Using the Library
- How do I access the library?
- Visitors should enter the Seminary through the gate on 21st Street between 9th and 10th Avenues.
- What is the library’s food and drinks policy?
- Drinks must be covered with a secure lid. Food is not permitted in the library, but can be eaten in the foyer.
- Can members of the public visit?
- Yes, from 11 am – 5 pm, Monday – Friday.
- How can I get borrowing privileges?
- Alumni and members of the public who wish to borrow from the library may register for Theological Research from a Distance, which offers online database access and borrowing privileges. For more information, visit the registration page.
- How can I arrange for a tour or special collections appointment?
- Please contact library@gts.edu to set up a library tour or an appointment to use special collections. Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate walk-ins.
- How do I print?
- Current students and faculty may use their GTS ID card to print, scan, or copy. Use the 5-digit number on the back of your ID card. For any issues with this, submit an IT ticket.
Coursework / Student Life
- Can I check out course textbooks?
- All course textbooks are held behind the circulation desk and circulate for three hours (no renewals).
- How do I find my course textbooks?
- You can check the locations and availability of your course resources, both physical and electronic, on the Course Reserves page.
- How do I request an interlibrary loan resource?
- You may request books, articles, and other resources for loan from other libraries. Please submit a full citation to aaronberg@gts.edu.
- How do I use the library study rooms?
- When they are not reserved, the library’s study rooms are available for open use on a first-come, first served basis. To reserve a room, contact a librarian.
Electronic Resources
- Which databases do you provide access to?
- The library provides registered users access to the American Theological Library Association database and JSTOR.
- How do I access ebooks?
- Ebooks can be found in the catalog listed under Item Type “ELECTRONIC.” To download and use ebooks, see Using Ebooks at the Keller Library.
- How can I see which journals offer online access?
- Visit the library’s Serials Solutions page to search by title or browse all titles.
- How do I access my library account?
- Visit the library catalog to access your library account to renew books online.
Writing a Thesis / Summative Paper
- What are the different kinds of summative projects?
- Theses, summative papers, and projects are opportunities for M.Div. and M.A. students to focus their attention in a particular area at the culmination of their studies.
Theses make a scholarly contribution to a field of study. Thesis work is entered permanently in the library.
A project combines scholarly research with application to a ministry setting, either hypothetical or real. In the case of an actual ministry setting, a project may describe the outcomes of the implementation of the project’s proposals. Like theses, projects are placed in the library.
A summative paper is a piece of work in which a student integrates the learning of one’s degree program in a paper on a particular topic. The emphasis is on the integration of learning, rather than on a scholarly contribution. Summative papers tend to be shorter than theses and are not placed in the library.
- Theses, summative papers, and projects are opportunities for M.Div. and M.A. students to focus their attention in a particular area at the culmination of their studies.
- What are the thesis requirements?
- See the Keller Library Thesis Guidelines for all requirements. You may also download the Thesis Requirements Checklist and sample formats.