n. (pl. -ies) 1 a a collection of books etc. for use by the public or by members of a group. b a person's collection of books. 2 a room or building containing a collection of books (for reading or reference rather than for sale). 3 a a similar collection of films, records, computer routines, etc. b the place where these are kept. 4 a series of books issued by a publisher in similar bindings etc., usu. as a set. 5 a public institution charged with the care of a collection of books, films, etc. library edition a strongly bound edition. library school a college or a department in a university or polytechnic teaching librarianship. library science the study of librarianship.
[ ME f. OF librairie f. L libraria (taberna shop), fem. of librarius bookseller's, of books, f. liber libri book ]