Services to the General Public

The mission of the Eden-Webster Library System is to serve the research needs of the students, faculty, and staff of Eden Theological Seminary and Webster University. Where possible, certain privileges may be extended to members of the general public as a community service or as a result of cooperative arrangements with other libraries.

Visiting the library

Visitors who wish to do research in either library are welcome. Most of the library's resources are available for use on the premises except in cases where priority must be given to Eden or Webster classes or where contractual agreements bar us from allowing use by outside users. Check our Library Hours and How to Get to the Libraries pages when planning a visit.

Borrowing materials from the libraries

The Eden-Webster Library System participates in the MOBIUS Consortium and the InfoPass cooperative borrowing system along with many school, public, and academic libraries in the area. Check with your local library first to determine how to request materials from us.

The Eden-Webster Library System also makes borrowing cards available to certain members of the general public and alumni of Webster and Eden. There may be an annual or semi-annual fee involved, and certain limitations do apply. Contact the Emerson Library (Webster U.) at (314) 968-6952 or the Luhr Library (Eden Seminary) at (314) 252-3130 for more information.

High School Students (Webster U.)

As a private University library, the Webster University Emerson Library's primary responsibility is to serve Webster University students, faculty, and staff. Emerson Library does not provide open access for high school students.

• Use by high school students is prohibited (unless accompanied by a parent or guardian) or unless a valid InfoPass is presented at the front desk.
• High school students with valid InfoPasses (issued, dated, and signed by their home libraries) must have an Emerson Library day pass to use the library.
• To obtain a day pass, high school students must present their InfoPass at the front desk, sign in, and leave their IDs for the duration of their visit. The day pass will be dated and should remain visible for the duration of the visit.
• High school students must observe all library policies and conduct themselves appropriately. Those who violate any policies or who create any disturbance will be asked to leave and not return. Their names will be retained by the University Office of Public Safety and the library and will also be forwarded to the principal of the high school.

Reference assistance

We will try to answer questions and assist the general public as time permits. In-depth research assistance and instruction is not available. Contact Webster's Emerson Library Reference Department at (314) 968-6950 or Eden's Luhr Library Reference Desk at (314) 252-3134.

Archives

Anyone interested in using archival materials at either library is advised to call in advance. Archives availability may vary depending on staff, schedules, etc. Contact the Archives of the Evangelical Synod (Eden Seminary) at (314) 252-3140 or the Webster U. Archives at (314) 968-6950. More information can be found on our Special Collections and Archives page.