Library Terminology

adjective relating to or in the order of the letters of the alphabet

adverb in alphabetical order

• The glossary is organized in alphabetical order for easy reference.
• I can't find your name in the list because it's not in alphabetical order.
• Let's put the songs in the playlist in alphabetical order so it's easier to find them.
• The books on the shelf were arranged in alphabetical order, creating a neat and organized display.

verb to put or lay (something) in a place and then forget where one put it

• I seem to have mislaid my keys, could you help me look for them?
• I think I mislaid my phone somewhere in the house, can you call it?
• I always mislay my wallet when I'm in a rush, it's so frustrating!
• Sometimes we mislay our priorities in the chaos of life, it's important to refocus and realign.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

article a word that is used to specify the definiteness of a noun

• The book has been sitting on the shelf for months without being touched.
• I found that old CD on the shelf in the living room.
• I scored a sick pair of kicks on the shelf at the thrift store.
• His dreams of becoming a professional athlete were left on the shelf when he decided to pursue a different career path.

adjective An adjective is a word that describes or modifies a noun or pronoun. In this case, 'overdue' describes something that is not completed or paid by the expected time or deadline.

• The library charges a fee for overdue books.
• I forgot to return my library book on time, so now it's overdue.
• I totally spaced on returning that book, now it's hella overdue.
• The project deadline is looming and our progress is overdue.

noun a book with a flexible cover, typically a lower-priced and less durable version of a hardback book

• I prefer to read paperback books rather than e-books.
• I like the feel of a paperback in my hands when I read.
• I snagged a sweet paperback at the bookstore the other day.
• The paperback version of the novel is more accessible to a wider audience.

noun a person who gives financial or other support to a person, organization, cause, or activity

adjective relating to or characteristic of a patron, especially a customer of a store, restaurant, or theater

• The museum relies on the generous donations of its patrons to fund new exhibitions.
• The local bookstore's patrons always enjoy browsing through the selection of books.
• The club's top patron always knows how to throw the best parties.
• As a writer, I consider words to be my patrons, guiding me through the creative process.

verb to read or examine carefully or thoroughly

• She took her time to peruse the contract before signing it.
• I'll just quickly peruse this menu and then we can order.
• I perused the article and it was so boring.
• He perused her face, trying to read her emotions.

noun a general term for any material that can be read, such as books, magazines, newspapers, etc.

• The library offers a wide selection of reading matter for all ages.
• I always have some reading matter with me in case I get bored.
• I need some new reading matter to keep me entertained.
• The meeting agenda provided some interesting reading matter for the attendees.

verb A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. In this case, 'shelved' is the past tense of the verb 'shelve', meaning to put on a shelf or to set aside for later consideration.

• The project was shelved due to budget constraints.
• We decided to shelve the idea for now.
• Let's shelf that plan and come back to it later.
• He shelved his emotions and focused on the task at hand.