Library

The word library has its origins in Proto-Italic lufro (the inner bark of trees) and perhaps from PIE lubh-ro (leaf, rind) and the related PIE root leub(h) (to strip, to peel). From these sources came Latin liber (book, parchment, paper) and librarium (chest for books).
The Old English word for a collection of books was bochord (book hoard; i.e., bok + hord).
The word library (a place for books) came to English in the late 14th century from Old French librairie (collection of books; bookseller’s shop) and Latin librarium (book case, chest for books). Latin libraria was a bookseller’s shop.
In most Romance languages the words for ‘library’ refer to bookseller’s shops. In English, the word library evolved to mean ‘library’ as a place for books and other materials.
A brief library factoid: Between 1883 and 1929, the Scottish-American steel magnate, Andrew Carnegie, funded the building of 2,509 libraries around the world. Local government needed to meet the following criteria for Carnegie funding: demonstrate the need for a public library, provide the building site, pay staff and maintain the library (annually at 10% per year of the construction costs), use public funds to run the library, and provide free service to all.
Image: Stuttgart Library, Germany
Reference: Online Etymological Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/
Published on January 23, 2022 08:01
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