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

Example Sentences

The main house had a lending library filled with art books and catalogs, and people from the surrounding community came for annual parties.

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Heavy Manners Library, an art space and lending library specializing in independent books and zines, holds one every other month.

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“We are social animals; we want to go out into the world and engage with each other,” said Mr. Morrison, who keeps a lending library outside his home.

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Recently someone “rented” a movie and returned it to the lending library later.

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The comic could be found at bookstores, lending libraries and roadside booksellers.

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