Library Survivor Study Guide
Almanac:
A book of facts that provides brief, useful and interesting information relating to countries of the
world, sports, entertainment, etc. They are updated annually to contain the most up-to-date
information.
Atlas:
A reference book of maps or charts.
OPAC:
An online public access catalog (library catalog) that is searchable by using a keyword, title,
author, or subject.
Database:
An electronic collection of data arranged for ease and speed of search and retrieval.
Dewey Decimal:
A system of library book classification for nonfiction books that uses the numbers 000 to 999 to
cover the general fields of knowledge and subdivides each field by the use of decimals and
letters. It was created by Melvil Dewey in 1876.
Encyclopedia:
A book, set of books, or online informational resource containing articles on various topics. It is
a basic reference source that is easy to use because it is arranged in alphabetical order by subject.
Book of Quotations:
A collection of quotes and sayings with the names of the people who first said them.
EBSCOhost:
A database of magazine and research articles from a variety of sources that can be accessed
through the library webpage.
Dictionary:
A resource that gives word origin, usage, meaning, spelling, and pronunciation.
Biographical Dictionary:
A book that contains brief facts about the person’s life such as: birthdate, major accomplishments
and events that have made the person famous
Geographical Dictionary:
A book that provides information about a place such as location, population, industry and famous
landmarks.
Thesaurus:
A book used to find words that mean the same or opposite as another word.
Index:
An alphabetized list of names, places, and subjects, listing the page on which each item is located.
It is usually found in the back of a book.
Glossary:
A list of specialized words with their definitions. It is usually located in the back of the book.
Title page:
The page at the front of a book that identifies the complete title, the names of the author and
publisher, and the place of publication.
Bibliography:
A list of all the resources used to gather knowledge about a particular topic. Example: Works
Cited page.
Nonfiction books:
Informational books based on facts, real events, and real people, such as biography or history.
They are arranged by the Dewey Decimal numbers on their spines as opposed to the author’s last
name.