Through its resources and services, the seminary library participates in the formation of future priests, deacons, religious, and lay ministers. The library's goals and objectives are based on the belief that we are helping our users become lifelong learners who are at once well-rooted in the history and the patrimony of the Church, and ready to go forth and evangelize in the third millennium.

Holdings include: over 50,000 monographs and bound periodicals, several online databases, over 250 journal subscriptions, and over 600 audiovisual items. Our special collection of approximately 4,000 old and rare books is housed in the Bonaventure Room.

The library's primary users are the administration, faculty and currently-enrolled students of the seminary, but we welcome visitors and inquiries from the wider community. For more information on visiting, email us at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Library Schedule

LOCATION

The library occupies the fourth floor of the seminary. Use the elevator off the main lobby, or the center stairway to reach the library. (For wheelchair access, ring the bell outside the elevator once you exit the elevator.

Or, call ahead so that we can meet you as you get off the elevator. 631-423-0483 ext. 141

POLICIES

Borrowing privileges are limited to faculty, seminarians, currently-enrolled students, priests of the diocese, ordained deacons, alumni, and Friends of the Seminary. Our Circulation Policy is available in the library office.

Visitors are welcome to use the reference and periodical collections during regularly posted hours. Courtesy cards for borrowing privileges can be issued at the discretion of the director.

COLLECTION INFORMATION

• Our book collection (approximately 50,000 items) is cataloged using the Library of Congress classification scheme.

• We also have a rare book collection (over 2,000 works) housed in the Bonaventure Room on the second floor of the seminary. This room may be visited by appointment. Call Library Director Elyse Hayes 631-423-0483 ext. 140.

• We subscribe to over 250 journals covering many areas of scholarship and Catholicism. Periodicals are arranged alphabetically by title in our Current Periodical Room, our Bound Periodical Room (for back issues), and also in storage. Periodicals do not circulate.

• The following databases are available to our students:

- Catholic Periodical and Literature Index
- ATLAS Religion Database
- New Testament Abstracts
- Old Testament Abstracts
- Religion and Philosophy.

• We have online access to the text of the New Catholic Encyclopedia, 2nd edition.

• Bibleworks (version 5) is installed on one computer station

• The Faith Databse is installed on one computer station.

• The library holds copies of Doctor of Ministry theses produced by former students. These are on permanent “reserve” in the library office.

• Hundreds of audiovisual items (DVD, VHS, CD, cassette) are also included in the collection.

HISTORY

The original library was based on a collection of books donated by generous clergy and other Long Islanders when the seminary opened in 1930. For many years, the library was on the second floor of the seminary, and access to the collection was limited. In the 1970s, as the seminary prepared for accreditation from Middle States and the Association of Theological Schools, the teaching collection was re-classified and moved to its current home on the fourth floor of the building. Since then, the collection has grown in depth and variety. The library automated in 2005, and the staff continues to utilize new technologies as it serves the Church on Long Island.