Library FAQ

Answers to common questions about doing research and using the library.


What is a periodical? Serial? Back issue? Bound periodical?

  |   0   0   |   Last updated on Jul 12, 2023    glossary borrowing articles

 

That IS a lot of library jargon. Here's a breakdown:

Periodical and serial refer to the same thing: publications that are published on a regular schedule (that is, over a certain period of time), usually multiple times per week, month, or year. Magazines, journals, and newspapers are all examples of periodicals and serials, and they are often published with volume numbers, consisting of multiple issues. Volume and issue numbers generally refer to print publications, though many print publications now have an online presence that is updated more frequently than the print publication schedule.

Back issue and bound periodical both refer to old issues of periodicals. Anything that isn't the most recent (print) issue is a back issue. Some libraries bind together back issues of a periodical into book form, for example with all the issues from one year/volume together. In the Parkside Library, the bound periodicals are shelved within the Stacks, in call-number order. You can borrow each volume for 28 days plus renewals.

If you need help finding an article or periodical, please ask!