Circulation Desk
Books, CDs, and DVDs generally check out for 4 weeks, and you can get two renewals. Overdue charges start at 15¢ per day.
Learn more about borrowing
Reserves
Textbooks, supplemental readings, and other course-related materials that need to be shared among an entire class are kept behind the circulation desk. Most check our for 3 hours and can be renwed for an extra hour. If the checkout extends after the library closes, you can keep the book until the next morning.
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Reference Services
The library staff are a great resource whenever you have questions about using the library or about research in general. Vist the circulation desk to get connected with a staff member to answer quick questions, brainstorm a new search strategy, or sit down with you for an in-depth tutorial on library resources. Alternatively, you can schedule an online or in-person appointment in advance. Library staff are also available via online text chat, email, and phone.
Ask a librarian
Research & Writing Guides
The two tables in the corner of the circulation area hold a number of helpful handouts. These include lists of recommended biblical commentaries; guides to the Reference section based on particular subject areas; instructions regarding the wireless network, printing, and scanning; and citation style guides. Nearly all of these handouts, including the Bible commentary guides, are also available in electronic form on the library website.
View guides & help
Recently Returned Shelves
Items returned to the library are staged on the Recently Returned shelves before being reshelved where they belong. If you see something you need, feel free to grab it—it’s fair game. The items are broadly grouped on the shelves by call number, but are not in exact order. As the shelves fill up, a library staff member will build a cart in call number order, which will then be taken for reshelving.
MOBIUS
Covenant is a member of the MOBIUS network—among more than 60 libraries in Missouri, and beyond, committed to sharing books. Books requested through the MOBIUS catalog typically arrive in 3-5 days, and an email is sent when the item is ready to pick up.
Learn more about MOBIUS
Search MOBIUS
Main Floor
Reference Section
The Reference section contains important books that do not leave the library so that they are always available for use. We keep copies of key commentaries on each book of the Bible and several well-respected commentary sets. We also keep specialized dictionaries and encyclopedias on topics such as theology, religion, philosophy, ethics, pastoral counseling, missions, music, particular historical periods, etc. These tools are great for getting an overview of a topic that is new or unfamiliar, and they often provide a bibliography at the end of each entry in order to help you get started with your research.
The library also has a growing collection of online reference books.
Search the Reference Section
Search online reference
Periodicals
The Periodicals collection contains thousands of volumes from hundreds of periodical titles. These include scholarly journals in the fields of theology, biblical studies, missions, religious studies, counseling, and Christian education; popular Christian magazines like Christianity Today; and general news-magazines like World. Many more can be accessed online.
The most recent issues are displayed together at the front of the section, while the back issues are stored on the subsequent shelving ranges. Many of the older issues have been bound together into volumes in order to facilitate organization and long-term preservation. This collection arranged alphabetically by journal title. Be aware that words such as “the”, “of”, and “for” are used in the alphabetization if they are within the title, so, for example: Journal of Semitic Studies comes before Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society.
None of the periodicals can be checked out, but you are welcome to make photocopies or scans of individual articles for personal use.
Seach journal holdings
New Book Shelf
The shelf marked with the “New Books” sign highlights the library’s most recent acquisitions. In addition to the books acquired for the main collection downstairs, you will also find new reference books and audio-visual materials on the New Book Shelf.
Items on the New Book Shelf checked out as usual, with the exception of the reference books, which of course do not circulate.
Broswe the New Book Shelf
Oversize & Atlases
Some books are so large that they can’t fit on our regular shelving. Those books are stored in the oversize section.
This one shelving unit actually contains three distinct oversize collections. The books lying horizontally on the upper left of the front face (the side facing the computers) are the Reference Folio collection. The Reference Folios are books that are so massive that, due to the weight of the extra-large pages, it would actually be harmful to them to be shelved standing up—the pages would sag over time and pull away from the binding.
On the upper right are the oversize Reference Atlases. Take note that these are not all the atlases in the Library. There are more in the Reference section and downstairs in the main collection, so use the library catalog to find the right atlas for you.
Finally, we have the regular Oversize collection. These are the books standing upright both along the bottom half of the front face of the shelving unit and on the entire back side. Unlike the oversize atlases and folios, the general oversize books can be checked out.
Curriculum Resource Center
The Curriculum Resource Center is a collection of Sunday School curricula kits, prepared Bible studies, and other Christian education materials. While the main aim of this collection is to support Educational Ministries degree programs, all students involved with teaching ministries may find it useful. The items in the Curriculum Resource Center, like those in the Reference section, are for use in the library only.
The Curriculum Resource Center is designated as a multi-user, collaborative study space. Encourage others to join you and give priority to those using the curriculum materials.
Search curriculum
Microforms & Lockers
The microform room contains a reader/printer capable of displaying both microfilm rolls and microfiche sheets at various magnifications. The majority of the microfilm and microfiche collection is contained in the cabinet opposite the microform reader. The exceptions are microfilmed periodicals, which are shelved in the Periodicals section, and microfilmed denominational minutes, which are shelved with their print counterparts.
Microform copies cost 10¢ per page, payable at the Circulation Desk. If you would like to access something from this collection, please ask a librarian for assistance.
Also take note the 16 lockers nearby. You can use these to store personal belongings for up to four weeks. Keys are available for check-out at the Circulation Desk. If you need a locker for a longer period of time, there are additional, larger lockers available on the lower floor for rental on a semester basis. Ask at the Circulation Desk for more details.
Quiet Study & Group Study Rooms
While noise is generally discouraged in the Library, it is especially so in the Quiet Study Room. Therefore this is a great place to study if you’d like to be undisturbed.
You’ll notice that there are three group study rooms along the back wall. Like the other study rooms elsewhere in the building, these are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
In any of the public areas you may feel free to open or close the blinds to help adjust the natural light to your liking. If you open a window, be sure to close and lock it when you leave.
Reference Computers
The computers in the Reference area are available for searching the library catalog, finding online journal articles, or even quickly checking your email between classes. To get started, double-click on the Internet icon on the desktop.
If you need to print an article or document, see below for more information.
There are also computers available downstairs in the computer lab, which have additional software and features for your writing needs.
Copying & Printing
There are four multi-function photocopiers/printers available in the library—two on the main floor in the Reference area, one downstairs outside the PCA Historical Center, and one in the Computer Lab. Each contains three sizes of paper—letter (8½×11), legal (8½×14), and 11×17—and they can copy/print double-sided. In addition, the two copiers on the main floor can copy and print in color. Pricing is as follows:
Payment is managed through the PaperCut system. You can load money onto your account at the circulation desk and then connect your ID card to your account by tapping it at any copier and entering your Canvas/MyCTS login.
To Copy: Tap your card at the copier and then tap Device Functions on the screen. You can then select the Copy function.
To Print: Open your document on one of the library’s public computers and send it to the Find Me Print printer (if printing in color, be sure to select color output in the printer settings window). Log in using your Canvas/MyCTS login when prompted. You print job will be stored in your personal print queue. Then go to any copier in the library (for color, be sure to go to the Reference area) and tap your card. Tap on any print job in your queue to print it, or tap the Print All button.
Scanning
All the copiers can also scan to PDF for free. Scanned files can be picked up from in the Scans folder accessible from any public computer. If you would like more information on using the scanner mode, complete instructions are available in the literature rack by each copier.
Lower Floor
Stacks (Main Collection)
The majority of the space on the lower floor is taken up by the Library’s main collection, which is known as “the Stacks”. Books from the Stacks can be checked out for four weeks, with the possibility of two renewals of an additional four weeks each.
Books are arranged on the shelves according to the Library of Congress call number system. This is a topical system, so books on the same subject tend to be shelved next to one another. The letter or letters at the beginning of the call numbers denote broad subject categories. For example, “B” is General Philosophy, and “BR” is Christianity. The number on the next line generally corresponds to a narrower subject within the broad category.
Call numbers are arranged alphabetically, with “A” located on the shelves just beyond the lower lobby at the bottom of the tower stairwell. The collection then proceeds down the length of that half of the building to the far end where it makes a U-turn and returns up the other half of the building towards the computer lab. The collection then makes another turn onto the two rows of shelves next to the back stairwell that descends from behind the Reference section.
You may notice that some books in the Stacks are turned spine down. These are books that have been recently reshelved and are simply awaiting a double-check from another staff member to verify that they are in the correct location. Feel free to take any such books if you need them.
The Scribe Writing Center
The Scribe Writing Center is your writing resource center providing in-person consultations at Covenant’s library and online consultations through Zoom video conferencing. Scribe consultants are trained to coach and support you through all types of writing challenges including but not limited to decoding an assignment, coping with distractions while writing, using Turabian and APA style, writing in English as a second language, and building strong arguments.
The Scribe also hosts community writing hours, writing webinars, and other events to promote theological learning through reflexive, respectful, and critical writing practices. In addition to writing center work, The Scribe operates as a Speaking Studio where students can record and review spoken presentations with a consultant.
Schedule an appointment
Email The Scribe
Tait Rare Book Collection
The Tait Rare Book Collection houses over 1,000 works from as far back as 1540—the oldest being a copy of Aristotle’s Physics. The primary focus of the collection, however, is English Puritan works from the 17th and 18th centuries. The collection also contains many works and sermons from early Reformers and others since the Reformation.
Materials in the Tait collection are not loaned out under any circumstances. However, anyone with a legitimate research purpose may view materials under the supervision of a librarian. Please speak with a library staff member at the Circulation Desk if you would like to access an item from this collection.
Search Tait Collection
Computer Lab
The computer lab is open and available for anyone to use. Each computer in the lab has the Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for writing papers and preparing presentations. In addition, three specially marked computers have Accordance Bible software to aid in Scripture exegesis. If you need to create, edit, or save documents, the Library recommends that you bring a USB flash drive or use a cloud storage provider, as files saved to the hard drive are automatically deleted. You can also check out a flash drive at the Circulation Desk for 3 hours to help transfer your files to an appropriate storage location.
If you need to print, see above for more information.
Audio-Visual Collection
Recordings of sermons, videos on counseling methodology, audio Bibles, lectures and seminars, feature films of religious interest, and Veggietales. All these and more can be found in the Library’s audio-visual collections.
Audio-visual materials can be checked out for four weeks with two renewals of four weeks each. Media viewing and listening stations are also available in the A/V room for in-library use.
Movable Stacks
These dark grey shelves, which are known as the Movable Stacks, are a motorized compact shelving system that stores lightly used materials in order to free up space in the main collection. This primarily includes non-English works and some non-PCA denominational minutes. Just like the books in the main collection, they can be checked-out for four weeks plus two renewals of four weeks each.
Ready Reference
The Ready Reference collection is a sort of tiny outpost of the main Reference collection upstairs. This mini reference collection contains duplicate copies of selected key resources so that library users working on the lower floor do not need to make a trip upstairs just to get a Greek New Testament or lexicon, for example.
PCA Historical Center
The PCA Historical Center, a ministry of the PCA Stated Clerk’s Office, serves as the official archives of the Presbyterian Church in America, housing the records of the PCA and its agencies. The Center also serves as the repository of record for four other conservative Presbyterian denominations. In addition, the Center houses the manuscript collections of over 100 people connected with those denominations, plus historical materials for some 700 congregations. A modest research library of about 5,000 titles, covering all aspects of American Presbyterianism, augments the Center’s archival collections.
The Historical Center’s web site, pcahistory.org is a convenient point of access. Resources on this site include indexes to many of the Center’s collections, an online catalog for the Center’s research library, several hundred 19th and 20th century articles in PDF, and various historical documents.
The Historical Center is open to researchers Monday–Friday, 9 AM – 5 PM, and Saturdays by appointment. For more information, contact the Historical Center’s Director, Wayne Sparkman, at (314) 469-9077 or archivist@pcahistory.org.