Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Wiktionary
n. A library from which books are lend out.
WordNet
n. library that provides books for use outside the building [syn: circulating library]
Wikipedia
A lending library is a library from which books and other media are lent out. The earliest reference to or use of the term "lending library" yet located in English correspondence dates from ca. 1586; C'Tess Pembroke Ps. CXII. v, "He is ... Most liberall and lending," referring to the books of an unknown type of library, and later in a context familiar to users of contemporary English, in 1708, by J. Chamberlayne; St. Gt. Brit.; III. xii. 475 "[The Libraries] of Cambridge are Lending-libraries; that is, he that is qualified may borrow out of it any book he wants". This definition is closely associated with libraries in England before the Public Libraries Act 1850 was passed which allowed cities to use taxes to create and maintain libraries but did not require cities build them. This definition is also applicable in the United States before 1850 and widespread School District Library Acts which were passed in many states at the same time. It may also refer to a library or other institution that sends materials on request to another library, usually via interlibrary loan.
Usage examples of "lending library".
Ann sat beside her holding their stack of books from the lending library.
Others were books he hadn't yet read, books the lending library books had led him to look for.
Inside there is no living room, no game room, and no lending library whatsoever.
She longed to go to the lending library, but she refused to budge from her house on Charles Street.
He listened to Marietta's explanation of the concept of an up-time lending library and was introduced to some of the staff.
Much of the time Miss Violence sat by the window and read romantic novels from the lending library.
He crossed to the elevators and looked down the corridor to the Christian Lending Library on the left.