public library

American  

noun

1. a nonprofit library established for the use of the general public and maintained chiefly by public funds.

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Etymology

Origin of public library

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

Sam was at the public library with his sister and his mother late one afternoon.

From Literature

She was able to check out a laptop from the public library for three weeks.

From Literature

He pulled out a chair for Coal and clicked through to the public library’s database.

From Literature

Early last summer I attended a discussion about affordable housing at the public library where a woman declared that “maybe the American dream should be renting.”

From The Wall Street Journal

“We all met working for a public library, so it was kind of meant to be an extension of a public library,” Fabry said.

From Los Angeles Times