GLOSSARY FOR KANSAS LIBRARY TRUSTEES

 

 

[NOTE: The following glossary was drawn primarily from online glossaries developed by the Central Kansas Library System staff and the Northeast Library System staff. Some terms were also selected from online glossaries published by the Indiana State Library and the Shapiro Library at the University of Michigan. To all: our sincere thanks.  The glossary was compiled by Shannon Roy, Library Development Director, Kansas State Library.]

 

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - R - S - T - U - V - W - Y

 

 

ALA - American Library Association, founded in 1876 by Melvil Dewey. ALA is the world’s oldest and largest library association.

 

ALA-MLS Librarian - A librarian with a Master’s degree from a graduate program of library and information studies that is accredited by the American Library Association.

 

ALEX - An online database that is linked to the Job Service Centers nationally. In addition to job listings, ALEX offers simulated interviews and resume maker.

 

Access points - Characteristics (e.g., author, title, and subject headings) of items used in searching a card catalog, online catalog or index to find specific desired items in a library's collection. Access points are the fundamental keys for finding specific items or information in large collections of items and information.

 

Accessibility - Characteristic of library grounds (e.g., parking areas), library buildings (e.g., doorways, restrooms and drinking fountains), library equipment (e.g., computers and microfilm readers), and library collections that allows use by all patrons regardless of their abilities or disabilities. The American Disabilities Act requires libraries to meet some standards for accessibility.

 

Acceptable Use Policy - Library policy defining patrons' acceptable use of library computers and access to Internet. More information is at www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/internet.html

 

Acquisitions - The process of purchasing library materials and the library department responsible for the acquisition process.

 

Adobe Acrobat Reader - Free software for viewing PDF (i.e., portable document format) full-text documents usually delivered over the Web. For example, the Kansas Libraries newsletter produced by the Kansas State Library is available online in PDF format.

 

Advocacy - Promoting libraries within the federal and state legislature and within the library’s home community.

 

American Disabilities Act (ADA) - Federal law requiring all public buildings funded by tax dollars to meet minimal standards to create accessibility for persons with disabilities. Libraries unable to meet these standards must provide alternative methods of providing accessibility.

 

Annual reports - Yearly forms Kansas librarians fill out for the Central Kansas Library System and the Kansas State Library reporting the past year's activities.

 

Amazon.com - Bookseller on the Web at www.amazon.com

 

Annual - An annual is a publication released each year. Example: The World Almanac

 

Archives - Collections of unique publications or records carefully kept of a person or organization or of historically significant materials.

 

Audiovisual - Non-book media containing pictures, video and/or sound. Examples: videocassettes and audiocassettes.

 

Audits - K.S.A. 75-1122 requires all municipalities have annual gross receipts, general obligation of revenue bonds greater than $275,000 be audited by a certified public accountant or licensed municipal accountant. Public libraries are included in this audit requirement in some cases. Libraries receiving State Aid or LSTA funds are required to retain records for five years in case an audit is required. More information is available in the "Audit" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Auto-graphics - The company that produces Kansas' statewide catalog, Kansas Library Catalog.

 

Automation - The process of turning the card catalog into an online catalog and placing patron information into the computer. The final result is an online catalog for looking up the library's holdings and circulation system on the computer for circulation of materials to patrons. An online catalog and automated circulation system is used from several computers that communicate with each other over a LAN, or Local Area Network.

 

BCR - BCR is the Bibliographic Center for Research, in Colorado. BCR is the regional provider of OCLC services, including training and billing. They also offer discounts on computer equipment and software.

 

BPH - See Talking Books Service.

 

Backfiles - Older issues of magazines, usually stored in a back room. Patrons request library staff to retrieve desired issues.

 

Backlists - Lists of older publications still available for purchase from publishers.

 

Banned books - Books that have been censored in the past. The American Library Association promotes awareness of censorship issues with Banned Books Week each September. More information is available at www.ala.org/bbooks/

 

Bar code label - A small label with vertical lines placed on books, magazines, patron's library cards, etc., to identify the item or person in the automated circulation system. The bar code actually represents a unique 10-digit number also printed on the label.

Bar codes for library materials are either smart or dumb. Smart barcodes come with the 10-digit number already linked to the cataloging record of the item and the title of the item printed on the bar code label. Library staff simply stick labels on the appropriate items. Dumb barcodes only have the 10-digit number. The labels are not linked to any item and do not have the title of an item. Library staff must link, in the cataloging record, the bar code number on the label to the item they stick the label on.

During check out, bar codes are entered in the computer with a bar code reader or wand or, when necessary typing in the number on the label.

 

Bar code reader -  The reader is a device using a laser to read bar codes and enter the bar code number into the computer.

 

Bi-annuals are publications or events appearing twice a year. Compare with biennial, every two years.

 

Bibliographic citation - A citation of a book or magazine article that provides the author's name, title, publication date, and publisher of the item for the purpose of helping readers find copies of that item.

 

Bibliographic database - A catalog or index in a computer. The database is searched by author’s name, title, or subject to retrieve a list of bibliographic citations. The Kansas State Library has purchased numerous bibliographic databases under the brand names of InfoTrac and FirstSearch. These databases are available through the Web and Kansas citizens can reach these databases on the Web at their local libraries or from home with a Kansas Library Card.

 

Bibliography - A list of bibliographic citations about a particular subject.

 

Biennial - Publications or events appearing every two years. Compare with bi-annual, twice a year.

 

Bi-monthly - Publications or events appearing every two months. Compare with bi-weekly, every two weeks.

 

Bindery - Companies responsible for binding magazines into single volumes or rebinding damaged books.

 

Bi-weekly - Publications or events appearing every two weeks (similar to a semi-monthly). Compare to bi-monthly, every two months.

 

Blue Skyways is the Kansas State Library web server. It is housed at the KU Medical Center and provides a variety of web services for Kansas libraries, Kansas communities and Kansas government.

 

Book jobber - a company or individual selling books to libraries.

 

Book vendor - a company or individual selling books to libraries.

 

Book return - An open or closed container either in or outside the library for patrons to return checked out books.

 

Bookmobile -  A traveling branch library consisting of a truck or van that carries an organized collection of library materials and a paid staff. A bookmobile is open at scheduled hours at scheduled stops and often brings library materials to areas not easily or directly served by a library facility.

 

Branch library - A branch library is a physical facility with collections, library staff and scheduled hours, but it is an administrative part of a larger library.

 

Boolean operators - The use of combinations of  "and", "or" and "not' for combining search terms when searching databases on computers. For example, "wolves and Yellowstone" retrieves items containing both wolves and Yellowstone,   

"cars or automobiles" retrieves items containing either cars or automobiles,

"cowboys not Dallas" retrieves items containing cowboys, but excludes all those items mentioning Dallas.

 

Broad-band connectivity - Internet connections that are faster than dial-up Internet connections. Methods of broad-band Internet connections include DSL, cable, wireless and satellite.

 

Browser - See Web browser.

 

Browsing - Patron activity of looking along library shelves to find a good book to read.

 

CD-ROM - See Compact Disk - Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM).

 

CIPA - See Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA)

 

CKLS - The Central Kansas Library System, headquartered in Great Bend, is one of the seven regional library systems.

 

CODDL - stands for the Council of Deans and Directors of Libraries, a group of library directors of state colleges and universities. In Kansas, this is the Board of Regents schools.

 

CULS is the College and University Library Section of the Kansas Library Association.

 

Call number - Each library item has a unique call number identifying its location in the library. When patrons find a desired item in the library's catalog, patrons use the call number to go to the item's location on the shelf. The two most common call number systems in the United States are Dewey Decimal (aka DDC) and the Library of Congress (LC) Classification Systems. Both systems group books on shelves by subject.

 

Capital Improvement Fund - Library operating budget funds that are set aside in a bank account for future capital expenditures. More information is available in "Capital Improvement Fund" in Roy Bird's Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Card catalog - Drawers containing 3" X 5" manila cards arranged alphabetically by author, title, and subject. When author, title, and subject cards are interfiled together, this is a dictionary catalog.  When author, title, and subject cards are filed in separate catalogs, this is a split catalog. Putting a card catalog on the computer is called automation. This produces an online catalog.

 

Card set - The group of catalog cards that allow access to a specific book or item, such as video or audiocassette. These cards are filed in the card catalog and shelflist. A complete set of catalog cards contains a shelflist card, author/main entry card, title card and one or more subject cards and sometimes some "added entry" cards. All these cards contain the same information. They are distinquished from each other by the top line on each card. The title card will repeat the title of the item on the top of the card. This top line is the access point to that item in the library.

 

Cash Basis Law - K.S.A. 10-1101 through 10-1116 in the Kansas Statutes state that libraries can not spend more money than they receive in revenue. More information is available in "Cash Basis Law" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Catalog - See Card catalog or Online catalog.

 

Catalog card - A 3" X 5" manila card containing a description of a library item and subject headings assigned by the cataloger. Each item (e.g., book, magazine, videocassette, audiocassette) will have several catalog cards called a card set. Each card provides an access point for that item. When the same information is on a computer, it is called a cataloging record. Catalog cards have been replaced by computer catalog records in many libraries.

 

Cataloging - The process of collecting and writing down the information for catalog cards. This information requires a physical description of the item and the assignment of authoritative subject headings and call numbers. When catalogers collect this information from the actual item, this is called original cataloging. When original cataloging is borrowed by other catalogers this is copy cataloging. When cataloging by other librarians is not available, the head of Technical Services will do original cataloging of the item.

 

Cataloging record - Cataloging information (e.g., author, title, and subject) for one item on a computer. In a cataloging record, each piece of cataloging information is placed in a separate area called a field. The author's name is placed in the author field. The title is placed in the title field. Placing each piece of information in a designated field allows patrons to search an online catalog in one field or in a combination of fields. This makes online catalogs more powerful tools than card catalogs for identifying specific items meeting patron needs.

 

Censorship - Suppression of ideas and information to certain persons. In libraries, this usually means restricting public access to books, magazines, Web pages, etc. Librarians, as a group, oppose censorship in favor of intellectual freedom. More information is in the "Censorship" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook and online at www.ala.org/alaorg/oif/censors.html

 

Challenge - The request by a patron to have an item removed from library shelves. Challenges are usually handled through an established procedure that is explained in the library policies.

 

Charter ordinances - A tool that city, county, or townships can use to over-ride state law when Kansas statutes are not uniform across the state. In the past, home rule charter ordinance was used by library boards to raise the mill levy for the library above the statewide tax lid set by the state legislature.   At present, a local government can pass an ordinance to establish the library levy.

 

Checking in - A process for recognizing that a patron has returned an item previously checked out by that patron.

 

Checking out - A process for lending library books, magazines, etc. to patrons. Items are checked out for a limited time called the loan period. The end of the loan period when items must be returned is called the due date. Items not returned by the due date are "overdue.” Many librarians mail out "overdue notices" to patrons. Items returned after the due date are "fined,” if the library has a fine policy. Checking out the same item to the same person again is called "renewing".

 

Childrens Internet Protection Act (CIPA) - A federal law requiring that Internet filters be placed on all computers in libraries receiving E-rate or Library Services and Technology Act grants for Internet access. Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act (NCIPA) is a related law requiring libraries and schools have an "Internet safety Policy" and a public meeting to review that policy.

 

Circulation - A process of lending library items to patrons or to other libraries through interlibrary loan. The complete circulation process includes checking out items to patrons, checking in returned items, and reshelving items on library shelves. Additional circulation duties frequently include placing holds on or recalling items already checked out, creating and mailing out overdue notices and collecting fines for overdues.

 

Citation - See Bibliographic citation.

 

Claimed returned - Library items that patrons claim to have returned, but that are not checked in and have not been found by the library staff. Libraries have varied policies on how they handle such claims, but they usually allow plenty of time for the item to be found.

 

Collection Development - A process of selecting materials (i.e., books, magazines, etc.) and removing (i.e., weeding) materials from the library collection. This process includes analyzing patron and community wants and needs; selecting materials satisfying those wants and needs, acquiring those materials, evaluating the collection for meeting needs, and removing materials no longer meeting community and patron wants or needs.

 

Community analysis - A process for obtaining historical, demographic, economic, transportation, political, and cultural information about the library's community. This information is collected through census data, surveys, focus groups, analysis of local yellow pages, and surveys. This information is used for evaluating current library programs and services and creating new programs and services to better satisfy community and patron wants and needs.

 

Compact Disk - Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM) - A plastic disk capable of holding 650 megabytes of information or about 300,000 pages of text. Most software is now sold on CD-ROM. Many libraries also purchase bibliographic databases and full-text documents on CD-ROM.

 

Confidentiality of patron records - Policy denying other citizens and law enforcement officials without court orders access to patron circulation and other records (i.e., what patrons have checked out). Librarians consider the protection of patrons' privacy important to protect the library's role as a provider of information to community citizens. Patrons will not ask librarians certain questions when they think other people in the community will learn of the query.

 

Conflict of interest - Situations in which a board member could personally profit or belongs to an organization that could profit from board decisions. Public libraries need to have a policy that specifically prohibits board members from profiting from their public trust.

 

Continuing Education - See Workshops.

 

Copyright  - Copyright is a legal, limited monopoly to reproduce original works, create derivative works, distribute copies, and display the copies of the work. This monopoly lasts the life of the author plus 70 years. These rights and limitations are defined in U.S. Code Title 17. Two limitations allow American libraries circulate materials for free.  The Doctrine of First Sale, defined in Title 17, Section 109, gives owners, including libraries, of specific copies of a work, the right to lend, give, and sell those specific copies. The Doctrine of Fair Use, defined in Title 17, Section 107+, gives individuals and libraries the right to copy portions of works for educational or personal use. Fair use legalizes the interlibrary loan of photocopies of magazine articles. Libraries in many other countries (e.g., England and Australia) do not have these "public lending rights" and must pay fees for lending materials.

 

Current Periodical - The most recent issues of a journal or magazine.

 

DISC -  Stands for Division of Information Services and Communications. It is the state agency which provides telecommunications and Internet services for other state agencies, including the Information Network of Kansas (INK).

 

Database - Information in a defined category that is stored on a computer in a way to enhance searching.

 

Depository library - A library participating in the Federal Depository Library Program. These libraries receive and provide public-access federal or state government publications. Kansas has 13 designated federal depository libraries.

 

Dewey Decimal Classification (DDC) - Classification system used by all members of the Central Kansas Library System for assigning call numbers on the spines of books to group them by subject on library shelves. The broadest classification system is the following.

 

000      General Works

100      Philosophy and Psychology           

200      Religion          

300      Social Science    

400       Languages     

500       Natural Science

600      Applied science, technology and craftsmanship

700       Fine Arts

800       Literature

900       History

 

Dial-up - Internet connection over a regular telephone line.

 

Dictionary catalog - A catalog in which author, title, and subject cards are interfiled alphabetically in the same card catalog. Compare with divided catalog.

 

Divided catalog - A catalog in which author cards, title cards, and subject cards are filed in separate card catalogs. Divided catalogs may place each set of cards in a separate catalog or group two of the sets together, such as title and author cards in one catalog and subject cards in a second catalog. Compare with dictionary catalog.

 

E-RATE - A fund that has been set aside by the government to provide discounts on telecommunications services to eligible libraries, schools and rural health care providers.

 

Electronic journal - A publication, often scholarly, that is made accessible in a computerized format and distributed over the Web.

 

E-mail - Electronic messages transmitted over Internet or local area network or the ability to transmit such messages. Email may be sent from one person to another person. Email may also be sent between groups of people using mailing lists. The Kansas library community has several mailing lists including Kanlib-L, Kanill-L, Kankid-L. Library staff use these mailing lists to distribute news and discuss issues and problems.

 

Electronic mailing list - An email list process that sends related messages to the subscribers of the list. Kanlib-L is the list that serves the Kansas library community.

Emergency Preparedness - The result of plans and procedures for responding to potential threats to library staff, patrons and facilities.

 

Employee Benefit Fund - A fund for purchasing certain employee benefits exclusive of salaries or other direct payments to employees. An employee benefit fund is a separate levy and does not come out of the regular library budget. More information is available in the "Employee Benefits" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Endowments - Funds or property donated to libraries as a source of income. More information is available in the "Endowments" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Encumbrance - Funds dedicated by purchase order to purchasing a specific item. More information is available in the "Encumbrance" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Executive Session - Special session called during board meetings to discuss personnel matters, employer-employee relations, consult with an attorney, or preliminary discussion on purchasing real property. For more information see "Open Meetings" in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.  

 

FEIN - See Federal Employee Identification Number

 

FOKL - See Friends of Kansas Libraries (FOKL) 

 

FTE - Stands for full-time equivalent. It is the total of the library staff hours, related to full-time library positions.

 

Facsimile signature - A signature on a stamp that can be used when the person authorized to sign library checks is unavailable. More information is available in the "Facsimile Signature" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Fair Labor Standards Act - A 1938 federal law requiring employers pay overtime compensation to non-exempt employees working over 40 hours a week. This may be either monetary compensation or time and a half off. More information is available in the "Fair Labor Standards Act" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Federal Employee Identification Number (FEIN) - A number issued by the IRS to identify an individual employer (e.g., the library). The library board treasurer and city clerk should know the library's FEIN number.

 

File Server - A computer providing access to software and documents over a LAN to computers used by people. For example, a library computer containing the online catalog.

 

Firewall - A combination of software and hardware protecting Web servers (i.e, computers connected to the Web) from tampering by outsiders.

 

Fixed Asset Accounting - A requirement that all libraries that are members of municipalities with annual gross receipts above $275,000 maintain an inventory of fixed assets such as furniture, equipment, etc.

 

Floppy disk - A 3.5" plastic disk capable of holding about 1.44 megabytes. One megabyte equals a million bytes. One byte equals one alphabetic letter.

 

Freedom to Read Statement - A statement of seven propositions supporting the publication of a wide variety of views and opposing all attempts by citizens to censor those views because freedom of expression and access to those expressions are necessary for a healthy democracy. The statement was originally adopted by the American Library Association in 1953 and has been updated several times since.

 

Friends of Kansas Libraries (FOKL) - The official organization for Friends of Library groups. More information is available at www.skyways.org/KSL/fokl/

 

Full-text - The entire contents of an article or book in electronic form. The Kansas State Library purchases online databases containing the full text of many articles and books. Kansas citizens can obtain access to these full-text resources by getting a Kansas Library Card

 

Google - Popular search engine for searching Web pages. http://www.google.com/

 

HTML - See Hypertext Markup Language (HTML).  

 

Hold - A request that an item be held for a patron until that patron can pick it up. The item may be checked out to another patron or a new item still being purchased or processed for circulation.

 

Holdings - A library's collection of books, magazines, videos, etc.

 

Holding libraries - The libraries owning a specific title. For example, below each cataloging record for each title on the Kansas Library Catalog is a list of the holding libraries owning a copy of that title.

 

Holdings maintenance - Keeping the Kansas Library Catalog (KLC) up-to-date by removing or adding your library's name on the lists of libraries owning books, audiocassettes, and videos on the KLC.

 

Home page - has two meanings in the context of the Web. It is the main Web page for a specific organization or individual, or the first Web page that appears when a Web browser is opened.

 

Home rule - An amendment to the Kansas Constitution allowing cities, counties, and townships the power to pass charter ordinances. More information is available in the "Home Rule" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) - Coding for writing Web pages telling Web browser software how to display the Web page on the computer screen.

 

Hyperlink - Text or graphics within Web pages that when clicked retrieve a second Web page because behind the clickable text or image on the first page is a URL pointing to the second page.

 

Hypertext - A document containing hyperlinks.

 

ICE - Institute for Continuous Education - A program organized by SLIM at Emporia State University offering a variety of continuing education events and classes. These include programs and services for trustees, programs for experienced professional librarians, KPLACE and the Library Services Certificate Program.   The Library Services Certificate is a curriculum of classes in five areas: Generalist Certificate, Library Administration Certificate, Collection Management Certificate, Information Sources and Services Certificate, Technology Certificate and Youth Services for Libraries. These classes offer workshop and college credit.

 

ILDP- Interlibrary Loan Development Program - Grants provided by the Kansas Library Network Board for purchasing books, audiocassettes, and videos for local collections that can be loaned to other Kansas libraries. More information about ILDP grants is available at:  http://www.skyways.org/KSL/KLNB/ildp.html

 

ILL - Interlibrary loan - A process for lending items between libraries. Kansas librarians use the online Kansas Library Catalog to identify what is available throughout the state for loan. Items held in other states are often requested through the OCLC system by larger libraries or regional library systems.  Upon receiving a request for an item, a holding library, now called lending library, mails the item to the borrowing library. The borrowing library checks out the item to the patron. When the patron returns the item, the borrowing library mails it back to the lending library.

 

 

IMLS - Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) - Federal agency responsible for distributing federal LSTA grant monies to states.

 

ISBN - The International Standard Book Number is a number given to a book that identifies that specific book.

 

ISP - Internet Service Provider - A commercial company providing Internet connections to individuals and organizations.

 

ISSN - The International Standard Serial Number is a number given to a serial (e.g., magazine) which uniquely identifies it.

 

In-print - Publications still being printed and available for purchase. See out-of-print and Print-on-demand.

 

In-process material - Newly acquired items still undergoing cataloging and other preparations for circulation.

 

Intellectual Freedom - The right to "hold any belief whatever on any subject, and to express such beliefs or ideas in whatever way the person believes appropriate." Librarians, as a group, support Intellectual Freedom.

 

Intellectual Freedom Manual - A publication by the Office of Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association discussing the role of intellectual freedom in libraries.

 

Internet - A worldwide network of computers that can talk to each other. Internet computers offer a variety of services including e-mail and the World Wide Web.

 

Internet Explorer (IE)  - Web browser software by Microsoft.

 

Internet filters - Software blocking access to undesirable Web pages, such as pornography, racism, extreme violence, etc. Filters block Web pages using lists of URLs and words identified with undesirable topics. The American Library Association and the Kansas Library Association have adopted resolutions against the use of filters in libraries claiming that filters block constitutionally protected speech.

 

Internet Safety Policy - A library policy required by the Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act for libraries to receive federal E-rate and LSTA grants for Internet access. This policy defines minors' acceptable use of Internet access on library computers.

 

Journal - A publication which offers scholarly information in specific subject areas. The articles are written by recognized authorities in the subject area.

KAECT - The Kansas Association for Educational Communications and Technology is one of three professional statewide library associations that sponsor the annual Tri-Conference.

 

KASL – Kansas Association of School Librarians is the professional association for school librarians and one of the three library associations that sponsor the library Tri-Conference. More information is available at  http://skyways.lib.ks.us/kasl/

 

KAN-ED - The Kansas Educational Network is a statewide initiative to provide broad-band connectivity, on-line resources and services and technology training to schools, libraries, and hospitals across Kansas. More information is at www.kan-ed.org/

 

KANAnswer - A statewide reference service available through the Web and free to all Kansans. Users communicate in real-time with a librarian to get help finding answers to questions, or to get referrals to others who might answer the questions. It is available at:

http://skyways.lib.ks.us/KSL/KLNB/KANAnswerWeb/

 

KANFAX is an established telefacsimile network which facilitates interlibrary loan within the state of time-sensitive materials.

 

KANFIND - A statewide purchase of databases available through the Web at local libraries and from home with the Kansas Library Card.

 

KANGUARD - A free Internet content filter for public libraries in Kansas. It is a service provided by the Kansas State Library that is reliable, low-maintenance and easily disabled or reactivated by library staff.

 

KICNET - The computerized interlibrary loan network for Kansas libraries. The KIC Council is responsible for establishing statewide ILL policies and protocols. The governing body of the KIC Council is the Kansas Interlibrary Loan Board of Directors or KILBD.

 

KILD - The Kansas Interlibrary Loan Directory is an electronic compilation of interlibrary loan policies that details contact persons, addresses, lending periods, material types and fees. The directory is available on Blue Skyways.

 

KLA -  The Kansas Library Association is the official statewide library organization. It has its headquarters in the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library complex.  More information about KLA is available at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/KLA.

 

KLC - Kansas Library Catalog - This is an online catalog containing books, magazines, videos, audiocassettes, microforms in hundreds of public, school and academic libraries across Kansas. Most of these items can be borrowed by any library through interlibrary loan. The Kansas Library Catalog can be found on Blue Skyways.

 

KLNB - The Kansas Library Network Board is the “research and development” arm of the Kansas State Library. It is composed of representatives of different types of libraries. It promotes and encourages interlibrary cooperation and resource sharing among all types of libraries.

 

KLS - The Kansas List of Serials provides holdings for journals in Kansas libraries in the Kansas Library Catalog.

 

KLTA - See Kansas Library Trustee Association.

 

KPERS - The Kansas Personnel Employees Retirement System  is the official retirement system for state and municipal employees working more than 17.5 hours per week. More information is available in The Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

KPLACE - The Kansas library community’s training program for librarians who do not hold the MLS degree. KPLACE is a three year program that takes place for one week in May.   KPLACE offers 90 contact hours of professional training in community analysis, community networking, customized service, technology, library funding, personnel issues, trustee development, legal issues, collection management, and marketing. This institute is run by the Kansas State Library and held at SLIM at Emporia State University each year in May. Most of the regional and urban library systems offer financial support to library staff members who wish to attend KPLACE.

 

Kansas Center for the Book - A non-profit organization promoting reading, especially the reading of books by Kansas authors.

 

Kansas Disaster Recovery Network - A network of experts to help libraries, museums and city governments recover from disasters.

 

Kansas Educational Network (KAN-ED) - A statewide initiative to provide broad-band connectivity, on-line resources and services and technology training to schools, libraries, and hospitals across Kansas. More information is at www.kan-ed.org/

 

Kansas Library Card - A free service of the Kansas State Library providing Kansas citizens Web access to full-text databases and electronic books. Any Kansas citizen can obtain a Kansas Library Card from their local library. More information about the Kansas Library Card is available at <www.kslc.org/>www.kslc.org>

 

Kansas library laws - Though Kansas laws affecting libraries are scattered across Kansas Statutes, the sections defining the authority, roles, duties and responsibilities of public libraries and their boards are concentrated between 12-1201 and 12-1257 inclusive.  

 

Kansas Library Trustees Association (KLTA) - The official library association for library board members.   More information about KLTA is available at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/KLA/divisions/klta/.

 

Kansas Personnel Employees Retirement System (KPERS) - Official retirement system for state and municipal employees working more than 17.5 hours per week. More information is available in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Kansas Public Library Handbook - Publication of the Kansas State Library by Roy Bird provides short, authoritative articles on topics and issues important to Kansas librarians and trustees

 

Kansas Public Library Salaries Project - An initiative of the Kansas State Library and Kansas Library Trustees Association to improve the salaries of Kansas librarians. More information is available at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/KSL/development/salaries/

 

Kansas State Library Advisory Commission - An advisory body for the Kansas State Library. Their duties include approving the system plans of the regional library systems and, with the LSTA Advisory Council, awards LSTA special populations grants and technology grants.

 

Kansas State Library - State Library of Kansas headed by Christie Landau, State Librarian. The state library staff provides a variety of services to state government agencies, Kansas citizens and Kansas libraries. The state library has six divisions: Administration, the Kansas Library Network Board, the Kansas Talking Books Service, Library Information Technology, Local Library Development and Reference Services.  More information about the Kansas State Library is available at http://www.skyways.org/KSL/.

 

Keyword search - A search for significant words anywhere in the author, title, or text areas of a bibliographic citation or full-text database. Keyword searching looks for the terminology used by the author in the title or text. During cataloging or indexing of an item, authoritative subject headings can be added to that item and all other items written on the same subject. Searchers can use these authoritative subject headings to retrieve all items on that topic. Keyword searching is best when authoritative subject headings are not known.

 

LAN - A Local Area Network is a group of computers networked to share resources within a building. For example, a library's online catalog and automated circulation system would be shared across a LAN.

 

LC Subject Headings - Library of Congress Subject Headings are a set of authoritative topical words or phrases used in library card catalogs and online catalogs.

 

LEEP - Library Employee Education Project is the Kansas State Library’s continuing education program rewarding librarians, trustees, and Friends of the library with certificates after attending 30, 60, 120, 200, 400 and 600 hours of continuing education.

 

LSTA - The Library Services and Technology Act is a federal program providing almost 1.5 million dollars to the Kansas State Library. This money supports statewide programs such as KanFind, KICNET, Talking Books, children's programming, Kansas Library Network Board, Kansas Volunteer Literacy Program and LSTA Special Populations grants and LSTA Technology grants. It is administered by the State Library Advisory Commission and the LSTA Advisory Council.

 

Lease-purchase agreements - Contracts between libraries and companies for leasing equipment or facilities. More information is available in "Lease-purchase agreements" article in Roy Bird's Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Library Bill of Rights - Statement adopted by the American Library Association encouraging librarians and their library boards to adopt policies and practices that treat all citizens equitably, provide materials meeting the needs of all citizens in the library's community and resist efforts to do otherwise.

 

Library Materials Protection Act - K.S.A. 21-3702 defines the theft of library materials as a theft of public property. This gives librarians a stronger hand in recovering and replacing long overdue materials. More information is available in "Library Materials Protection Act" article in Roy Bird's Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) - Authoritative topical words or phrases used in library card catalogs and online catalogs.

 

Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) - A federal program providing almost 1.5 million dollars to the Kansas State Library. This money supports statewide programs such as KanFind, KICNET, Talking Books, children's programming, Kansas Library Network Board, Kansas Volunteer Literacy Program and LSTA Special Populations grants and LSTA Technology grants.

 

Literacy program - An initiative by the Kansas State Library to help organize and train volunteers to teach adults to read. Vikki Jo Stewart heads the literacy volunteers program of the Kansas State Library. More information is available at www.skyways.org/KSL/development/literacy/

 

Logoff - End a session with a computer program.

 

Login - Begin using a computer program by typing in an identifier code and a password.

 

Logon - Begin using a computer program by typing in an identifier code and a password.

 

MARC - stands for Machine-Readable Cataloging. It is a standardized format allowing many online catalogs produced by many different companies to understand the same cataloging record.

 

MLS - is the Master of Library Science degree. It is the recognized graduate degree from a library school.

 

MPLA - is the Mountain Plains Library Association, which is a professional library organization of western and midwestern states.

 

MURL stands for Major Urban Library System. A MURL library serves over 100,000 people.

 

Magazine - A periodical intended for the general public, rather than for scholars.

 

Manuscript - A composition that is handwritten or typed, rather than printed.

 

Materials Replacement Fund - Money from the Kansas Library Network Board for replacing books, audiocassettes, and videos lost by lending to other libraries. More information is available at www.skyways.org/KSL/KLNB/mrf.html

 

Material Selection Policy - Library policies guiding the collection development process used by library staff. This policy defines the purpose (i.e., mission) of the library's collections and sources of information about available materials, criteria for selecting materials (i.e., selection), criteria for removing materials from the collections (i.e., weeding) and how to handle challenges to materials in the collection.

 

Microfiche - Microphotographs of printed material on a small sheet (4" x 6") of cellulose film.

 

Microfilm - Microphotographs of printed material on a reel of cellulose film. Microfilm is usually created of documents that are deteriorating. These reels are viewed with a microfilm reader. Microfilm readers capable of printing pages are called microfilm reader/printers.

 

Microforms - All forms of microreproduction, e.g. microfilm, microfiche, microprint, etc.

 

Modem (modulator/demodulator) - A device allowing computers to talk to each other over regular telephone lines. Many computers use modems to connect to the Internet.

 

Monograph - A broader term for print items that are complete in themselves, such as a book or pamphlet. Compare with serials.

 

NCKLS - The North Central Kansas Library System, based in Manhattan, is one of the seven regional library systems in the state.

 

NEKLS - The Northeast Kansas Library System, based in Lawrence, is one of the seven regional library systems.

 

NWKLS - The Northwest Kansas Library System, based in Norton, is one of the seven regional library systems.

 

Negligence - A category of liability resulting from the failure in protecting others from harm (e.g., unsafe buildings and grounds).

 

Neighborhood Children's Internet Protection Act (NCIPA) - A federal law requiring libraries and schools receiving federal funds for E-rate or LSTA for Internet connections to have an "Internet Safety Policy" and conduct a public meeting to allow the public to review that policy. See also Childrens Internet Protection Act (CIPA).

 

Network Board - See Kansas Library Network Board (KLNB).

 

Non-circulating - Library materials patrons can not check out. (e.g., reference books).

 

Nonfeasance - A category of liability resulting from the failure in doing something that should be done (e.g., failure in getting copyright clearance).

 

OCLC - Online Computer Library Center. A nonprofit library computer service and research organization providing online cataloging, interlibrary loan, online databases and other services to libraries. CKLS is a member of the Bibliographic Center for Research (BCR) affiliate of OCLC.

 

Older Kansans Information Forum (OKIF) - A group of librarians and non-librarians providing information to Kansas librarians about senior issues for improving library services and programs to elderly Kansans. More information is at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/okif/.

 

On-line catalog - A library catalog on a computer replacing the card catalog.

 

Online cataloging - The process of cataloging library materials carried out on computers. Online cataloging is often called "copy cataloging" because catalogers frequently copy the cataloging done by other librarians. Cataloging library materials from scratch is called "original cataloging." The vast majority of the cataloging supplied to Central Kansas Library System members is "copy cataloging" from OCLC. When cataloging for items is not on OCLC, Kathy Mitchum, head of Central Kansas Library System's Technical Services, creates original cataloging for items.

 

On-line resources - Web sites containing full-text articles, books and other useful content.

 

On-line searching - Searching a resource on a CD-ROM or on the World Wide Web.

 

Open Meetings - Requirement by Open Meetings Act that library business be discussed in a publicized meeting in which any member of the community could attend (i.e., library board meeting). An exception to open meetings is the executive session. More information is available in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Open Records Act - Kansas Statutes Annotated 45-221 (KSA 45-221) declares that all records of public agencies are open for inspection to any person except those specified in exceptions. Exemption 23 says circulation and interlibrary loan records that specifically identify individuals are not open records. The USA PATRIOTS Act overrules Exception 23.

 

Original cataloging - Making a cataloging record from scratch for a book, video, audiocassette, etc. Compare with copy cataloging.

 

Overdue - An item not returned to the library by its due date. There is usually a small fine but some libraries do not charge fines.

 

PATRIOTS Act - See USA PATRIOTS Act.

 

Patron Record - A record containing information about a library patron.

 

Periodical - a serial (journal, magazine) which is published at regular intervals, is numbered, contains separate articles, and has no pre-determined end date. Does not include newspapers or conference proceedings.

 

Prompt Payment Act - K.S.A. 75-6402 requiring libraries to pay bills within 30 days of receipt. More information is available in the "Prompt Payment Act" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Reference collection - A separate collection of books (e.g., encyclopedias, dictionaries, handbooks, directories, etc.) for answering reference questions. These materials usually do not check out.

 

Reference desk  - A special desk in the public area for reference librarians.

 

Reference question - A request for information requiring the use of the reference collection, telephone, or online searching to find the answer.

 

Regional Library Systems - Legally established agencies for helping libraries better serve their patrons and extend library service into areas without libraries. Kansas has seven regional library systems: Central Kansas Library System (Great Bend), Northeast Kansas Library System (Lawrence), North Central Kansas Library System (Manhattan), Northwest Kansas Library System (Norton), South Central Kansas Library (Hutchinson), Southeast Kansas Library System (Iola), Southwest Kansas Library System (Dodge City).

 

Renewal - An extension of the loan period for charged library materials.

 

Reshelving area - Stacks where returned materials are stored before being reshelved.

 

SCKLS - The South Central Kansas Library System, headquartered in Hutchinson, is one of the state’s seven regional library systems.

 

SEKLS - The Southeast Kansas Library System, headquartered in Iola, is one of the  seven regional library systems.

 

SLIM - the School of Library and Information Management, the library school at Emporia State University.  SLIM offers the MLS degree and the undergraduate Library Services Certificate Program.

 

SWKLS - The Southwest Kansas Library System, headquartered in Dodge City, is one of the seven regional library systems.

 

Serials - A publication issued in successive parts, usually on a regular basis and intended to continue indefinitely. Examples include periodicals, newspapers, magazines, annuals, yearbooks, etc.

 

Service policy - Library policies defining library hours and services and who may use those services.

 

Series - A group of monographs issued under a collective title, as well as under individual titles.

 

Server - A computer, or a program on the computer, that stores and provides access to other computers. Servers appear in two forms: file server and Web server.

 

Sexual harassment - Unwelcome behavior toward an employee because of that employee's gender. There are two kinds of sexual harassment. One is to create a hostile environment (e.g., the display of pornographic pictures). Quid pro quo harassment is promising employment benefits in exchange for sexual favors.

 

Shelflist - A card catalog listing holdings in call number order (that is, in the same order items are found on the shelf). The shelflist are used for inventorying the library's collections.

 

Special populations grants - Annual Library Services and Technology Act competitive grant to local libraries for starting new programs and services to a defined population in the library's community. These grants are awarded in May. More information about LSTA grants is on the LSTA page on the Kansas State Library’s website on Blue Skyways.

 

Stacks - Rows of bookshelves in a library. A row of stacks is called a range.

 

Standards for Kansas Public Libraries, 2000 Revision - Publication presenting standards for evaluating library governance, planning and marketing, services, automation and technology, personnel and physical facilities.

 

Standing order - Book order that automatically supplies a series of materials as they are published.

 

State aid - Monies distributed by the Kansas State Library to supplement local library budgets. More information is available in the "State Aid" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Subject heading - A term, name, or phrase used as an access point in a catalog or index.

 

Subject search - A search for materials about a topic.

 

Summer Library Program - The statewide summer program inviting children preschool through sixth grade into the library for fun activities and to check out books. The program is entertaining but is also intended to maintain juvenile reading skills over the summer.

 

Talking Book Service - A federal program offering books and magazines on audiocassettes to person who are visually or physically unable to read a book or magazine. Distribution of these materials is coordinated through the Kansas State Library and the headquarters of regional library systems.

 

Technology grants - An annual Library Services and Technology Act competitive grants to local libraries for improving library technology for patrons or providing technology training to library staff. These grants are awarded in October. More information is available on the LSTA page on the Kansas State Library website on Blue Skyways.

 

Technology plan - A plan written by librarians and trustees on the development of technology, primarily computers, in their libraries. Three-year technology plans are required for E-rate funding.

 

Tri-Conference - Annual statewide conference for Kansas librarians, library trustees, and friends of Kansas libraries.  More information is available at http://skyways.lib.ks.us/KLA/

 

Uniform Resource Locator (URL) - the address of a Web page on the World Wide Web.

 

Union catalog - A card or online catalog containing the holdings of more than one library. The Kansas Library Catalog (KLC) is a union catalog of the holdings of hundreds of public, school, and academic libraries in Kansas.

 

URL - See Uniform Resource Locator (URL).

 

USA PATRIOTS Act - Public Law 107-56 strengthened the FBI's ability to investigate potential terrorist acts. Section 215 allows FBI agents to more easily obtain search warrants for immediately confiscating "any tangible thing" in libraries: books, circulation records, computer use records, any papers, computer disks and computers. Agents can also place a gag order on library staff denying them, under threat of federal charges, the right to tell anyone including the library board of the FBI confiscation.

 

Vertical File - A filing cabinet containing collections of pamphlets, brochures, newspaper clippings, maps, pictures, etc.

 

Volume - One physical book or a number of magazine issues, usually one year, bound together in one book.

 

Web - Short term for World Wide Web.

 

Web browser - Software for navigating the World Wide Web. Four brands of Web browser software are Internet Explorer (aka IE), Netscape, Opera, and Mozilla.

 

 Web page - A single "page" on the Web. The length of a Web page does not correspond to the length of a printed page. A single Web page can be many pages if printed out.

 

Web search - Using a search engine or subject guide to find Web pages or Web sites on a topic.

 

Web server - A computer always connected to the Web to provide Web pages to Web users. Compare with file server.

 

Web site - a collection of hyperlinked Web pages on a Web server.

 

Weeding - The process for removing from library collections materials that are misleading, ugly, out-of-date, trivial, irrelevant, and sources easily obtained elsewhere through interlibrary loan.

 

Workshops - Events for training library staff and trustees on specific topics. Workshops do not receive college credit but the contact hours can be applied to a Library Employee Education Project (LEEP) record.

 

World Wide Web - A portion of Internet composed of electronic Web pages on computers scattered all over the world. These Web pages are hyperlinked together with addresses of Web pages, called URLs, hidden in those pages. The combination of all the URLs in Web pages pointing to all other Web pages creates the Web. The Web is taking over Internet because the Web is flexible to provide all the services of Internet in an easier to use (i.e., clickable) and prettier (i.e., with pictures) format.

 

Worker's compensation - Coverage for on-the-job accidents is mandatory when the library's annual payroll is over  $20,000. More information is available in "Employee Benefits" article in the Kansas Public Library Handbook.

 

Young Adult (YA) - Young persons ages 11 to 17. This phrase is used to refer to books, and library programs and services targeted at this age group.