Library Student Employee Guide: Library Lingo

Patron: Any person who uses the library—Park faculty, students, and staff, as well as guests

Information desk / reference desk: Where you work! The desk on the ground floor of Norrington where patrons can ask questions or get help

Sierra: Library software used to check materials in and out

Stacks: The third floor of the building where we house our academic books

Huddle Room: Reservable study rooms on the first floor, to the left of the information desk

Learning Lab: The big classroom next to the study rooms on the first floor, to the left of the information desk

Reading rooms: The study spaces on the first and second floor

Book lockers: The lockers located on the first floor to the left of the information desk, where students pick up their holds. Materials in the book locker have already been checked out to the student.

Journal: A publication, issued on a regular basis, which contains scholarly research published as articles, papers, research reports, or technical reports

Periodical: An information source published in multiple parts at regular intervals (daily, weekly, monthly, biannually, etc.). Journals, magazines, and newspapers are all periodicals

Holds: Materials students have requested from the library. Materials are held for them in the Book Lockers until they come pick them up.

Interlibrary loan: Students have the ability to request materials from other institutions if Park doesn’t have access to them. Veronica handles all our ILL requests. Requests can be physical or digital; physical materials are housed in the book lockers.