Skip to Main Content

Library Lingo

This page lists common terms, acronyms, and phrases used by libraries and librarians.

H

Handbooks

General information source providing quick reference on a given subject. Handbooks may be general or subject specific.

Hits

Refers to items retrieved from a database matching criteria you set. For example, if you do a keyword title search in the online catalog for " medical marijuana" and retrieve 1568 items, that can also be called 1568 'hits.'

Holdings

All the materials, in various formats, owned by a library.

Place a Hold

Requesting a book available at another branch library.