lending library

noun

1. Also called circulating library, rental library. a small library that is maintained by a commercial establishment, as a drugstore, and is composed largely of current books that are lent to customers for a fee.

2. Chiefly British.,  a public library that lends materials or the division or section of it that carries out this function.

lending library

noun

1. Also called (esp US): circulating library. the department of a public library providing books for use outside the building

2. a small commercial library

Word History and Origins

Origin of lending library¹

First recorded in 1700–10