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Goddard Library - Hamilton Campus

Goddard Library Hours

Consult the Goddard Library web site for changes to the library hours.

  • Monday – Thursday: 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. The library is closed for all-campus Chapel, Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. during the Fall and Spring semesters.
  • Friday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
  • Saturday:  9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
  • Sunday: Closed

Exceptions:

  • Extended Hours: Typically the last two Fridays and Saturdays of each semester the library has extended hours of operation (until 11 p.m.).
  • Holidays: The library is open Columbus Day, Veterans' Day. The library is closed Thursday, Friday and Saturday of the Thanksgiving holiday, and from Christmas Eve through New Year's Day.
  • Snow Days: The library is closed any time that seminary administration has canceled classes due to inclement weather.

Welcome New Students!

Goddard Library is dedicated to helping you succeed at seminary. This year, Library Orientation has moved to the Library Services module on the Online New Student Orientation in Canvas.

  • All incoming students will need to pass the Library Services Quiz in Canvas with a 100% before borrowing books. Don't worry, you can re-take the quiz as many times as necessary!

Goddard Library Resources

Overview

Most of the information you need to use the library's resources is covered in the Online New Student Orientation. Here is a quick reference guide to basic resources at Goddard.

  • Professional library staff dedicated to serving you!
  • Over 250,000 items, including books, DVD's, CD's and journals. You can search for titles at the Goddard Library using the Online Catalog.
  • A host of online databases, books and journals!
    • Familiarize yourself with our Online Databases page! These resources are available both on- and off-campus.
    • To log access certain databases you will need to know your login credentials.
    • Familiarize yourself with the Digital Theological Library. This library is quickly becoming the premier digital academic library for theological studies. All resources in the DTL catalog are available electronically (use your Student ID number to log in).
  • Wireless internet access in the library reading rooms
  • Printing ($0.15 / black and white page; $0.30 / color page). Instructions for printing over the wireless network are available.
  • 12 PC's and 1 Mac for library research & email
  • Office supplies (stapler, paperclips, tape, etc.)
  • Photocopies ($0.10 / page)
  • Copiers can also scan documents to PDF and send to your email address (FREE!).
  • An overhead book scanner will produce searchable PDF's, Word Documents or even Audio Files of scanned documents.

Contact us!

If you need to contact the library staff for any reason - to suggest a purchase, suggest a service, or to ask a reference question, you can contact the library through our Ask a Librarian! contact page (linked at the bottom of the left navigation menu on all library pages).

Placing Holds:

A item that Goddard Library owns that has been checked out by another patron can be placed on hold. To place a book on hold, click the "Request Item" button on the item details page in the library catalog. Log in (if necessary) and fill out the form as instructed.

Inter-Library Loans:

Items not owned by Goddard Library may be requested for inter-library loan. To request an item, click the "Request Item" button, login on the item details page in the library catalog. Log in (if necessary) and fill out the form as instructed. Full instructions are available online.

Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium (BTI) Libraries:

As a student, you have access to several world-class theological libraries in the Boston area through the Boston Theological Interreligious Consortium. Familiarize yourself with the BTI library policies. For instance, you must "opt-in" to release your registration information to other BTI libraries BEFORE attempting to borrow books from BTI schools.

Goddard Library Policies

Before You Check Out Books...

Borrowing Privileges

Loan Periods:

  • Circulating Books: up to 25 items for 28 days (4 weeks)
  • Reserve Materials: up to 2 items for 3 hours (most items can leave the library, but all must be returned on time). A list of reserve materials is available through the Online Catalog.
  • Videos & DVD's: 3 videos & 2 DVD's for 7 days
  • CD's: 5 items for 7 days
  • Reference Materials & Periodicals cannot be checked out, they must be used in-house.
  • Inter-Library Loan: You can request books from other libraries. The checkout period is determined by the lending library.

Renewals:

  • Items can be renewed online or in person at the front desk.
  • Circulating books can be renewed 5 times for 28 days each renewal. (Renewals are not allowed if the book has been placed on hold.)
  • Reserve items can be renewed an unlimited number of times unless the item is in high-demand by other students.
  • DVD's and CD's cannot be renewed.
  • Inter-Library Loan items are renewed at the discretion of the lending library. Request renewals by emailing ill@gordonconwell.edu.
  • BTI books are renewed at the discretion of the lending library. Request renewals by contacting the lending library directly.

Fines:

The library does not charge fines on circulating materials, however, patrons are required to replace long overdue books. There is also a fine for reserve items that are held too long. Please see the long overdue book policy. This policy will be reviewed in the Library Orientation in Canvas.