Ask-a-Librarian Reference and Research Assistance
Borrowing Policy – Guests
The following guidelines determine borrowing privileges for anyone who is not a PRTS student or an PRTS or RHB employee (Exception: current students and faculty of Cornerstone University or Grand Rapids Theological Seminary have the same borrowing privileges as PRTS students/faculty):
- Guests are asked to pay $10 annually to borrow books and will receive a library card. These cards expire at the end of the calendar year but are renewable upon request provided the guest is in good standing with the library and seminary. Guest patrons are permitted to borrow up to 5 items at a time for a 4-week loan period.
- Guest patrons may use the following resources within the library but may not check out: antiquarian volumes, or items on course reserve.
- Guests will be charged the replacement cost (for a comparable copy) plus a processing fee of $15 per book for items that are lost, damaged, or never returned.
Borrowing Policy – Students
Students are encouraged to study in the library, where they will find study carrels with power access and network ports or wireless access to the Internet. Students may check out books or tapes for 4 weeks by writing their library-assigned student ID number on the checkout card found in most books; leave the card in the basket at the circulation counter. Online access to one’s library account enables students to renew books for an additional 4 weeks. All borrowers are expected to return books before their due date and will be liable for overdue, lost or damaged books. Overdue and replacement cost notices are sent automatically to the borrower’s email address.
Journals, reference books, and antiquarian books (pre-1850) are limited to library use only. However, free photocopying of journal articles or sections from reference books is available for PRTS student use. Photocopying of antiquarian books is generally prohibited due to the damaging effects of light and handling–ask library staff to assist in finding a reprint edition.
Circulation Policy for CULN Libraries PRTS library is one of the members of the Cornerstone University Library Network, along with Cornerstone University and Kuyper College.
Library Hours
Monday – Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed Sundays)
Library Staff
Librarian, Mrs. Laura Mustafa. Library tel: (616) 977-0599 ext. 129
Theological Librarian, Dr. Fred Sweet. Daytime hours: (616) 254-1662
Library Associate, Miss. Kim Dykema. Library tel: (616) 977-0599 ext. 132
New Titles
You can see a list of new titles recently added to the PRTS Library by visiting our online catalog page and then clicking on “Featured item lists” (in right side column) Then select “New PRTS titles.”
