Library Hours

Regular Hours, Spring 2024 Semester

Mon-Wed 8:30 am – 8:00 pm
Thurs-Fri 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Sunday Closed

Reference help: 9:00 to 4:00 or by appointment.

Featured Books

MEDITATIONS ON CREATION IN AN ERA OF EXTINCTION

BIBLE, INTERPRETATION, AND CONTEXT : READING MEANING FROM AN AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

THE WILEY BLACKWELL COMPANION TO LATINOAX THEOLOGY

THE NOT-YET GOD : CARL JUNG, TEILHARD DE CHARDIN, AND THE RELATIONAL WHOLE

The Paul Bechtold Library

Announcement, March 6, 2024

Photo of a study room available for student use.

Working with a group on a project? The atrium is a great space, but not always the best for getting work done. Groups of up to 8 are welcome to reserve the meeting room in the northeast corner of the library (the former IT office).  Contact Aileen Mulchrone (amulchrone@ctu.edu) to reserve it (or stop by and see if it’s available. It isn’t yet getting much use, so chances are good that it’s there for you!).

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General Information
Extensive Resources for Study and Research
Remote and Electronic Resources

Library Hours

Mon-Wed 8:30 am – 8:00 pm
Thurs-Fri 8:30 am – 4:00 pm
Saturday 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Sunday Closed

Reference hours: 9:00 to 4:00 or by appointment.

Books may be returned using the book drop in the reception area of our building’s first floor or the book drop by the main entrance of the Library.

Appointments are recommended if you’d like to meet with a librarian for research help or to use the archives.

Request a Library Book for Take Out

The Library staff can retrieve and check out books for you to pick up from the table outside the Library. You can make the request from within the PrimoVE catalog following the directions for Requesting Books from the CTU Library (please allow 48 hours for processing your request).

I-Share books and Interlibrary Loan materials are also available. I-Share books can be requested directly through the Library’s online catalog and Interlibrary Loan requests can be placed here.

Using Library resources from off campus? The IT Departments manages sign-in credentials for current students, faculty, and staff. Contact support@ctu.edu if you have questions about setting up your user name and pasword. Once registered, here are some tips on Signing In to Library Resources .

Reference help is available (in person and via phone, email, and video call) from library staff members. Please use the appointment form or reach out by e-mail first (library@ctu.edu) so we can determine the best time and method to use to assist you).

If you are a graduate of CTU there are three databases you may access: Atlas PLUS for Alums, JSTOR, and Project Muse (Religion Books ). Contact alumni@ctu.edu to receive username and password information for these databases.

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Patrons
Outside CTU
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Circulation Policies
Services
Loan Request
Appointment Request

ACTS, University of Chicago, American Islamic College and ATLA Reciprocal Borrowing Program patrons registering for CTU Library borrowing privileges must visit the circulation desk Monday-Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Borrowing privileges do not include access to interlibrary loan services for requesting items not held at the CTU Library.

All ACTS (Association of Chicago Theological Schools) users must have an institutional ID from their school and a valid ACTS Borrower Identification Card. ACTS users are required to register with the CTU Library and receive a 14-digit library barcode, which will be attached to the identification card from their home institution. CTU Library privileges for ACTS users expire on June 30 of each year and must be re-validated at that time.

University of Chicago users can obtain access to the CTU Library by displaying their UChicago Card to library staff at CTU. CTU staff will contact the University of Chicago Library’s ID and Privileges Office to confirm that the applicant is currently affiliated with the University of Chicago. Students will need to renew their privileges each semester. Faculty and staff will be given privileges on an annual basis.

American Islamic College users (faculty, students, staff) must have an institutional ID from AIC with a valid date of expiration. AIC users are required to register with the CTU Library and receive a 14-digit library barcode, which will be attached to the identification card from AIC.

Patrons whose libraries participate in the ATLA Reciprocal Borrowing Program must provide appropriated identification information as required by their home institution.

Patrons from the I-Share member schools must have a current and valid identification card from their institution.

The library participates in RAILS InfoPass which allows some Chicago area library patrons to use the PBL. Please contact your home library for information.

Researchers unaffiliated with CTU may use the Library for short time periods with the approval of the Library Director, but without borrowing privileges. If you would like to request access to the library, please contact Kris Veldheer.

Patrons from any category who have registered for borrowing privileges can borrow any of the library’s circulating materials. Materials labeled as “Local Request Only,” such as theses, can be borrowed in person, but may not be requested through interlibrary loan.

Non-Circulating Materials

Periodicals and reference books are for in-library use only. Scanners are available in the library.

Reserve Books and Materials

Books and materials placed on class reserves are to be read or photocopied in the Library. Students may borrow two items at a time for in library use only. Reserve items may be borrowed overnight one-half hour before the library closes and returned by 9 a.m. on the next school day [There is a two (2)-item limit]. Books returned late are fined at $1.00 for any portion of the first hour overdue and $1.00 for each additional hour up to a maximum of $5.00 per each reserve book overdue.

If a book is needed for Reserve or recalled by another patron it should be returned immediately. Books that are only available in the CTU library can be recalled by another student after two weeks from the date borrowed. All other titles may be requested through I-Share or Interlibrary Loan (see Book Requests below.)

Loan Periods:

The loan period for books for CTU patrons is one semester.

One renewal of 60 days is allowed for books.

For all other patrons the loan period for books is 30 days with one renewal of 30 days.

Fines

CTU Reserve books that circulate overnight are fined at $1.00 for any portion of the first hour overdue and $1.00 for each additional hour up to a maximum of $10.00 per each reserve book overdue. Books recalled for Reserve should be returned immediately, or will be subject to a fine. Books not returned in (5) working days will be charged $5.00 per book per day.

Lost/Damaged Books

Library borrowers are responsible for all materials charged to their library account. These library materials must be returned on time by the due date and in good condition or borrowers may renew materials one time on or before the due date. The Bechtold Library does not charge fines for overdue regular circulating materials, only for those materials on CTU Reserve (see Fines above).

When materials are overdue, you will receive via email a 1st overdue notice 7 days after the material’s due date and a 2nd overdue notice 14 days after the original due date. However, if regular circulating materials are not returned or renewed within 21 days of the due date, you will receive a final notice and the material will be considered lost. At that time the borrower will be sent an invoice for the lost item and the borrower’s library account will also be blocked. When a borrower’s account is blocked, she/he cannot check out, renew, or request any library materials until the overdue materials are returned. If the borrower returns the overdue materials, the replacement cost (beginning at $100.00) is waived and his/her account is unblocked. Library borrowers who return materials which are damaged will be charged the replacement cost (beginning at $100.00).

Students must resolve all outstanding fines before graduation or their diploma will be withheld.

Approved by CTU Executive Committee 2/21/18

Book Renewals

Renewals are the responsibility of the patron and can be done by computer either in the library or remotely by accessing the My Account button in the library catalog.

Book Requests

If a book reads “available” in the CTU catalog, a patron can either retrieve the book directly from the shelves or request that a Library staff member retrieve it and put it on the table outside the Library for pickup (please allow 24-48 hours for these requests). Books available from other I-Share libraries can also be requested and are generally available for pickup at CTU within a week. A request can be transacted by clicking the book’s title and scrolling down to the section labeled “Get It.” Patrons must Sign in to see the request options.

Suggestions for Purchase

CTU patrons with purchase suggestions for the Bechtold Library should e-mail publication details of suggested items to Library Director Kris Veldheer.

Computers and Wireless Access

There are two computers located near the entrance dedicated for library research. Students can use these to check the online catalog or look for periodical articles. There is a printer for CTU community use along the west wall of the Library.

The library is wireless, and you are welcome to use your laptop. Please contact the IT office at 773-371- 5470 if you are having difficulty connecting to the wireless network.

Scanning and Photocopying

There is a scanner available to make electronic copies of books and articles, which can be emailed or saved as a file to a USB drive at no charge. A photocopy machine is also available which is also capable of scanning a document to be sent by email.

Conference and Study Rooms

The library has one conference room that seats up to 8 people. It’s available on a first come, first served basis. Come by to use as needed, or make a reservation at the Circulation Desk to guarantee availability.

Use this form to request books and articles unavailable from the I-Share catalog. I-Share materials should be requested using your Library online account. For assistance, call the Library at 773 371 5465 or e-mail us at ctulibrary@ctu.edu.

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Use this form to request books and articles unavailable from the I-Share catalog. I-Share materials should be requested using your Library online account. For assistance, call the Library at 773 371 5465 or e-mail us at ctulibrary@ctu.edu.
Name(Required)
If we can't get the item by the date indicated, your request will be cancelled (optional).

Item Deatils

If you are requesting a journal article, put the journal title here (leave blank for books).
Volume/ Issue for journals can also be included here, if know

Fees

The Library is open to the CTU Community, including study rooms, which may be reserved for two hours at a time. Distance from other users is required. You have the option of in-person or remote meetings for reference assistance. If you would like reference assistance, please submit this form by 5:00 pm the day before you'd like to come. Requests received after that may not be able to be scheduled. A staff member will confirm your appointment by e-mail.

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The Library is open to the CTU Community, including study rooms, which may be reserved for two hours at a time. Distance from other users is required. You have the option of in-person or remote meetings for reference assistance. If you would like reference assistance, please submit this form by 5:00 pm the day before you'd like to come. Requests received after that may not be able to be scheduled. A staff member will confirm your appointment by e-mail.
Name(Required)
Please create separate requests for each different library use you desire
Your Preferred Date / Time(Required)
Maximum time allowed; 2 hours per day
Preferred form of Reference Assistance

Meet Our Staff

Kris Veldheer

Director

Kris Veldheer

Director
773.371.5460
kveldheer@ctu.edu

Aileen Mulchrone

Access Services and Reference Librarian

Aileen Mulchrone

Access Services and Reference Librarian
773.371.5465
amulchrone@ctu.edu

Derek Rieckens

Systems & Archives Librarian

Derek Rieckens

Systems & Archives Librarian
773.371.5464
drieckens@ctu.edu

Deborah Winarski

Electronic Resources & Instruction Librarian

Deborah Winarski

Electronic Resources & Instruction Librarian
773.371.5463
dwinarski@ctu.edu

Frédéric Santerre

Cataloger

Frédéric Santerre

Cataloger
773.371.5465
fsanterre@ctu.edu

Kris Veldheer
Director, The Paul Bechtold Library
773 371 5465