The Austen K. deBlois Library at Palmer Theological Seminary

Library Hours
Fall (September-December) and Spring (February-May) semesters:

Between Semesters (including January and Summer Terms):

The lower level book stacks close 15 minutes prior to closing time to allow for check-out and lock-up procedures to be completed.

The Library observes all official Seminary holidays: Labor Day, Thanksgiving (Thurs.-Sat.), Christmas through New Year's Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Easter (Fri.-Sat.), Memorial Day, and Independence Day.

Facilities
The Austen K. deBlois Library is located in the west wing of the Seminary building. It consists of two floors known as the main floor and the lower level. The main floor consists of the Circulation area, Reference Room, Eden Room, Hispanic Studies Collection, Black Studies Collection, and Korean Studies Collection. The lower level includes the Main Collection, MacBride Room, Children's Room, and Periodical Room.

The Eden Room holds the most current periodical issues available in the Library. Across
from the Eden Room, there is a staircase leading to the lower level of the Library where the Main Collection is located. The MacBride Room, located next to the Main Collection, houses
the MacBride humanities collection and is used for quiet study. The Periodical Room houses
all back issues of journals held by the Library. The Oversize Collection is located in the stacks adjacent to the Periodical Room entrance. This collection is composed of books that are
taller than 28 cm., and thus cannot be shelved properly in the regular stacks. There is also
an Undersize Collection, composed of books smaller than 15 cm., at the end of the
Main Collection.

The Children's Room is located on the lower level, toward the back of the Main Collection
area. Books and a few games appropriate for children are located in this room. Children are welcome to use the Children's Room as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Children may not use the Library computers; there are several public libraries in the area that will meet their needs.

There are four computers in the Circulation area for online catalog search and internet research. Patrons can also access the Library's online catalog from outside the Seminary. Two additional computers are located in the Reference Room with internet access for online research. There is one computer located at the back of the Main Collection and another in the Periodical Room for online catalog search only.

A photocopier is located in the Periodical Room for patrons wanting to make copies of
journal articles. Another photocopier is located right outside the Library main entrance and is available for after-hours service. The charge is .10 per page. Both photocopiers operate with money or copy cards. The copy cards are rechargeable and available for $10.00 each at the Circulation Desk.

The Library maintains compact shelving in a separate storage area apart from the Library location. The Compact Room contains old, rarely accessed volumes still cataloged in the Dewey Decimal System. Also in Compact are Eastern Baptist and Palmer Seminary theses and dissertations and a special collection of non-circulating old and rare books. The Compact Room is not accessible to patrons. Access to Compact Room materials should be made by special request at the Circulation Desk. Library staff will retrieve the material on the patron's behalf.

Library Contacts
Phone: 800-220-3287 ext. 2946
           484-384-2946
Email: semlibr@eastern.edu

Library Links
Warner Memorial Library at Eastern University
Ryan Memorial Libraryat St. Charles Borromeo Seminary
SEPTLA The South Eastern Pennsylvania Theological Library Association