Resources for International Students

Libraries often use specialized vocabulary and acronyms to describe services and collections. Below is a list of some common terms used at UCF Libraries. 

Access Services Desk: The desk, also known as the check-out desk or circulation desk, in the library where you check out, renew, and return library materials. You may also place a hold, report an item missing from the shelves, or pay late fees or fines there.

Ask Us: service that enables UCF students, faculty, and community to ask research questions to library staff and librarians in person, through a live chat, over the phone, by email, and by text.

Automated Retrieval Center (ARC): storage space located behind the Access Services Desk at the John C. Hitt Library that houses the majority of the print collection items owned by the library, items housed in the ARC must be requested online through Primo Search. Items in Primo Search will show the location as "ARC General Collection."

Boolean Searching: A method of combining search terms in searching using Boolean operators: AND, OR and NOT.

Call number: A group of letters and/or numbers that identifies a specific item in a library and provides a way for organizing library holdings.

Check Out: To borrow an item from a library for a fixed period of time in order to read, listen to, or view it. Check-out periods vary by library. Items are checked out at the access services desk (also known as the check desk or circulation desk).

Course reserve: Select books, articles, videotapes, or other materials that instructors want students to read or view for a particular course. These materials are usually kept in one area of the library and circulate for only a short period of time.

Due date: The due date is the date which library materials on loan should be returned or renewed.

Interlibrary loan (ILL): A service that allows you to borrow materials from other libraries through your own library. 

Library Express Delivery (LED): A delivery service of physical materials for UCF Faculty and Staff on the main campus and Distance Learners

LibTech Desk (also known as the Tech Lending Desk): Desk where students, staff and faculty can borrow a variety of technology items using their UCF IDs.

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

Primo Search: A computerized database that can be searched in various ways— such as by keyword, author, title, subject, or call number— to find out what resources UCF Libraries owns. It supplies listings of the title, call number, author, location, and description of any items matching one's search. Also referred to as “library catalog” or “online catalog.”

Renewal: An extension of the loan period for library materials.

Stacks: Shelves in the library where materials—typically books—are stored. Books in the stacks are normally arranged by call number. May be referred to as “book stacks.” At UCF, the terminology "General Collection" refers to items located in the stacks.

For additional terms related to the library, see the resources listed below.