librarian
Americannoun
-
a person trained in library science and engaged in library service.
-
a person in charge of a library, especially the chief administrative officer of a library.
-
a person who is in charge of any specialized body of literature, as a collection of musical scores.
noun
Other Word Forms
- sublibrarian noun
Etymology
Origin of librarian
Explanation
A librarian is someone who works in a library maintaining books and information and lending them to patrons. If you have a research project ahead of you, make friends with the librarian. There are many different types of librarians, from archivists who care for, organize, and lend very old or valuable documents; to school librarians who organize book-related projects and buy books and electronic resources that are appropriate for the students they serve. To become a librarian, you might want to get an advanced degree in library science. The Latin root of librarian is liber, "book." In the 17th century, a librarian was known as a "library-keeper."
Vocabulary lists containing librarian
ESL Library Vocabulary
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -an
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
There the novel was handed to librarian Jessica Berry who contacted the team in the UK, but no one yet knows how it ended up down under.
From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026
My son, a college librarian, has seen that phenomenon as well as a general erosion of research skills and decision-making aptitude among some students.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2026
Weekly coffee mornings at a library in the Isle of Man capital aim to "get people in who feel a bit isolated," a librarian has said.
From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026
After Hammel-Sawyer’s first marriage ended, she worked as an assistant children’s librarian in Santa Barbara and met a reference librarian named Ben Sawyer.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 8, 2026
She was nothing like any librarian or grown-up he’d ever seen.
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
