So far, all we have is what we already knew: According to the OED, there is no link between Libra & Library. Liber bark is the bark of trees, according to Roman tradition, used in early times as a writing material. Libra (12 ounces)and meant "balance" was also the Roman pound - That is why we use LB for pound (the weight) and Great Britain uses L as the abbreviation for their currency - the pound. Stumpers response. Middle English librarie, from Anglo-Norman, from Latin librrium, bookcase, from neuter of librrius, of books, from liber, libr-, book. Source: The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. OE. librairie, F. librairie bookseller's shop, book trade, formerly, a library, fr. libraire bookseller, L. librarius, from liber book; cf. libraria bookseller's shop, librarium bookcase, It. libreria. Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.