IELTS Library Vocabulary : Useful words in IELTS Speaking
Facilities/Personnel
- British Library: The national library of the United Kingdom.
- Main Library: The principal or largest library in an institution.
- Borrow—Lend: To take and give books for a temporary period.
- Librarian: A person in charge of a library or its staff.
- Reference Stacks: Areas in a library where reference books are kept.
- Enquiry Desk: A desk in a library where information is provided to users.
- Consultation: The act of seeking or giving advice.
- Bookshelf: A piece of furniture used to hold books.
- Photocopying Room: A room designated for making photocopies of documents.
- Scanner: A device used to scan images or text.
Borrowing/Renewing Books
- Index: An alphabetical list of names, subjects, or terms with references to the pages on which they occur in a book.
- Serial Number: A unique identifier assigned to a book.
- Delivery Desk / Circulation Desk: The desk in a library where books are checked out.
- Library Card / Admission Card: A card issued by a library to its users.
- Call Slip: A slip of paper used to request a book from the library.
Library Policies
- Magnetically Code: A code used in library cards for identification purposes.
- Demagnetize: The process of removing magnetism from an object.
- Open/Closed Shelf: Shelving systems that are either accessible or restricted to library users.
- Closed Reserve: Books that cannot be borrowed and must be used within the library.
- Not for Circulation: Items that are not available for borrowing.
- In Circulation: Items that can be borrowed from the library.
- Circulation Section: The area of a library where books are checked in and out.
- In Stock: Available for borrowing or purchase.
- Date Slip: A slip of paper indicating the due date of a borrowed item.
- Deadline: The last date by which something must be completed or submitted.
- Date of Expiry: The date on which a loan period ends.
- Available: Accessible for use or borrowing.
- Out Circulation: Currently borrowed by a library user.
- Loan Period: The length of time a library item can be borrowed.
- Reserve/Book: To arrange to borrow a book in advance.
- Renewal: The act of extending the loan period for a library item.
- Interlibrary Service: A service that allows libraries to borrow items from each other.
Types of Library Materials
- Classification: The arrangement of books and other library materials according to subject.
- Category: A class or division in a system of classification.
- Catalogue: A complete list of the books in a library.
- Bibliography: A list of the works cited by an author or a list of books on a particular subject.
- Journal: A periodical publication in a particular field.
- Textbook (Center): A book used for study at school or college, or a place where textbooks are available.
- Disk: A round flat object, such as a CD or DVD.
- Handout: A sheet of printed material distributed to a class or group.
- Periodical: A publication that appears at regular intervals.
- Current/Back Issues: The most recent and older editions of a periodical.
- Fiction: Literary work in which the characters and events are products of the author's imagination.
- Non-fiction: Prose writing that is factual or based on fact.
- Encyclopedia: A reference work containing articles on various subjects or a comprehensive summary of a particular field.
- Atlas: A collection of maps.
Library Fines
- Due: Expected or meant to happen at a particular time.
- Recall/Request a Book: To ask for a book to be returned or sent to a specific library location.
- Overdue and Fine: A penalty for returning a library book later than the due date.
- Return in Time: To give or send something back before a deadline.
