開放給一般大眾使用的圖書館，其經費一般由國家負擔，與僅開放給特定團體或個人的圖書館有所區別。

公共圖書館(機構)　(P,,U,繁體中文-偏好,D,U,U)
公立圖書館(機構)　(,U,繁體中文-非偏好,UF,U,U)
kung kung t'u shu kuan(P,,U,韋氏拼音-偏好,UF,U,U)
gōng gòng tú shū guǎn(P,,U,漢語拼音-偏好,UF,U,U)
gong gong tu shu guan(P,,U,漢語拼音(無聲調)-偏好,UF,U,U)
public libraries(institutions)　(P,,U,英文-偏好,D,U,PN)
public library(institution)　(,U,英文-非偏好,AD,U,SN)
libraries, public(institutions)　(,U,英文-非偏好,UF,U,N)
bibliotecas públicas(institutions)　(P,,U,西班牙語-偏好,D,U,PN)
biblioteca pública(institution)　(,U,西班牙語-非偏好,AD,U,SN)
biblioteca oficial(institution)　(,U,西班牙語-非偏好,UF,U,SN)

藝術與建築詞典根目錄
....代理者層面
........組織 (層級名)
............組織 (群體)
................機構 (組織)
....................<依活動區分之機構>
........................圖書館 (機構)
............................公共圖書館 (機構)

locational context/setting is....	公共圖書館(建築物)
distinguished from....	私立圖書館(機構)

英文....	Libraries that are available to the public and typically maintained by public funds, as distinguished from libraries available only to a certain group or individual.

公共圖書館(機構)............	[AS-Academia Sinica]
.................	國家教育研究院－雙語詞彙、學術名詞暨辭書資訊網 August 3, 2015
.................	經濟部智慧財產局－本國專利技術名詞中英對照查詢資料庫 August 3, 2015
.................	Cambridge Dictionaries Online August 3, 2015
公立圖書館(機構)............	[AS-Academia Sinica]
.................	經濟部智慧財產局－本國專利技術名詞中英對照查詢資料庫 August 3, 2015
.................	YAHOO!奇摩字典 August 3, 2015
.................	遠流字典通 August 3, 2015
public libraries(institutions)............	[VP]
.................	CDMARC Subjects: LCSH (1988-)
.................	Harrod's Librarians' Glossary (1984) 628
.................	RIBA, Architectural Keywords (1982)
.................	Canadian Thesaurus of Construction Science and Technology (1978)
.................	Avery Index (1963-)
.................	Oxford English Dictionary Online (2002-) accessed 1 December 2009
.................	AATA database (1995-) 127840 checked 26 January 2012
public library(institution)............	[VP]
.................	Getty Vocabulary Program rules
libraries, public(institutions)............	[VP]
.................	Getty Vocabulary Program rules
bibliotecas públicas(institutions)............	[VP]
.................	TAA database (2000-)
.................	Comité, Plural del término en singular
biblioteca pública(institution)............	[VP]
.................	TAA database (2000-)
.................	Dewey, Sistema de Clasificación Decimal (1980) IV:87
.................	Plazola Cisneros y Plazola Anguiano, Arquitectura Habitacional (1990)
biblioteca oficial(institution)............	[VP]
.................	Gran Enciclopedia Larousse (1973) 3:169
.................	TAA database (2000-)
Subject:............	[GCI]
.................	RIBA, Architectural Keywords (1982) Libraries: public
.................	Avery Index (1963-) Libraries--Public
.................	AATA database (1995-) 127840 checked 26 January 2012

Getty AAT: 300343389 Getty AAT: http://www.getty.edu/vow/AATFullDisplay?find=costume&logic=AND¬e=&subjectid=300343389
聯合目錄： 公共圖書館 、公立圖書館 、kung kung t'u shu kuan 、gōng gòng tú shū guǎn 、gong gong tu shu guan 、public libraries 、public library 、libraries, public 、bibliotecas públicas 、biblioteca pública 、biblioteca oficial