Access and Borrowing
While we want to make this seminary library an accessible and inviting place for serious students of theology, we must also take care for the preservation of the collection. This means that while we are happy to grant access to most inquirers, we must be somewhat restrictive regarding borrowing privileges. This policy statement outlines the criteria upon which we base admission to and borrowing from this library.
Since this library was created to support the undergraduate and graduate degree programs of the Immaculate Conception Seminary/School of Theology, access to our collection and the privilege of borrowing materials from it are normally limited to students and faculty (full-time and adjunct) of this seminary/school of theology. The seminary library is, however, always open to other Seton Hall University faculty. They can readily enter and borrow from the collection by simply presenting their faculty identification card at the circulation desk and filling out the information requested in the Visitor Registration Book. The undergraduate religious studies program at Seton Hall University is well supplied by the religious entries in the university’s Walsh Library. Nevertheless, it is understandable that undergraduate students here and students in the other graduate programs at Seton Hall will occasionally need to use the resources of our collection here at the seminary library. To do this they must obtain a Courtesy Card Pass from Seton Hall University’s Walsh Library Reference Desk. When presented to the clerk at the circulation desk at the entrance to the seminary library, this pass will provide the student admission to the seminary library to consult the materials in our library and, when necessary, to borrow books. Students enrolled in the School of Theology’s Bachelor of Arts program in Catholic Theology, however, need no referral but need only to present their university identification card for admission and use of all the seminary library resources. Students and faculty of other colleges and universities are also invited to visit this seminary library. They can readily obtain admission to the seminary library by presenting their school identification card at the circulation desk at the entrance to the seminary library and signing the Visitor Registration Book. However, the only way a student or faculty member of another university or college can borrow a book or other materials from this seminary library is by requesting an inter-library loan through their own college or university library.
Scholars from educational institutions outside the United States are also welcome to visit and use our collection. They are given entrance upon presentation of identification and filling out the information requested in the Visitor Registration book. To obtain borrowing privileges, however, foreign visitors must write in advance to the director of this seminary library making clear their research needs, the period of time they will be using the library, and describing in general terms the materials they will be borrowing. When borrowing privileges are granted to foreign scholars there will also be required a $100 deposit, refundable when all loaned materials are returned.
Alumni or alumnae of this seminary/school of theology are also most welcome to return to use the collection. However, to secure admission they must first obtain an identification card from the Alumni/ae Affairs Office (2nd floor of the Ring Building). Return of borrowed materials will be monitored and excessive tardiness or failure to return loaned materials will result in suspension of borrowing privileges.
As for the general public: this seminary library is not a public or parish library. People who are not registered students or faculty of this or another university are not normally allowed to enter the seminary library. In rare circumstances, however, a member of the general public might be given access to the seminary library. Such admission is at the discretion of the library director or senior staff and is allowed only after the visitor has presented some form of identification and filled out the information required in the Visitor Registration Book, namely, name, title or occupation, home address and home phone number. The circulation clerk will note in the same Visitor Registration Book the date and time of the visitor’s entrance and departure. Under no circumstances is such a visitor accorded borrowing privileges.
Finally, no borrower is ever allowed to charge out more than five items at any one time.
3/26/07