books.

Citation -for a book, the citation includes author, title, place of publication, publisher, and publication year. For an article, the citation includes author, title of article, title of the journal, volume, issue number, publication year, and page numbers.

Circulation Desk -the place in the library where users can check out books.

Database -a collection of electronic information. The library has many databases containing the entire texts of journal articles.

Dictionaries -sources defining words in a language. Many dictionaries include word histories, pronunciation, and examples of use.

Encyclopedias -reference books that provide overviews of topics. Some encyclopedias may be broad (such as World Book) while others focus on a specific subject (such as the Encyclopedia of Psychology).

Gazetteer -a reference book listing cities, towns, rivers, mountains, and other geographic features along with the exact location of these features.

Handbooks -provide simple, brief, thorough information about a subject.

Index - a tool that shows where to find an article.

Information Desk -the place in the library where you can ask research questions.

Interlibrary Loan -a system that enables users to order materials owned by other libraries. The Interlibrary Loan Office is located on the second floor of the Gorgas Library.

Internet -a vast network of computers linked together

Journals -similar in format to a magazine, but journals usually provide scholarly or professional information.

Literary criticism -comments and analysis written about a poem, play, short story, novel, or book. For example, you might be searching for books or articles written about Huckleberry Finn.

Manuals -give instructional / how-to information on a subject.

Popular Article -an article meant to entertain the general public. Popular articles usually have the following characteristics: glossy photographs, written by non-expert authors, easy to read, surrounded by consumer advertisements, lack or references. Examples of magazines with popular articles include Sports Illustrated, Time, and Newsweek. Most popular magazines are sold in newsstands or at major stores. Compare to Scholarly Article.

Reference -(not to be confused with reserve) reference books include dictionaries, encyclopedias, timelines, manuals, indexes, and other materials that cannot be checked out. Reference books often contain useful essays, overviews, definitions, and bibliographies on a particular subject.

Reserves -items such as articles and books that teachers put on hold in the library for students to check out and read. Reserves are designed to maximize access to a limited amount of material. Some reserves cannot be taken outside of the library. To check out reserves, students need their ACTion Cards and the call number of the reserve item from the catalog.

Scholarly Article -an article that is peer-reviewed (checked over by a group of experts before publication). Most scholarly articles have the following characteristics: written by experts, accompanied with references, formal or technical writing style, and published by a university or association. Many databases enable the user to limit searches to scholarly articles. Examples of journals with scholarly articles include Journal of American History, Sociological Quarterly, and Criminal Justice and Behavior: An International Behavior. Most scholarly articles are found in university libraries. Compare to Popular Article.

Search Engine -software that searches for electronic information.

Timelines -shows when events happened in history.

Webliography - list of web sites about a subject.