library register

[Caorthine]

Is a library register the same thing as a catalogue of the books a library has, or is it a register of book loans?

[Tdol]

Have you got the full context? It could have different meanings.

[Caorthine]

Originally Posted by Tdol

Have you got the full context? It could have different meanings.

That's the problem, Tdol. The excerpt is from Edith Whartons novel Summer, (set in New England in the early part of the 20th century) in which the main character works part time at a small village library. She has the register in a drawer, and sometimes refers to it. (by the way, I'm attempting to translate the book into Swedish)

[Anglika]

It takes too long to scroll through the text. Do you mind posting the section in which this appears?

[Ouisch]

Originally Posted by Caorthine

That's the problem, Tdol. The excerpt is from Edith Whartons novel Summer, (set in New England in the early part of the 20th century) in which the main character works part time at a small village library. She has the register in a drawer, and sometimes refers to it. (by the way, I'm attempting to translate the book into Swedish)

From this description, it sounds as though the "register" is the list of books that have been checked out, by whom, and when they're due to be returned.

The catalog of books has always been called the "card catalog" in the US since the concept was first conceived in 1877. Since Summer is set in the early 20th century, I'm guessing that the author would've referred to the card catalog by its proper name, and is indeed referring to some sort of check-out list of borrowed books.

[Caorthine]

Originally Posted by Ouisch

From this description, it sounds as though the "register" is the list of books that have been checked out, by whom, and when they're due to be returned.

The catalog of books has always been called the "card catalog" in the US since the concept was first conceived in 1877. Since Summer is set in the early 20th century, I'm guessing that the author would've referred to the card catalog by its proper name, and is indeed referring to some sort of check-out list of borrowed books.

Yes, that was my impression too, I just wasn't sure. At one point the main character gets upset and says that she is going to hand over the register to the person who hired her, and quit, and it wouldn't make sense for her to do that with a "card catalog".