How to borrow
To borrow physical library materials, present your Seminary Identification card at the Circulation Desk on the main (first) floor of the library.
The Seminary's Public Safety Department (public.safety@ptsem.edu) provides cards to current Princeton Theological Seminary students, faculty, and staff, and can also grant cards to Alumni, adjunct and Emeritus Faculty, spouses, and formally designated Visiting Scholars.
Loan periods and checkout limits
| PATRON TYPE | CHECKOUT LIMIT | BOOK LOAN PERIOD (non-book items differ) |
|---|---|---|
| Princeton Seminary Faculty & Ph.D. Students | 250 | Academic Year (6/30/__) |
| Princeton Seminary Adjunct Faculty | 250 | Term of employment |
| Princeton Seminary Masters Students, Alumni, Staff, Trustees, Visiting Faculty, Visiting Scholars* | 50 | 28 days |
| Princeton Seminary Spouses | 5 | 28 days |
*For individuals applying for Visiting Scholar status, that application process is through the Office of the President.
Course Reserves
Desk Reserves
Desk Reserves are physical reserve items kept behind the Circulation Desk. These are often print books where an e-version is not available, but can be other format types as well. The location in the catalog will appear as “First Floor-Circulation Desk Reserves”. In order to request a desk reserve item, please bring the call number to the Circulation Desk.
Generally, one reserve item at a time can be borrowed for 2 hours or 6 hours depending on its designation and must be used in the library. Two reserve items may be checked out overnight if borrowed within two hours of closing time. They will be due within one hour of the library’s opening the following day and must be returned directly to the Circulation Desk if the library is open. The book drop can be used when the library is closed.
A list of available desk reserves for each course can be found through the library's catalog: https://catalog.ptsem.edu/screens/coursesAZ.html.
Or, using the dropdown menu on the right side of the library catalog under "(More Searches)", select either Course Reserves (by Course Title) or Course Reserves (by Instructor), and then click the arrow (or use the Tab key followed by the Enter key on your keyboard).
Print course reserves are also discoverable in Summon.
e-Reserves
e-Reserves are e-books, e-articles, or scanned portions of books or journals added to each course’s Brightspace page (https://brightspace.ptsem.edu/)
E-Reserves available through BrightSpace are password protected and are to be used only by enrolled students in connection with the course for which the materials have been assigned. These materials must not be copied or distributed for other purposes except as permitted under copyright law.
As a general rule, the Library will not scan chapters or articles that are already accessible from e-books or e-journals through the Library’s holdings. Scanned material will need to conform to Fair Use copyright guidance (https://www.copyright.gov/fair-use/).
If you cannot locate a required reserve item in the catalog or Brightspace, please email library.circulation@ptsem.edu with the following info included: course name, instructor name, and a detailed description of the missing item(s).
Recalls
If an item is currently checked out to another borrower, patrons with recall privileges may recall it.
When an item is recalled, a recall notice is generated with the new due date and sent to the current borrower. The current borrower must return the item by the date indicated on the recall notice. Items recalled by the library, often for Course Reserves, are due immediately.
When the recalled item is returned, the requestor will receive an email notification to pick up the item from the Circulation Desk within 14 days. Items not picked up within 14 days will be returned to the stacks.