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Glossary of Library Acronyms and Terms (A to Z)

Click on a letter below

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

NCLIS

National Commission on Libraries and Information Science-- A federal advisory group composed of representatives from various library groups and distinguished librarians.

NEDCC

Northeast Document Conservation Center-- Provides consultation on preservation, restoration and conservation of library materials; also offers training and workshops.

NREN

National Research and Education Network

NUC

National Union Catalog-- A national bibliography published by the Library of Congress.

OCLC

(Formerly)Online Computer Library Center-- A bibliographic utility based in Ohio which provides online cataloging, interlibrary loan, serials control and other services to libraries worldwide. WCLC uses the ILL and cataloging systems.

OPAC

Online Public Access Catalog-- A computer workstation for use by the public which is connected to a library's circulation system; can be searched by author, title, etc., and shows an item's status (on-shelf, overdue, etc.)

PAC

Public Access Catalog-- May be used interchangeably with the term OPAC. May also mean a catalog of library holdings which is not online

Passport

OCLC's telecommunications and operating software.

PLA

Public Library Association-- A division of the American Library Association.

PPP

Point to Point Protocol-- Enables a computer to connect to the Internet with a modem and a telephone line; allows a user to use a browser such as Netscape.

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