li ‧ bra ‧ ry S2 W1 /ˈlaɪbrəri, -bri $ -breri/ BrE AmE noun ( plural libraries ) [countable]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Medieval Latin ; Origin: librarium , from Latin liber 'book' ]
1 . a room or building containing books that can be looked at or borrowed ⇨ bookshop :
a public library
school/college/university library
a library book
library staff
2 . a group of books, CDs etc, collected by one person
3 . a room in a large house where books are kept
4 . a set of books, CDs, videos etc that are produced by the same company and have the same general appearance:
a library of modern classics
5 . library pictures/footage British English film or pictures used in a television programme which are not recent
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ go to/visit the library
I need to go to the library to return some books.
▪ use the library
You can use the library before or after school.
▪ borrow something from the library/take something out of the library
Books, CDs, DVDs, and magazines can be borrowed from the library.
▪ return something to the library/take something back to the library
Have you taken those books back to the library?
▪ check something out of the library American English (=borrow a book etc from the library)
You can check out up to ten books from the library.
■ ADJECTIVES/NOUN + library
▪ a public library (=a library that is supported by government money)
Our public libraries need more support.
▪ a school/university/college library
She was studying at the college library.
▪ a local library
This information is available at your local library.
▪ a lending library (=one that lends books)
Lending libraries became increasingly popular in Victorian times.
▪ a reference library (=one that does not lend books, so that you must read them there)
The reference library contains a collection of documents relating to slavery.
▪ a research library (=one that is good for doing research)
The university has one of the best research libraries in the world.
▪ a branch library (=a small library that is controlled by a larger library)
There is a good children's section in the branch library.
▪ a mobile library British English (=a small library inside a vehicle)
A mobile library visits the village once a week.
■ library + NOUN
▪ a library book
She's gone into town to change her library books.
▪ a library card (=a card that proves you are a member of a library and can borrow books)
When you join the library, you will be issued with a library card.
▪ a library user
Library users have been protesting against plans to close the local library.
▪ the library staff
If you have problems finding a book, ask a member of the library staff.
▪ library services
Public library services are threatened by budget cuts.
▪ a library catalogue
Students need to be taught how to use the computerized library catalogue.