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English for going to the library Posted by on Sep 17, 2015 in Culture, English Vocabulary

Image by Ravi on Flickr.com.

Image by Ravi on Flickr.com.

A library is a building or room that contains a collection of books, magazines (which are also called periodicals), films, music, and other materials that people can look at or borrow for free. In fact, libraries are great places to go to practice learning a language – there are so many free materials for you to use!

Today we are going to take a look at English vocabulary that will be helpful for you the next time you go to a library.

Note: In the United States most libraries are public, which means they are open and free for everyone to use. So, don’t be shy, get out there and explore all your local library has to offer, including Transparent Language resources. If your local Library doesn’t have Transparent Language learning resources you can let them know about this and maybe they will soon.

Common library vocabulary and phrases:

to browse – to look through (books or other materials) in a casual manner

catalog – a list of all books and other materials found in a library

to check out – to take a book out of the library and keep it for a specified period of time

Dewey decimal system – a system for classifying and organizing books by subject matter; the system is named after Melvil Dewey

fiction – literature that is not based on fact and includes imaginary events and people; this includes short stories and novels

interlibrary loan – this is a service that lets consumers at one library borrow books that are owned by another library; it is a way libraries share books with one another

library card – a card given to someone who belongs to a library so that the person can check out materials and the library can keep track of who has what

librarian – a person who works at a library, who assists customers, or takes care of the library’s collection of books and other materials

non-fiction – literature that is based on facts, real events, and real people; this includes biographies and history

on hold – when this term is used at a library it means “reserved”; [Example: This is the list of books I would like to put on hold.]

on the shelf – this literally means that a book is on the self and therefore ‘present’ at the library; this is the opposite of a book being “checked out” or not present at the library

patron – this is another word for ‘customer’ or ‘user’; often people who go to libraries are called ‘patrons’ as opposed to customers

Now, take a look at this conversation that could very likely take place at a library. In this conversation you will see some of the vocabulary introduced above and you will also learn how to check out materials from a library in English. If you have any questions about any of this vocabulary or this conversation, please ask them in the comment box below.

Patron: Hi! I’d like to check out the book Wild but I can’t seem to find it on the shelf.
Librarian: Okay, just one minute while I check our catalog.
Patron: No problem.
Librarian: I’m sorry, that book has been checked out until next week. Would you like to put it on hold?
Patron: Yes, please.
Librarian: Okay, let me scan your library card. We’ll call you when it’s available.
Patron: Great! In the meantime, do you have any other recommendations?
Librarian: Always. What kinds of books do you like?
Patron: I really enjoy biographies, but I also read lots of contemporary non-fiction.
Librarian: Let me write down some suggestions. You can also search our catalog to find similar books.
Patron: Awesome! How many books can I check out at once?
Librarian: As many as you’d like.
Patron: And for how long can I check books out?
Librarian: You may check out a book for two weeks at a time.
Patron: Do you charge fees for late returns?
Librarian: Yes, but we’ll send you a reminder e-mail before it’s due. Here’s the list, let me know if you need any help.
Patron: Thanks so much.

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About the Author: Gabriele

Hi there! I am one of Transparent Language's ESL bloggers. I am a 32-year-old native English speaker who was born and raised in the United States. I am living in Washington, DC now, but I have lived all over the US and also spent many years living and working abroad. I started teaching English as a second language in 2005 after completing a Master's in Applied Linguists and a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults' (CELTA). Since that time I have taught ESL in the United States at the community college and university level. I have also gone on to pursue my doctorate in psychology and now I also teach courses in psychology. I like to stay connected to ESL learners around the world through Transparent Languages ESL Blog. Please ask questions and leave comments on the blog and I will be sure to answer them.