Library Glossary - Temporary Home Page - University of Sheffield

Glossary of common Library words and abbreviations 

Abstract: A short summary of a longer piece of work (e.g. a book, journal article, thesis or dissertation) 

which tells you about the most important points. 

Alphabetical order: The way we sort words using the Roman alphabet: 

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z (capital or upper-case letters) 

a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, m, n, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w, x, y, z (lower-case letters). 

Article: A written piece of work (a “paper”) by one or more authors on a particular subject. Articles are 

often published in a journal or newspaper. 

B/ 3B: Some of the older or less popular books in Western Bank Library are kept on the lower Levels or “in 

the basement.” B is an abbreviation for basement. 3B indicates that the books are kept on Level 3. For 

example, “Which dictionary?” by Brendan Loughridge (1990) has the classmark 3B 423 (L). Please see 

Dewey for further details. 

Barcode number: We give each book or item in the Library its own number in order to identify it. This is 

printed on a barcode on the inside cover or first page of the book. When you borrow anything from the 

Library, you can see this number in your myLibrary Account. 

Bibliography: A list of books, articles and other materials which have been used by an author while writing 

a piece of work. It can also mean a list of the books of a particular author, printer, or country, or a list of 

books dealing with any particular subject. 

BL: An abbreviation for the British Library. For information about the regular free minibus service to the 

British Library Document Supply Centre at Boston Spa, please visit: 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/services/illbus. 

Blue bin: When you return an item to the Library on most* of the self-return machines, the touch screen 

will display a picture of either a blue or a yellow slot (or hole). When you post your item through the blue 

slot, it falls into a big bin. Library staff call this the “blue bin.” 

(*This does not apply to the self-return point near the Information Commons’ entrance.) 

Borrower: The person who has the loan of a book or other item from the Library. It can also be used to 

describe a person who is a registered user of the Library. 

BQ: Books with BQ in front of their Dewey number are Quarto size basement (B) books. For example, 

“Teaching and learning English as a foreign language” by Charles Fries (1945) has the classmark BQ 428.24 

(F). These books are kept on Level 1 of Western Bank Library and you can request them from StarPlus. 

http://librarysupport.shef.ac.uk/International_glossary.pdf 

Copyright © 2013, The University of Sheffield 

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Business Unit: An area within the Information Commons or Library where you will find photocopying 

machines, printers, print release stations and value loaders. 

Catalogue: A list of all the items kept in the Library. At the University of Sheffield, the catalogue is called 

StarPlus. http://find.shef.ac.uk/ 

CiCS: An abbreviation for Corporate Information and Computing Services. http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/cics 

Classmark/ Class number: The numbers and letters which tell you where to find a book or item on the 

Library shelf. It can also be called shelfmark. The Information Commons (IC), Western Bank Library (WBL) 

and St. George’s Library (SGL) use the Dewey Decimal Classification System and the Health Sciences 

Library (HSL) uses NLM. You can find a book’s classmark on its spine and, also, on the bookplate on the 

inside cover. 

Database: Databases provide details of articles and books written on a particular topic or person, or 

written by a particular person. Some databases contain the full text of the articles listed. 

Dewey Decimal Classification System: The system we use to organise our books and other material in the 

Library. Each subject has its own Dewey number. For example, 423 is the number for English Dictionaries. 

The number is usually followed by a letter (or letters) in brackets: - 

When the book has an author, this is the first letter (or letters) of the author’s family name. For 

example, the classmark for “Harry Potter and the goblet of fire”, written by J.K. Rowling is 823.91 

(ROW), i.e., ROW for Rowling. 

When the book has an editor (i.e. no author), it is the first letter of the first word of the title. For 

example, the classmark for the Information Commons’ copy of “Concise Oxford English Dictionary”, 

edited by Catherine Soanes is 423 (C), i.e., C for Concise. 

See also NLM Classification System for books in the Health Sciences Library (HSL). 

DICT: An abbreviation for Dictionary. 

DISS: An abbreviation for Dissertation. 

Dissertation: A long document which students write about the findings of the research they have carried 

out as part of their University degree course. See also Thesis. 

Ebook: A book which is available in an electronic format. 

Ejournal: A journal which is available in an electronic format. 

Electronic resources/ eResources: A term used to describe materials (or resources) which are available 

electronically, e.g. databases, ebooks and ejournals. 

Eoffprint: An electronic version of a hard-copy book chapter or journal article which the Library is able 

to provide to students via their myResource Lists. For information about the licences and conditions 

which allow us to do this, please visit: http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/eoffprints. 

eResources: Please see Electronic resources. 



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EndNote: A piece of software which allows you to store and manage your references. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/refmant/guidance 

F: An abbreviation for Folio. 

Faculty Liaison Librarian/ Team: The Librarians with specialist knowledge for your subject. They can 

advise you on how to find the right material, or how to use the most useful resources, for your studies or 

research. 

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/libstaff/fltall 

Fine: If you are late returning a library book which has been requested by someone else, you will be asked 

to pay. This is a fine. http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/services/fines 

Folio: In the Library, this means a book which is between 34 - 43 centimetres tall. The classmark for books 

of this size starts with F and is followed by a running number, i.e. F1, F2, F3 and so on. For example, the book 

called “Leonardo da Vinci” (Cresset Press, 1957) has the classmark F 1584. You can request these books 

from StarPlus. 

Full text: If an ejournal or database offers the full text of an article, it means that you can read the whole 

article, not just the abstract of it. 

Glossary: A list of words or terms and their meanings. This glossary contains words and abbreviations 

which are important or are used often in the University of Sheffield Library. 

Group study room: Small rooms which you can book so that you can discuss your group work or projects 

with other students in your class. They must not be used for studying alone. You can book a group study 

room via the myRooms&Resources link on MUSE. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/cics/learningandteaching/roombookingsic 

Hard-copy / print copy: A paper, not electronic, copy of a book or journal. 

HHL/ RHH/ RHHL: Abbreviations for the Royal Hallamshire Hospital Library. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/hsl/rhh 

Holding area: A place where we put books which have just been returned to the Library (or have recently 

been used in the Library) before we return them to their correct place on the shelves. 

HSL: An abbreviation for Health Sciences Library which consists of two libraries. One is at the Royal 

Hallamshire Hospital (RHH) and the other at the Northern General Hospital (NGH). 

Map and floor plans: http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/services/find 

IC: An abbreviation for the Information Commons. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/libsites/ic 

Map: http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/services/find 

ILL: An abbreviation for Inter-Library Loan(s). This service is now called the InterLibrary Request Service. 

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/library/services/ill2 



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Induction: An introduction to the Library’s resources and services. 

Information Skills Tutorials: If a person has information literacy skills, they know how to find, evaluate 

and use information effectively. The Library offers tutorials which aim to help students to gain the 

information skills they need to complete their course or research successfully. 

http://librarydevelopment.group.shef.ac.uk/isr.html 

Initials: This can mean: 

The first letter of your first name(s) 

The first letter of the first name(s) of an author or editor of a book. For example, the author William 

Shakespeare’s initial is W. 

The first letter of all of someone’s first and family names. For example, the American President, John 

Fitzgerald Kennedy, is often referred to as JFK. 

InterLibrary Request Service: If the Library does not have a copy of the book or item you want, you can 

make an InterLibrary request and we will try to borrow a copy from another Library for you. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/services/ill2 

ISBN: An abbreviation for International Standard Book Number. An ISBN is a unique number which is given 

on a commercial basis to a particular book and usually appears as a barcode on the back of the book. Older 

ISBN’s have 9 or 10 digits, later ones have 13. This is a commercial number and is not to be confused with 

the barcode number assigned by the Library. For example, J.K. Rowling’s book, “Harry Potter and the 

goblet of fire” has the Library barcode number: 200886331 and the ISBN: 0747582386 (pbk.) This is the 

ISBN for the paperback version. 

Issue: Within the Library this can mean either: 

To borrow a book or other item from the Library (usually on the self-issue machine) or 

A part of a journal or periodical (e.g. Journal of Librarianship, Volume 2, Issue or Part 1). 

Journal / Periodical/ Serial: A scholarly magazine which is published at regular intervals (e.g. every month, 

every 2 months, every 3 months, every year etc.) and contains articles written by different people. Each 

journal is usually identified by a date and volume number. If there is more than one part to each volume, 

these are called issue numbers. 

Level: This is used to refer to the floors or storeys in the Information Commons or Library. For example, the 

Information Commons has 7 levels - Level 0 is the Ground Floor and Level 6 is the top floor. In Western Bank 

Library, some of the Levels are identified by letters instead of numbers, e.g. Level G is the Ground Floor and 

Level M is the Mezzanine. 

Library Account: Your Library Account provides details about you which are useful for the Library. This 

information is available from your Library UCard number and includes such things as your postal and email 

addresses, your Department, the books you have (or have had) on loan, and details about any fines you 

have now or have had in the past. Please see also myLibrary Account. 

Library catalogue: At the University of Sheffield, this is called StarPlus. It is an electronic searchable list of 

all the University Library material and collections. http://find.shef.ac.uk/ 

Loan period: The length of time you are given when you borrow a book. 

http://shef.ac.uk/library/services/lending 



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Login details: This usually refers to your username and password which are provided by CiCS to enable 

you to use the computers or loan laptops. You can change your password but not your username. 

https://www.shef.ac.uk/cics/password 

Mobile-free zones: Quiet or silent-study areas within the Library where we ask that you do not use your 

mobile telephone. 

MOLE2: MOLE means My Online Learning Environment. It gives you access to your course material via 

the internet in a secure environment from anywhere in the world. 

http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/cics/mole2 

MUSE: This means My University of Sheffield Environment which gives you secure access to the 

Library’s electronic resources from anywhere in the world. You can log into MUSE from a link on almost 

all of the University’s web pages. 

https://portal.shef.ac.uk/ 

myDocuments: A scanning service offered by the Library. Please note that we charge a fee for this service. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/services/scan 

myLibrary Account: From the “Library” tab in MUSE, you can see myLibrary Account. This shows you how 

many books you have on loan, when they are due for return, and many other details about your Library 

activity. From here, you can also renew your Library books and get your Library PIN. 

myResource Lists: The lists of books and journal articles that tutors recommend to students to help 

them to successfully complete their course. The lists are available in an electronic format and provide links 

to all the recommended resources. You can access myResource Lists from the “Library” tab in MUSE. 

myRooms&Resources: This helps you to plan your work by making it possible to book Group Study 

Rooms or resources like computers and laptops in advance. Just follow “myQuicklinks” under the “Home” 

tab in “MUSE”. 

NFA: An abbreviation for the National Fairground Archive, which is based in Western Bank Library. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/nfa/ 

NGH/ NGHL: Abbreviations for the Northern General Hospital Library. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/hsl/ngh 

NLM (National Library of Medicine) Classification System: The system we use to organise books on 

medicine, dentistry and related sciences in the Health Sciences Library (HSL). Each area has its own NLM 

letters and numbers. For example, the classmark for “Kumar and Clark’s Clinical Medicine” (7 th edition, 

2009) is WB 102 (K): 

WB is the NLM number for the Practice of Medicine. 

WB 102 is the NLM number for Clinical Medicine. 

K is the first letter of the first word in the title because the book does not have an author. See 

Dewey Decimal Classification System for further explanation about this. 

OVERSIZE: In the Information Commons, this means a book which is over 32 centimetres tall. Oversize 

books are kept on Level 1. For example, the classmark for “The Essential Garden Book” by Terence Conran 

is OVERSIZE 712.6 (C). Please see Dewey for further details. 



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Pamphlet: In the University Library, a pamphlet is a small book usually having a paper cover and no spine, 

with fewer than 100 pages. However, in some cases the publication can be as short as a single sheet of 

paper. 

Pbk: An abbreviation for paperback, a book with a soft cover. 

PER: An abbreviation for Periodical. 

Periodical: Another name for Journal. 

PCMS (Printing and Copying Management System): All members of the University are issued with a PCMS 

account when they register and this account is used to pay for services such as printing, photocopying and 

myDocuments. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/services/scan 

PIN: PIN (An abbreviation of Personal Identification Number): A four figure number which you use with your 

UCard to borrow books on the self-issue machines. You cannot change your PIN but if you forget it, simply 

go to https://www.shef.ac.uk/cics/password and enter your University login name and password. Then 

select the option to request UCard number and PIN. 

Portobello: The STORE for St. George’s Library (SGL). 

Print Release Station: This consists of a box where you swipe your UCard and a touch screen which 

shows you a list of your documents (or “jobs”) which are waiting to be printed. Print release stations are 

usually found in the Business Units. 

How to send documents to a printer: http://www.shef.ac.uk/cics/printing/printing 

How to release a print job: http://www.shef.ac.uk/cics/printing/printrelease 

Where to find a print release station: http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/cics/printing/printerlocations 

Q: An abbreviation for Quarto. 

Quarto: In the Library, this means a book which is between 25 – 34 centimetres tall. The classmark for 

books of this size starts with a Q. For example, “The University of Sheffield: a pictorial history” by Maureen 

Boylan has the classmark Q 378.42741 (B). Please see Dewey for further details. 

R&R: An abbreviation for myRooms&Resources. 

Record: This can be used to mean either the details of a person’s Library account (e.g. address, books on 

loan) or the details of a book or journal in the Library catalogue. 

REF: An abbreviation for Reference. 

Reference/ Reference use only: This means that the item is for use in the Information Commons or 

Library only. You cannot borrow it. 

Registration number: Your student identification number. It is printed on your UCard, along with the 

UCard number. (Please take care not to confuse the two numbers and remember that the UCard number, 

not the registration number, is your Library number.) 

Renew/ Renewal: When you borrow an item from the Library, a date of return is printed on the self-issue 

receipt. If you wish to keep the book after this date, you can renew it online via myLibrary Account which 

means that you will be given a new date of return. 



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Request, Reservation or Reserved book: If you would like the Library staff to look for a book that you 

cannot find on the shelves, which is on loan, or which is kept in a STORE, you can click on the “Request” 

button on StarPlus. When the book is returned or found, we send you an email and tell you where you can 

collect it - either from Reservations for Collection in the Information Commons or from the Information 

Desks at the other Library sites. Please note that you have to collect the books within 2 days. 

Reservations for Collection: The area on Level 0 of the Information Commons where you can pick up 

books that you have requested and that are ready for you to collect. 

Re-shelving area/ Holding area: This is where we put books which have just been returned from loan or 

have recently been used by students and left on desks or tables. They are grouped according to their 

classmarks but are not in strict order. From here, they are put back in their correct place on the shelves. 

Return: This means to give back to the Library a book which you have had on loan. 

RHH/ RHHL/ HHL: Abbreviations for the Royal Hallamshire Hospital Library. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/hsl/rhh 

SCONUL Access card: A card which allows you to use other University Libraries, providing they also belong 

to this scheme. (There are over 170 Higher Education Libraries which do.) Visit the SCONUL website to find 

which Libraries you can use. http://www.access.sconul.ac.uk/ 

Self-issue: This means to borrow a book or other Library material on a dedicated machine without having 

to ask a member of Library staff to do it for you. You need your UCard and PIN to carry out a self-issue. 

Self-reservation area: Please see Reservations for Collection. 

Self-return: This means to use a dedicated machine to give back to the Library a book or other material 

which you have had on loan. You do not need your UCard or Library PIN to do this. 

SGL: An abbreviation for St. George’s Library. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/libsites/sgllib 


Shelfmark: Please see Classmark/ Class number. 

StarPlus: The Library catalogue which you can search to find out what is available in the Library. 

http://find.shef.ac.uk/ 

STORE: Library material which is not used very often but which could still be useful is taken out of the main 

collection of books or journals and put into store in either Western Bank Library or Portobello. You can 

request this material from StarPlus. 

For example, “Essential medicine,” edited by Alan E Read (1993), is just one book which has been moved 

from the Royal Hallamshire Hospital Library to store. Its classmark is now: 

HHL STORE WB 100 (E). 

Subject Librarian: Please see Faculty Liaison Librarian. 

Thesis: A long document which postgraduate research students write about the research they have carried 

out in order to achieve a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) or MPhil (Master of Philosophy). These are kept in the 

Western Bank Library and are for use in the Library only. 



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UCard: Your University Membership card which you use, among other things, to borrow material from the 

Library. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/cics/ucards 

UCard number: This is the 9-digit number, printed on your UCard, that identifies you to the Library. Please 

take care not to confuse it with your Registration number. 

Username and password: When you register as a member of the University, you are given a University of 

Sheffield username and password. This enables you to access the University’s computer network and 

electronic resources via MUSE. 

Value Loader/ Value Loading Machine: This is a machine, usually located in a Business Unit, where you 

can add money (coins or notes) to your PCMS account. 

http://shef.ac.uk/cics/printing/value 

WBL: An abbreviation for Western Bank Library. 

http://www.shef.ac.uk/library/libsites/mainlib 


Wolfson: The Wolfson Technology Resource Centre, a room on Level 4 of Western Bank Library. 

Yellow bin: When you return an item to the Library on most of the self-return machines*, the touch 

screen will display a picture of either a yellow or a blue slot (or hole). When you post your item through the 

yellow slot, it falls into a big bin. Library staff call this the “yellow bin.” 

(*This does not apply to the self-return point near the Information Commons’ entrance.) 



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