librarian
Americannoun
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a person trained in library science and engaged in library service.
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a person in charge of a library, especially the chief administrative officer of a library.
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a person who is in charge of any specialized body of literature, as a collection of musical scores.
noun
Other Word Forms
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
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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.
“Our patronage definitely dropped because of the pandemic, and I don’t know that it’s ever completely recovered,” the librarian said, adding that “downtown, in general, hasn’t.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026
Sarah DeMaria still remembers how close she came to resigning from her role as a school librarian.
From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026
Aware of growing censorship in Pennsylvania, DeMaria — who is the Hempfield School District’s library media program coordinator and a high school librarian — wanted to get ahead of the trend.
From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026
Katz, 51, a librarian in West Hollywood, has two children with her “nesting partner,” and another partner whom she does not live with.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026
Jonah blinked and stared and stammered, “But—but—” and then he at least had the sense to shut his mouth, because the librarian was looking at him oddly.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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.
