ODLIS began at the Haas Library in 1994 as a fourpage printed handout, titled Library Lingo, intended for undergraduates not fluent in English and for Englishspeaking students unfamiliar with basic library terminology. In 1996, the text was expanded and converted to HTML format for installation on the WCSU Libraries Homepage under the title Hypertext Library Lingo: A Glossary of Library Terminology. In 1997, many more hypertext links were added and the format improved in response to suggestions from users. During the summer of 1999, several hundred terms and definitions were added, and a generic version was created that omitted all reference to specific conditions and practices at the Haas Library.

Website: http://lu.com/odlis/