Library

Manuscripts & Archives - 21,763

Printed Books - 52,098*
Bound Periodicals - 3,082*
Microfiche (Dissertations) - 7,391*
Musical Scores - 208*
*Total Volumes - 62,787

Kits, CDs & Audio Books - 334**
DVDs - 405**
Vertical File items - 3098**
Online Catalog eLinks & eBooks - 9311**
**Total Nonbook Physical & digital - 13,433

Grand Total items (Manuscripts + Volumes + Nonbook Physical & digital) - 97,963
Commentary Sets (Reference) - 58
Commentary Sets (for check out) - 53
Reading Room Serial Print Subscriptions & Non-subscriptions - 138
Subscription Databases - 16
Non Subscription Databases - 69

Data Revised July 29th, 2021 for the Association of Theological Schools (ATS) 2020/21 Report

Approximately 4,400 volumes are located in the reference area and are for use in the Library only. They can not be checked out, except by special permission of the Director of Library Services, with a limited one or two day checkout. Photocopies of reference volumes can be made in the Library for 10-15 cents per page. The Doctrine of "Copyright Fair Use" allows the scanning of approximately 10% or 1 Chapter of a book for personal educational use.

All print magazines and journals must be read in the library area. Current & back issue titles (140) are kept in the Periodical Reading Room just below the inclined periodical shelves. Older bound (3,082) and non-bound (21,743) periodicals are kept in the archive area and can only be accessed with permission from the library staff. The periodical inventory may be accessed through the PS Archive link, then by selecting the Serials Database (Rev. 13 Sept. 2021) Volumes and dates of the stored items are listed. The American Theological Library Associations Religion Database and Serials Plus (ATLA-RD/Serials Plus), can guide patrons to numerous journal and magazine articles to do thorough research. ATLA-RD/Serials Plus can be utilized from home through www.ps.edu. Patrons will need access instructions as well as an authorization number and password to use this excellent resource through the EBSCO platform.

Phoenix Seminary Library cooperates with other libraries throughout the country with the Interlibrary Loan (ILL) program. Patrons who have need of books or articles not found in our collection may request these from other libraries. With the World Catalog, one can search over 516 million original bibliographic records (3.1 billion copies) as of Feb. 2021 in the WorldCat to find the materials needed for research. All registered students and faculty are encouraged to research this site accessed on the OPALS page, and email library@ps.edu to obtain items via the ILL system, however, training is needed to utilize this service. Either the library staff can assist you, or one can access a WorldCat tutorial via the Students Menu Option then selecting Library Training. Call 602-429-4974 or 4972 for help.

Since these are high demand items, they are placed on "Reserve" behind the library circulation desk. Some books belong to our professors while others are library books and are circulated for use in the library primarily--with permission, some titles may be checked out overnight or for the weekend. These books are required class reading and are set aside on reserve. Students who ask for these volumes must sign for them. Depending on the need books are allowed to be checked out for 1 or 2 two-hour use periods.  Students may read, copy or digitize items as long as they abide by Copyright/Fair Use guidelines (for a PS owned print items copy no more than 1 Chapter or 10% of a book, or for a PS owned periodical no more than 1 article)

General Circulation

Most items may be checked out for nearly four weeks with one optional renewal (if not reserved by another patron). Contract holding Students and Faculty of the Phoenix Seminary Library also have privileges at several other libraries around the Valley through the Theological Library Cooperative of Arizona (TLCA).

Renewals

Renewals can be made by phone at 602-429-4974 or via the Online Book Renewal Library Link. You may also renew books by calling or emailing the Library staff at Library@ps.edu.

Hold

Library materials which are not checked out (and located on the library shelves) can be secured for specific individuals by being placed on hold. Items will remain on hold for one day and may not be checked out by other patrons during this time.

Reserve

Checked out materials can be placed on reserve, thus preventing another patron from checking them out again once returned to the library. When a reserved item(s) are returned to the Library they automatically go on hold. We will attempt to contact the patron and inform them they have one day to check out the item(s).

Fines

Materials kept beyond the due date are subject to a fine of 25 cents per day (excluding Saturday, Sunday and holidays).

Lost or Damaged Books

Borrowers will pay replacement costs plus a $25 processing fee ($35 for TLCA) for each item unless they are able to secure for the library volumes in similar or better condition.

Recall

Books may be recalled at any time in order to support faculty, staff, or student needs. Books recalled but not returned by the recall date will be assessed a fine of $1 per day.

Copyright Law

The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17 U.S. Code 108(f) (1)) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Any person using Seminary printers or copy machines are liable for any infringement or violation of the law.

As a student, it is your responsibility to understand what you can legally print or copy before being considered guilty of copyright infringement. “Fair use” comes into play primarily in the academic setting, and students are given certain copying or printing freedoms the commercial world does not have. If you go beyond these legal limits, the law sees you as a thief, one who is denying creators of intellectual property their just revenues. If found guilty, you can be heavily fined.

Photo and print copies are to be considered permissible and “fair use,” provided that the following criteria are met:

• Use is academic in nature, for non-profit, educational purposes.
• The duplication purpose is to make material available for study for the patron’s or student’s convenience.
• The duplication regards a single copy of one original, as opposed to multiple copies of the same original.
• No more than one article per journal or one chapter per book (10%) will be copied.