No abstract

If you would like to write for this, or any other Emerald publication, then please use our Emerald for Authors service information about how to choose which publication to write for and submission guidelines are available for all. Please visit www.emeraldinsight.com/authors for more information. About Emerald www.emeraldinsight.comEmerald is a global publisher linking research and practice to the benefit of society. The company manages a portfolio of more than 290 journals and over 2,350 books and book series volumes, as well as providing an extensive range of online products and additional customer resources and services.Emerald is both COUNTER 4 and TRANSFER compliant. The organization is a partner of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and also works with Portico and the LOCKSS initiative for digital archive preservation. AbstractPurpose -To analyse and investigate the use of online glossaries of library terminology. Design/methodology/approach -Analysis of glossaries; questionnaire survey. Findings -Library glossaries broadly serve the same purpose, but there is considerable variation in their length, design, currency, and the terms they contain. Library users generally have little input into what glossaries contain and many librarians are uncertain as to whether glossaries are used or useful.Research limitations/implications -Further research is necessary to establish whether the effort involved in creating such glossaries is worthwhile. Practical implications -Better strategies for helping library users to understand library jargon are needed. Originality/value -This paper highlights the increasing number of university libraries with online glossaries.