Everyday English for Librarians
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Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
- ‘Introduce yourself and tell me about where you work’
- ‘Which department of the library do you work in, and what do you do there on a day-to-day basis?’
- ‘Please can you tell me, do you have a music library?’
- ‘Please can you tell me where to find the washroom?’
- ‘How many floors does the library have?
- Is disabled access good?’
- ‘Please can you describe to me how to get to your library from the nearest U-Bahn?’
- ‘Please can you tell me where I can park near to the library?’
- ‘Is there somewhere I can work quietly in the library?’
- ‘Is there somewhere I can plug my laptop into the internet?’
- ‘Can I take my bag into the library with me?’
- ‘Where is the main book collection?’
- ‘Where can I put my bags?’
- Ask your partner an open question about their work.
- ‘What are the publications on this floor about?
- ‘Where should I go if I need some help to find a book?’
- ‘What should I do if I can’t remember the author or the exact title of the book I’m looking for?’
- Ask your partner an open question about their home life.
- ‘How much are the fines if I am late returning a book?’
- ‘What does ‘semesterapparat’ mean?’
- ‘Please can you tell me where the lift is?’
- ‘Is there a way to search for a book from home?’
- ‘How can I find more information about the Architect, Gaudi?’
- ‘This entry says the book is in your closed stacks, what does this mean?’
- ‘I want to do some work with a book in your reference collection. Can I take it home?’
- How would you say ‘ No eating in the library!’ in a more friendly way?
- How else can you say ‘Do not leave your coats lying on the table’ in a more indirect way?
- ‘How can I get a library card?’
- ‘I want to take these books out, where do I need to take them?’
- ‘Can I renew my books remotely* online? (*‘remotely’ means ‘from a distance’)
- ‘What do I need to do to reserve a book?’
- ‘What happens if I do not return the books on time?’
- How else can you say ‘Do not leave your coats lying on the table’ in a more indirect way
- ‘How many books can I borrow?’
- Ask your partner an open question about their free time.
- ‘What do I need to join the Library?’
- ‘Can I take a periodical out on loan?’
- How else can you say: ‘No, you cannot do this.’ in a more friendly way?
- ‘Do you have an on-line catalogue, and where can I access it?’
- ‘What types of information can I use to perform a search on your online catalogue?’
- ‘How can I reduce the number of hits on the search engine of your online catalogue?’
- ‘By which categories can I sort the search results on your online catalogue?
- ‘How can I renew my books?’
- ‘Where can I put my coat?’
- ‘How can I search your catalogue?’
- ‘How do I find more books about de-forestation in South America?’
- ‘Do you have the latest copy of Time magazine among your periodicals?’
- ‘I wish to have the sheet music for ‘Penny Lane’ by Lennon and McCartney - can I get it here?’
- ‘The lady behind the desk was talking about a shelf mark – what did she mean?’
- ‘How are the books arranged here, are they grouped by author?’
- ‘What access can I have to electronic media?’
- ‘I’m sorry these books are two weeks overdue, I have been away on a field trip.’
- ‘Can I take books from the rare book collection home?’
- ‘Where can I find books by Charles Dickens?’
- ‘The lady at the information desk said I had to fill out an Inter-library loan request form, what does this mean?’
- ‘I can’t find one of these books at home – I may have lost it – what happens now?’
- ‘Is there a charge for using the photocopier?’
- ‘How long can I keep this book for?’
- ‘Where is the nearest place I can eat my lunch?’
- ‘Is there a café nearby?’
- ‘What buses or other public transport stop close to the Library?’
- ‘Can I arrange to have a small meeting here?’
- ‘Is there a maximum number of books I can take out?’
- ‘What sort of identification do you need?’
- ‘Why can’t I take my bags into the library?’
- ‘How much do you charge to take out DVDs?’
- ‘Can you tell me how I can find more books by this author?’
- ‘Please can you tell me how to use the lockers?’
- Ask your partner an open question about their hobbies.
- ‘I can’t remember the title of a book I took out last month, I know it had a green cover….’
- ‘Where do you keep the romance novels?’
- Ask your partner an open question about their last holiday.
- ‘Do you have a special section for Science Fiction?’
- ‘I have forgotten my library card, can I still take out some books?’
- ‘Can you tell me who wrote a novel called ‘Les Miserables?’
- ‘Where can I find more information on the German romantic movement?’
- ‘Where can I find a copy of today’s ‘Tagesspiegel’?’
- ‘Is there a noticeboard where I can pin up a poster about starting an English conversation lunch club?’
- ‘Excuse me, I wonder if we can talk in English?’
- ‘How can I find you again if I need further help?’
- ‘Do you work here every day?’
- ‘How can I reserve a study carrell for tomorrow?’
- ‘Is there a place where I can smoke?’
- ‘How much does it cost if my books are overdue?’
- ‘Can I leave my books here with you while I go to lunch?’
- ‘How much does it cost to join the library?
- ‘Can I renew my books by telephone?’
- ‘Is there a limit to the number of DVDs I can take out?’
- ‘At what time does the library close in the Evening?’
- ‘Is the library open on Sunday?’
- ‘Are there special opening times for Saturdays?’
- ‘When is the library open over the Christmas holidays?’
- ‘How many floors is the library on?’
- ‘Can I use my i-pad in the library?’
- ‘Where would I find the recipe books? - I need to find out how to cook lasagne’
- ‘What is the longest period of time that I can lend a book for?’
- ‘Where can I find a quiet place to work?’
- ‘Can I send you an e-mail here at the library? What is your address?’
- ‘If I want a book that is not in your catalogue, will you buy it for the library?’
- ‘Where can I find the course literature for the ‘Music Studies 003’ course?’
- ‘Who can I speak to about reserving a book?’
- ‘Which way to the lift, please?’
- ‘Can you explain to me how to renew my books without coming into the library?’
- ‘Why do you not allow eating in the library?’
- ‘Is there somewhere that I can safely park my bicycle?’
- ‘Will you tell me when my books are overdue?’
- ‘Do you have an English to Italian dictionary in the library? Where would I find it?’
- ‘Can you recommend a restaurant close to the library; I am meeting a colleague for lunch’.
- ‘What is the due date for these books please?’
- ‘Can you tell me if I still have any books out on my account?’
- 'Please can you tell me how to use your self-issue machine?'
- 'Do you have any extra services on the library’s website?'
- 'Do you have audio books in English in the library?