Mission & policies - Eden Theological Seminary Library
The library's mission
Who may use the library
Use of public computers
Who may borrow?
Loan periods
Renewing materials
Fines
Replacement costs
Blocking of patron accounts
Confidentiality of Borrower Records
Copyright Law Compliance
The Luhr Library supports Eden Theological Seminary's mission of educating pastors and teachers, enlivening critical reflection on faith, and encouraging Christian discipleship by providing access to historical and current theological scholarship relevant to teaching, research, learning and ministry.
Adults who wish to read and do research in the fields of religion and theology are welcome to use our resources on the premises. High school students may also use our books and journals when their school or public libraries do not have adequate resources. Children under high school age are not allowed in the library unless accompanied at all times by an adult who is responsible for the child.
Students, faculty, and staff of Eden Seminary and Webster University have priority in the use of the library's public computers.
The library does not allow the use of public computers for the playing of games or similar activities, and children are not permitted to use the computers.
The library supports freedom of expression for all members of the seminary community as well as persons from other schools and guests from the general public. This right must be balanced with the need to provide an educational and working environment free from harassment.
The displaying on the library's computers of potentially offensive or sexually explicit materials intended to demean persons of a particular gender, race, creed, ethnicity, age, disability, or sexual orientation may create a hostile working environment which violates library and seminary policies as well as federal law. Persons displaying such materials may be asked to leave the library.
Eden and Webster faculty, staff and students have full borrowing privileges at both the Eden Seminary Library and the Webster University Library. Persons from Eden Seminary should apply for borrower cards and card renewals at the Circulation Desk in the Luhr Library, and persons from Webster University can obtain ID cards and semester validation stickers at the Student Services Office in the University Center.
Alumni of both institutions, local clergy, certain other religious leaders, members of the general public, and others should check at the Circulation Desk at either the Luhr Library or the Emerson Library to inquire about borrowing privileges. Fees and restrictions may apply. Once borrowing privileges are granted, they are honored at both libraries of the Eden-Webster Library System.The Eden-Webster Library System honors the St. Louis Regional Library Network INFO-PASS.
Books
- Eden and Webster students and staff – 6 weeks
- Eden and Webster faculty – 1 semester
- Special patrons – 2 weeks
- INFO-PASS – 2 weeks (maximum of 4 books)
Reserve Material
The loan period for reserve material is set by the faculty. Most items can be checked out for use in the library for two hours. Unless otherwise restricted, reserve items can be checked out of the library one hour before the library closes but must be returned by one hour after the library opens the next day.
Audio-Visual Materials (Available for checkout to current students, faculty and staff only. Faculty should inquire about longer loan periods.)
- Videos, DVDs, CDs – 3 days
- Slides, cassette tapes, multimedia – 14 days
- Laptop computers and wireless network cards are available at Luhr Library for Eden students only. Loan period is 4 hours. Laptops may not be removed from the library.
Non-circulating materials include reference books, current and bound periodicals, rare books, archival materials, and some materials located in storage at the Luhr Library.
Patrons may check their accounts and renew borrowed items online or by telephone and in person at the circulation desk of either the Luhr Library at Eden or the Emerson Library at Webster University.
Eden and Webster students, faculty, and staff may also request renewals for MOBIUS loans in the same way. Eden borrowers and holders of an Eden-Webster Library System card need to enter the number from the back of their Eden ID or Library System card plus the letters EWL. Webster University patrons should enter their Webster ID number plus the letters EWL.
Eden and Webster students, faculty, and staff may request renewals of Interlibrary Loan materials in person with the ILL Coordinator at Emerson Library or by telephone at (314) 961-2660 x7807.
Books borrowed from the Eden Seminary Library or Webster University Library through the Info-Pass system cannot be renewed.
- Books—15 cents per day
- 2-Hour reserve books —25 cents per hour
- Overnight reserve books —$1.00/day
- Audio-visual materials—50 cents/day
- Luhr laptop computers—$5.00/hour
- Luhr wireless cards—$5.00/hour
- Interlibrary Loan —15 cents/day
Replacement Costs for Lost or Damaged Materials
- Actual or default cost of an Eden-Webster Library System book or other item plus a $10 processing fee
- MOBIUS books – owning library has the right to charge $120 per item, regardless of the actual cost of the book
- Interlibrary loan – determined by lending library
- Luhr laptops–$600.00
- Luhr network cards–$75.00
- Luhr study carrel key replacement—$10.00
- Eden-Webster Library System or Eden library card replacement—$2.00
The library reserves the right to block borrower privileges due to excessive fines and fees.
Confidentiality of Borrower Records
The Eden-Webster Library System libraries affirm the American Library Association's Code of Ethics, which states that "[librarians] protect each library user's right to privacy and confidentiality with respect to information sought or received, and resources consulted, borrowed, acquired, or transmitted."
The Eden-Webster Library System avoids creating unnecessary records and also avoids retaining records that are not needed for the efficient operation of the library system. Any requests for Eden patron information will be denied unless compliance is required by state and federal law in response to a subpoena, search warrant, or other court order. Such law enforcement requests will be referred to Eden's legal counsel to determine whether compliance is necessary.
The Luhr Library adheres to the provisions of the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17 United States Code) and in good faith follows the law's fair use clauses with regard to providing electronic reserves and the making of photocopies of materials from its collections for research use. Library staff will not make copies of materials that are intended for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.
Library users are responsible for complying with the copyright law with regard to any copies that they receive from the Eden-Webster Library System as well as copies they make by using the photocopiers and printers.