Libraryland is full of unique terms and acronyms that can be confusing at times. This glossary will guide you through some of the more common acronyms used in libraries. Read Part 1 of this series to brush up on common terms in the library world.
ALA: American Library Association
ALTA: Acronym for the Alberta Library Trustee’s Association.
APLAC: Acronym for the Alberta Public Library Administrator’s Council.
CCD: Parkland’s cooperative collection.
CELA: Centre for Equitable Library Access.
CLA: Canadian Library Association.
CLM: Canadian Library Month (October).
CVS: Acronym for CVS Midwest Tape, the vendor that Parkland has a purchasing agreement with for DVD’s and audiobooks.
DAISY: Digital Audio Information System.
DDC: Dewey Decimal Classification or Dewey Decimal System is a library classification system that allows books to be shelves according to their subject matter.
DEI: Diversity, equity, and inclusion.
FCSS: Acronym for Family Community Support Services.
FOIP: Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy.
ILS: Integrated Library Systems are a software package that enables library staff to manage library resources and library users to access them. Specifically, an ILS consolidates a variety of components that enable core library service functions such as acquisitions (ordering, receiving, and invoicing for materials), cataloguing (classifying and indexing materials), searching (public interface for finding and requesting items), and circulation (lending materials to patrons and receiving them back).
ILL: An Interlibrary Loan is the transfer of print and non-print library materials, or a copy of those materials, from one participating library to another in response to a specific patron request. This may be done physically or electronically.
ISBN: International Standard Book Number.
LAA: Acronym for the Library Association of Alberta.
LibPAS: The online tool used by the Public Library Services Branch to collect public library annual reports.
MARC: A library acronym that stands for Machine Readable Cataloguing.
MLIS: Master of Library and Information Studies.
MOOC: Massive Open Online Course.
NNELS: The National Network for Equitable Library Service.
PLC: Acronym for Parkland Library Council.
PLSB: Acronym for the Public Library Services Branch of the Government of Alberta.
PLN: Public Library Network. A technological and operational framework that connects Alberta’s public libraries to enable access to public library resources and services for Albertans. The network is coordinated and supported by PLSB.
TAL: Acronym for The Alberta Library.
ULS: Acronym for United Library Services, the vendor that Parkland has a purchasing agreement with for books of various formats.
VDX: This stands for Virtual Document eXchange and is an interlibrary loan software used by Alberta public libraries to borrow and lend library material.
YCW: Acronym for Young Canada Works, a federal grant program to enable businesses and non-profits to hire students and young workers under 30.