Library reference book In most public and academic libraries, reference books are usually not available to be borrowed by patrons like the rest of the library's holdings. Reference books are either used very frequently—a dictionary or an atlas, for example—or very infrequently, such as a highly specialized concordance. Because some reference books are consulted by patrons too frequently to have enough copies and others so infrequently that replacing it would be difficult, libraries prefer to make them available for photocopy rather than checkout.
Library reference book In most public and academic libraries, reference books are usually not available to be borrowed by patrons like the rest of the library's holdings Reference books are either used very frequently—a dictionary or an atlas for example—or very infrequently, such as a highly specialized concordance. Because some reference books are consulte,d by patrons too frequently to have enough co.pies and others so infrequently that replacing it would be difficult, libraries prefer to make them available for photocopy rather than checkout.