Do you speak "library"? Here is a list of commonly-used library words.
| Book drop / Book return |
A place to return items you have checked out from the library. CCC Library has three book drops.
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| Browse | To look through or explore at random. You can browse through CCC Library's books and magazines to find items that look interesting to you. |
| Catalog (also called Library Catalog) | The search tool on CCC Library’s homepage that searches almost everything available at CCC Library. |
| Check out | To borrow something from the library; to take something home with you from the library. You will need to show a student ID card or other photo ID to check out. |
| Circulation Services desk | The desk in the library where you can check out books, Course Reserves, headphones, and other items. The Circulation Services desk is located at the entrance of CCC Library. |
| Circulating collection | Books and other items that can be checked out and taken home. Circulate means to go from place to place (like from school to home). |
| Course Guide (also called Research Guide or LibGuide) | A library webpage created by librarians to help you find books, articles, and news to read or listen to for your ESOL courses. |
| Course Reserves collection (also called Reserves) | Textbooks and other books used in your classes. |
| Database | A search tool where you find journal articles, newspaper articles, magazine articles, eBooks, and / or streaming videos. CCC Library has over 100 databases. |
| Due date | The date by which you should return items you have borrowed to the library. If you keep a book past the due date, you will receive an email telling you that the book is late (or overdue) and asking you to return it. |
| ESOL | ESOL is an acronym that stands for English for Speakers of Other Languages. Acronyms are written in upper-case letters. |
| Fiction | Books or stories that are about imaginary events and people. Fiction books or stories might be romance, mystery or thriller, fantasy, comedy or humor, or drama. |
| Full Term Loan | A Course Reserve (textbook) that you can check out for the whole term. |
| Hold | A hold is an online request to have a book or other material waiting for you to check out at the Circulation Services desk. |
| Interlibrary Loan (ILL) | A system of sharing between libraries. CCC Library can help you borrow books, DVDs, and more from other libraries around the world - for free! (This is a different service from Summit.) |
| Leveled Reader (also called New Reader or Graded Reader) | A book for ESOL students that is intended to help build reading skills for individuals new to reading English. |
| Librarian |
A person who works in the library; a specialist in the library and information field. If you are having difficulty finding what you need, you can ask a librarian for help. |
| Library | A place where you can borrow books, Course Reserves, etc.; a place where can get help finding information for your classes; a place where you can study and relax. (Students sometimes confuse library with bookstore. A bookstore is a place where you can buy books.) |
| Loan period | The length of time for which you can borrow something from the library. At the end of the loan period, you must return the item to the library. |
| Non Fiction | Books or stories based on facts. Topics might be science, current events, history, biographies (books about real people), or how-to books. |
| Non Fiction Lexile Books (also called Lexile Collection) | If Leveled Readers are too easy for you, the next step up from Leveled Readers are Lexile Books. A Lexile number is a rating for how hard a book is to read. The higher the number, the more complex the word use and sentence length. CCC Library's Lexile books have stickers with numbers between 500 (easier) and 1100 (harder). |
| Overdue | Overdue means late. When a library item is kept longer than its loan period and after its due date, it becomes overdue. |
| Periodical | A publication (usually a collection of articles) that is issued at regular intervals. Magazines, journals, and newspapers are all periodicals. |
| Questions | Something you should ask a lot when you are in the library. We are happy to help you! |
| Research Help desk | The desk in the library where a librarian can answer questions and help you find information in the library, online, or around campus. The Research Help Desk is located near the entrance of CCC Library. |
| Renew | To extend the loan period on an item; to check an item out again so you can keep it longer. |
| Resource | A resource is an item that provides information. Resources include books, articles, newspapers, and videos. |
| Return | To bring a book (or other item) you have borrowed back to the library. |
| Summit |
A system of sharing between 38 college and university libraries in the Pacific Northwest. CCC Library can help you borrow books, DVDs, and more from our Summit partners - for free! Items arrive in 2-3 days. |
| Thesaurus | A book or built-in database tool that lists words in groups of synonyms (having similar meanings) and related concepts. |
| Young Adult collection (PZ area of the library) | Books written at levels beyond the Leveled Reader collection. These books often have Lexile Book numbers. Young Adult books explore topics and themes reflective of young adults' experiences. |
List last updated Oct. 2025.
Except where otherwise noted, content in these research guides is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. 