Glossary
Library Assistant Terms & Vocabulary
15 essential library assistant terms with plain-English definitions: the vocabulary you’ll hear in training and on day one.
Key library assistant vocabulary
These 15 terms come up constantly in library assistant training, on the job and in interviews. Knowing them helps you follow instructions, document accurately and sound prepared.
- Barcode
- Item identifier.
- Book drop
- Return slot.
- Call number
- Shelf location code.
- Circulation
- Checking items in and out.
- Dewey Decimal
- Numbered classification system.
- Hold
- Reserved item.
- ILS
- Integrated library system.
- Interlibrary loan
- Borrowing from other libraries.
- Overdue
- Past the due date.
- Page
- Shelver.
- Patron
- Library user.
- Patron privacy
- Keeping records confidential.
- Reference question
- Request for information.
- Shelf reading
- Checking order on shelves.
- Weeding
- Removing old items.
Practice these terms
Test yourself with the free Library Assistant practice test: it includes vocabulary questions built from this list. For a complete course, see Library Assistant training.
Browse terms from every career in our career glossary.