Types of Libraries and Library Departments

Vocabulary flashcards covering the definitions of various types of libraries, library departments, and specific professional library services based on the lecture notes.

liber

The Latin word meaning "book," from which the term library is derived.

Library

Organized collections of documents, films, maps, sound-recordings, and other media designed to meet the informational, educational, and recreational needs of a given user population.

National Library

A library maintained by national resources that is responsible for publishing a national bibliography and maintaining a national bibliographical information center.

Academic Library

Libraries that serve students and faculty in community colleges, undergraduate colleges, or universities, matching needs ranging from curriculum support to advanced research.

Public Library

A library designed to serve the entire community and provide lending and reference services to a broad range of professional and non-professional users.

Special Library

A library that serves specific organizations, societies, or research institutes, with a collection reflecting the business interests or activities of the parent organization.

School Resource Center

A generator for creating a knowledge society and a promoter of information literacy designed to serve secondary and elementary school students and teachers.

Inter-Library Loan (ILL)

A service where one library borrows books not in its collection from another library, usually for a duration of one month.

Organizational Constraints

Factors such as staff, financial resources, space, and other resources that affect how a library fulfills its aims.

Ulverscroft series

An example of a special collection held by public libraries for specific types of users.

Information Technology (IT) Department

The department responsible for the library system, software, hardware, and management of electronic information resources.

Administration Department

The department responsible for management, policy decisions, budget control, staff supervision, and personnel matters.

Technical Service

The "behind the scene" activities involving the acquisition, cataloguing, and maintenance of the library collection.

Acquisition

The process of acquiring library materials through four forms: purchase, gifts and exchange, donation, and legal deposit.

Cataloguing

The section that maintains bibliographic control, provides access points for retrieval, and classifies materials to group same-subject items together.

Reader Service

The department that deals directly with the needs of clients, encompassing circulation and reference tasks.

Circulation

A reader service involving the lending and borrowing of materials, user registration, and the formulation of membership and fine policies.

Reference

A reader service that acts as a user guide, conducts library tours, serves as a readers advisor, and handles Inter-library loans.

Cataloguing Tools

Standardized systems used for bibliographic control, including AACR, Sears List, LCSH, DDC, LCC, and UDC.