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Library

Welcome to The H.R. MacMillan Library,

Vancouver School of Theology

 

VST ONSITE LIBRARY HOURS – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2:

Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 8:30 – 5:30

Wednesday & Thursday: 8:30 – 7:00

VST ONSITE LIBRARY HOURS – MONDAY, DECEMBER 5 – THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15:

Monday – Friday: 8:30 – 4:30

CHRISTMAS CLOSURE: Friday, December 16 – Sunday, January 1.

Updates
About the Library
New Books
Faculty Publication
Library catalog and databases
Library Hours
Joining the Library
My Account
Policies & Privileges
Late Fees & Lost Items
Special Collections
Online Resources
eBooks
Book scan request
Book purchase suggestion
Computers & Technology
Alumni Service
Donation Information
Contact us

Updates

How to troubleshoot VST library eResources access issues. If you have any issues with VST library eResources, please try the following steps:

  • Check your firewall and/or security settings on your device
  • Check other websites or online resources like Atlas database to see if they are working. Your ISP (Internet Service Provider, including Telus, Shaw, etc.) interruption might affects your access to library online resources
  • If you see an eBook is offered by more than one vendors (both EBSCO and ProQuest), try the other link
  • Try the resource in a few hours later

If trying steps above does not solve your connectivity issue, fill out VST library electronic resources troubleshooting request form.

We are pleased to resume VST library’s  book scanning  services to the VST Community on a more regular basis. You can request up to 20% of a book (up to 25% of a book when a single chapter is being reproduced), or one article from an issue of a periodical to be scanned and sent to you in PDF(s).

    • This service  is limited to VST students, faculty and staff.
    • Use VST LIBRARY SCAN REQUEST FORM for your request. The processing might take a few days.
    • Please be specific about your request.
    • You can always submit purchase suggestions including eBooks through Library Book Purchase Suggestion Form. In case you need help finding resources, please contact us anytime.

Book returns can be made anytime through the outdoor bookdrop, located on the side of the building closest to the Iona castle building.

About the Library

The H.R. MacMillan Library was founded in 1971 when the Anglican Theological College and Union College of British Columbia amalgamated to form the Vancouver School of Theology.

Today, the library serves students, faculty, staff of the VST, adjoining theological colleges and UBC, as well as members of the Anglican Church of Canada, the Presbyterian Church in Canada, and the United Church of Canada. It offers access to a collection of over 35,000 physical items including books, journals, DVDs, a growing collection of e-books, and 350 e-journals. Located on the ground floor of VST’s new building, the H.R. MacMillan Library provides a quiet space for individual study and the use of the library’s resources.

Faculty Publication

This page is currently getting updated and the list is not exhaustive.

Publication year: 2020

Before theological study : a thoughtful, engaged, and generous approach

Library catalog and databases

VST Library Catalog

  • Theolog 2.0
  • St. Mark’s College library catalog is also accessible from this site.

Online Databases, eJournals and eBooks

Library Hours

VST ONSITE LIBRARY HOURS – MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 – FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2:

Monday, Tuesday, Friday: 8:30 – 5:30

Wednesday & Thursday: 8:30 – 7:00

CLOSED FOR THESE HOLIDAYS:  — Friday, Sept 30 — Monday, Oct 10 — Friday, Nov 11.

Joining the Library

Library Cards

Current students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the Vancouver School of Theology can obtain a free library card. Free borrowing is also available to clergy and members of our sponsoring churches who are working on a church project. Our sponsoring churches are: The Anglican Church of Canada, The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and The United Church of Canada.

Students, faculty, and staff of the following institutions may also obtain a library card without charge:

  • University of British Columbia
  • Simon Fraser University
  • Trinity Western University
  • Regent College

St. Mark’s students, faculty, and staff can use their library cards to borrow items from the H.R. MacMillan Library.

Please visit the Circulation Desk at the library to receive your library card. The barcode number on your library card is your access number and is required for all library transactions. Please note that the Circulation Desk closes five minutes before the library closing.

Members of the wider community are welcome to use the library’s resources  onsite. Those wishing to borrow titles from The VST Library collection would contact either their university library or branch of their public library to submit an interlibrary loan request to search other libraries  Regardless of the size of the branch, the library is searching libraries worldwide to retrieve your request. There is normally no charge for this service.

Borrower Responsibilities

Your responsibilities as a borrower are to:

  • Return or renew items promptly.
  • Renew items:
  • Treat all materials with care – there is a charge for lost or damaged items.
  • Ensure the library receives timely updates of your contact information.

Need Help?

If you need help using computers, finding information, or locating a particular book or article, please do not hesitate to ask any staff member.

My Account

Accessing Your Library Account

  • To view your library account, you will need a user ID (barcode number on your library card) and password.
  • To obtain a password, go to Theolog, click Sign in, and then choose the Set/Reset Password option. Please note that VST library staff cannot do this for you.
  • Enter your library barcode/user ID in the box when prompted, and click Request New Password.
  • You will then receive an email with instructions for creating a new password, the link for which will expire after 24 hours.

Renewing an Item

  • You can renew your items online through your library account; you can also email the Circulation Desk (circ@vst.edu), call 604-822-9382, or visit the library.
  • If you do not have an online library account, you can create one by following the instructions in the section above.
  • Once you have your password, sign in to Theolog.
  • You will see the items you have checked out with a Renew button next to each.
  • Click on the button beside the title of the checked-out item to renew it.

Placing Holds

  • Holds can only be placed by library staff on items owned by the VST library, and only on items that are checked out.
  • If you would like to place a hold on an item that has been checked out, please email the Circulation Desk (circ@vst.edu), call 604-822-9382, or visit the library in person.
  • If the requested item is required for reserves or has gone missing, you will receive an email informing you of this and the hold will be dropped.
  • Once a hold becomes available, you will receive an email notifying you that the item is available at the Circulation Desk.
  • Items held by VST can only be picked up at the VST library; holds cannot be routed to our partner libraries.
  • The hold will be kept at the Circulation Desk for 7 days.
  • If the hold is not picked up within a week, the item will be re-shelved and available for general use. You will be sent an email informing you that the hold has expired, and the item has been re-shelved.

Policies & Privileges

UBC Campus Libraries Reciprocal Borrowing Privileges

Students, faculty, and staff of the Vancouver School of Theology have borrowing privileges at the UBC library, Dr. John Micallef Memorial Library (St. Mark’s College), and the John Richard Allison Library (Regent College). They may access both print and electronic resources through the University of British Columbia libraries. All three libraries are within walking distance of the school and provide important resources for theological and religious studies. Their holdings can be searched using our online catalogue, Theolog 2.0.

ATLA Reciprocal Borrowing Program

Current VST students, faculty and staff can get a library card to borrow print books (no eBooks) from almost 130 theological libraries in Canada and the States while you are there. Participating libraries are listed on a Google map  as well as spreadsheet. Participating Canadian theological libraries are;
    • Concordia Lutheran Seminary, Edmonton AB
    • Ambrose Seminary, Calgary AB
    • Providence University College and Seminary Otterburne MB
    • Knox College Caven Library, Toronto ON
    • Tyndale University College & Seminary Toronto ON
    • Atlantic School of Theology, Halifax NB

How to use this program

When you visit one of the participating institution, please let the library staff know that you would like to get a library card under ATLA’s reciprocal borrowing program. Most likely, you will be asked to verify your identity by presenting your photo ID and proof of current status by logging into Canvas, etc. You can also ask them to call us for verification. You will have to return to the books to the owning library. You are also required to abide by rules and regulations including fine of the host library.

 

Sponsoring Churches

 

Free print book borrowing privileges for members of Canadian Anglican, Presbyterian and United Churches with a signed letter form his/her congregational clergy.

  • You will have access to the 35,000 curated items of the VST Library,
  • We add hundreds of new items annually
  • Browse our catalogue here: https://theolog.on.worldcat.org
  • To borrow from the Library, visit us during open hours to sign up for a library card.

Late Fees & Lost Items

Reminders

  • Three days before a book or media item is due, patrons receive an automated email message reminding them of the due date.
  • A second notice will be sent out on the day the item is due.
  • Overdue notices will be sent out one, two, and seven days after that.

The library sends email reminders as a courtesy to patrons. It is the patron’s responsibility to ensure that the library has the correct email address. Failure to receive email notices will not exempt patrons from the requirement to return materials by their due date.

Late Fees

  • Loans become overdue the day after the due date.
  • The overdue charge for all items is $0.50 per day.
  • Overdue charges in excess of $10.00 will result in the patron’s account being blocked and borrowing privileges suspended.
  • Once the fine has been paid, borrowing privileges will be reinstated.

Lost Items

  • After seven days, an item will be deemed lost and the borrower will be billed for replacement and processing costs.
  • Borrowing privileges will be suspended until the item is returned, or the replacement and processing fees have been paid.

Circulation Policies

The circulation policies of the library differ according to the type of item, its location, and the category of the borrower.

Books from the Stacks

  • The loan period for most books is 4 weeks. (For summer school faculty and students, the loan period is two weeks; permanent faculty have a fixed due date of April 30 each year).
  • If a hold is placed on a checked-out book, the loan period is reduced to 1 week.
  • Books may be renewed 3 times after which they should be returned to the library. (Neither summer school faculty, students, or regular faculty can renew books).
  • Patrons may borrow up to 40 items from the library at any given time.

Course Reserves

Reserve materials are shelved behind the Circulation Desk.

  • There are two loan periods for items on reserve: 2 hours and 1 day.
  • Reserve items may not leave the library: they are for in-library use only.
  • They should be returned to the Circulation Desk after the 2-hour period, or at the end of the day in the case of 1-day reserves.
  • Holds and renewals cannot be done on reserved items.

Media Items

  • DVDs and videos can be borrowed for 1 week and cannot be renewed.
  • If a hold is placed on a checked-out media item, the loan period is reduced to 4 days.

Print Journals

  • Bound and current journals are for in-library use only.
  • Users can photocopy or scan library materials, provided the limits of Canadian copyright law are observed. Please ask library staff for help with our photocopier if you have not used it before.

In-Library Use Only Materials

The following items can be used within the library only: bound and current journals, reference books, atlases, rare books, and all items in the Thomas Merton Reading Room.

Special Collections

Thomas Merton Collection

In partnership with the Thomas Merton Society of Canada, the library houses the second largest collection of Mertonalia in North America. Books, journals, media, and theses by and about Thomas Merton may be found in the library’s Thomas Merton Reading Room. Items in the Merton Room itself do not circulate, but copies of select titles are available in the library’s stacks for circulation.

Rare Books Collection

The library’s Rare Book Collection consists of Bibles published as early as the fifteenth century, prayer books from the seventeenth century onwards, and realia from the latter period. Items from the Rare Book Collection are retrievable upon request and must be handled according to archival protocols.

Online Resources

Online Libraries

Tutorials & Links

Weblinks

eBooks

In addition to our current EBSCO eBook platform, The VST Library will also be offering book access through ProQuest eBook Central. You will not need a ProQuest eBook Central account to read ProQuest eBooks on campus. However, you will need to have a ProQuest ID in order to download chapters and to access these eBooks off campus. VST students will receive an email with directions for opening a ProQuest account. If you need any help with VST’s EBSCO or ProQuest eBooks, feel free to contact the library at dbaek@vst.edu. The VST Library always welcomes book (print & eBook) purchase recommendations from students, faculty and staff. Please use the Book purchase request form.

Need help in using eBooks, please visit the online tutorial section.

Via The VST Library catalogue, current VST Students and Faculty have access to almost 800 ebook titles in philosophy and theology:

BROWSE VST E-BOOK TITLES

Book scan request

Book/Article Scanning Requests

For VST books;

Note: This service is limited to current VST community (students, faculty and staff) due to copyright regulations.

You can request a periodical article or a section of a book be scanned and emailed to you as an email attachment. Under copyright law, the maximum length of reproduction is 20% of a book (up to 25% of a book when a single chapter is being reproduced), or one article from an issue of a periodical. More information about copyright is available here: https://www.accesscopyright.ca/media/1039/access_premium_poster.pdf

Scanning Request Form

For UBC owned books and journal articles scan and pick-up requests.

Use UBC library Material Pick-up Service for books and journal articles .

Book purchase suggestion

Computers & Technology

Print, Copy & Scan

VST library has a multifunction printer/copier/scanner, Ricoh IM C3000. This machine requires a code to operate. Please ask for the staff at the library service desk to enable the machine.

Photocopying is 10 cents per printed side; 25 cents for color. Printing can be done only through the library desktop computers. We can accept only cash at the service desk. If you do not have cash, you can add the cost to your library account.

Scanning is free. You can save your scan on a USB storage device or have it emailed to yourself.

Computers for student use

The VST library has two Windows based desktop computers for student use. These computers have Microsoft Office installed on them as well as web browsers and Bible software.

Chargers & charging cables

A portable charger and a charging cable for Android iOS phones and tablet including UBC-C input are available at the service desk for a 2 hour loan.

Bible Software

The VST Library has BibleWorks 10 and Accordance Bible Software installed on library desktop computers for in-library use. Please refer to this list for installed modules.

VST alumni have access to the following services

  1. Life time print book borrowing privilege
  2. Atla Religion Database® (Atla RDB®) for Alum that provides access to more than 300 major religion and theology journals and contains almost 600,000 full-text articles. The database is the preeminent tool for theological research and ministry providing full-text access to journal articles, essays and book reviews from over 1,000 theological publications. For login credentials, please contact the library at circ@vst.edu, or by calling 604-822-9382.
  3. Due to vendor licensing restrictions, VST eBooks are not available for alumni.

In the past when VST Library was housed in a bigger building, the VST Library has benefitted greatly from generous donations of books. Due to current space constraints in a new location however, we regret that we are unable to accept unsolicited donations of books or print materials of any kind. Should this policy change, you will find updates here. We thank you for considering our library as a home for your book donations.

VST library is keen on expanding its electronic and digital resources to better serve student around the globe. If you are interested in helping VST library with this aspiration, please refer to this webpage for more information.

Daniel Baek (백봉근), Library Coordinator & Head of Technical Services

Email: dbaek@vst.edu, phone: 604-827-3763

Daniel (Bonggun) Baek Photo

Faye Chisholm, Coordinator of Library Public Services

Email: fchisholm@vst.edu, phone: 604-822-0675

Faye Chisholm Photo

Mailing address

H.R. MacMillan Library, Vancouver School of Theology 6015 Walter Gage Road, Vancouver, British Columbia V6T 1Z1 Canada

Teleconferencing

Students can ask for reference support through Zoom and MS Teams sessions. Please contact either Daniel or Faye to set up an appointment.