Glossary of Folger terminology

This glossary provides explanations of terms and acronyms that are used at the Folger (though some may have originated elsewhere or reflect previous practices).

A

• ACRL: Association of College & Research Libraries, a division of the American Library Association. Includes RBMS (see below).
• AIB: Association Internationale de Bibliophilie
• ALA: American Library Association

C

• CEC: Consortium Executive Committee
• CLIR: Council of Library and Information Resources
• Coffee: Morning staff break in the Tea Room

D

• DCRM: Descriptive Cataloging of Rare Materials, a suite of cataloging manuals for special collections. Manuals for Books, Graphics, and Serials are available as free downloads here.

E

• EMDA: Early Modern Digital Agendas
• EMMO: Early Modern Manuscripts Online

F

• FAHN: a group of four (or five) independent research libraries in the humanities: the Folger, the American Antiquarian Society, the Huntington, and the Newberry. Sometimes also includes the Morgan.

I

• IFLA: International Federation of Library Associations
• IMLS: Institute of Museum and Library Services
• IRLA: Independent Research Libraries Association which includes the Folger

N

• NACO: Name Authority Cooperative Program of the Program for Cooperative Cataloging.
• NDSR: National Digital Stewardship Residency, a post-master's program sponsored by the Library of Congress and the IMLS. The Folger hosted a resident from September 2013 to May 2014.

O

• OCLC: Online Computer Library Center, a nonprofit organization specializing in library research and services. OCLC member libraries collectively maintain Worldcat, a cooperative catalog. (OCLC originally stood for the Ohio College Library Center, but as they began to expand, "Online Computer Library Center" was backformed from "OCLC.")

P

• PCC: Program for Cooperative Cataloging, an international effort coordinated by the Library of Congress. The PCC sets guidelines for high-level bibliographic, serial, and authority records.

R

• RBMS: The Rare Books and Manuscripts section of the American Library Association, which "represents and promotes the interests of librarians who work with rare books, manuscripts, and other types of special collections."

S

• SAA: Shakespeare Association of America or Society of American Archivists, depending on context, therefore also the cause of much confusion at the Folger.
• Shelfmarks: Term formerly used interchangeably with "call numbers" for describing the location of collection items. Starting in 2014 we're making an effort to use "call numbers" only.
• SSF: Secondary School Festival
• STC: Variously used to refer to a book printed in in England, Scotland, or Ireland (or an English-language book printed elsewhere) between the years 1475 and 1640, and to A Short-Title Catalogue of Books Printed in England, Scotland, & Ireland and of English Books Printed Abroad, 1475-1640 (the published catalog of such books, also known as "Pollard and Redgrave"). An online database using the Short Title Catalogue hosted at the British Library can be consulted here.

T

• Tea: Shared staff and reader break time in the Tea Room, Monday through Friday, starting at 3pm and ending at 3:30. Complimentary coffee, tea, and cookies are served.
• Tea Room: Staff break room on the basement level. Also open to readers at Tea Time.
• TSI: Teaching Shakespeare Institute