About Turpin Library Resources and Services

The mission of the library is to assist Dallas Theological Seminary faculty, students and staff in their teaching, learning, research, and ministry, by providing access to information resources, reference services, and study facilities. We are open to the public but highly focused on supporting the DTS family.

If you are new to the library, you may wish to consult the orientation for newbies or services and policies. If you are an old timer, check news and events for current activities.

General Collections and Facilities

• General Collections and Facilities including main service points. And just for fun: the library in 1944!
• 2011-12 library statistics. For the statistics junkies: how many books the library owns, how many were borrowed, how many online journal articles were downloaded, etc. See also 2010-11, 2009-10, 2008-09, 2007-08, and 2006-07 .
• Special Collections, including Archives and rare book collections
• Computer Lab. Section not available yet.
• Collection goals. What we attempt to collect.
• Policy on gift books. Section not available yet. Brief statement on gifts is in collection development policy above.
• Library calendar. Days and hours of operation. Holidays. See also information about Emergency and Unscheduled Closings.
• Library news and events. Exhibits. Announcements. Events.
• Map/travel directions to campus.
• Contact library. Address, phone, fax, email info.

Special Collections

• Introduction to Special Collections. Description and Policies for Archives and Rare book collections
• Digitized Rare books. Over 290 items from Turpin Library's Special Collections. Dates of publication span five centuries, from the 1500s through the 1900s. Browse them at http://rarebooks.dts.edu or access them by searching BIBLOS.
• Finding Aids. Inventories, indexes, and guides to the DTS archival collections. Use them to help you find specific documents relevant to your interests.
• Records of the International Council on Biblical Inerrancy. Archival records of the ICBI are housed at DTS and available for use but finding aids have not yet been created.
• Scofield Papers. Description of materials related to C. I. Scofield.
• William Henry Griffith Thomas Papers. Based on Spring 2011 exhibit.
• Rare Bible Exhibit. Photos and descriptions of some rare Bibles based on Fall 2004 exhibit.
• 80th Anniversary Exhibit. Highlights from the History of Dallas Theological Seminary, 1924-2004, based on Spring 2005 exhibit. Also related chronology.

Computer Lab

Section not yet available.

General Services and Policies

Official policies and rules are outlined in House Rules. General services are as follows.

How to ask for help:

• Contact library staff.
• Request a book/thesis via InterLibrary Loan.
• Request a copy of a Journal Article via InterLibrary Loan.

What is happening when:

• Days and hours open.
• Unscheduled closings. How to obtain information if the campus and library close due to extreme weather or emergency conditions.
• Library news and events. Exhibits. Announcements. Events.

Services we provide for you:

• Services for faculty, including adjunct and extension campus faculty
• Services for students (but see below for special student categories)
• Services for remote students, including extension campus, online ed, distance ed, and non-resident students
• Services for ADA impaired
• Services for DTS grads.
• Services for visitors/guests, including all visitors, even visiting alumni and former students, and all registered courtesy-card users.

Rules and FAQ:

• ** House Rules **. Public services policies and rules.
• ** Fines & fees ** (Not yet available.)
• FAQ on operations and policies. Answers to questions about fines, renewals, noise, temperature, copiers, reserved carrels, closing time, missing books, group study rooms, and much more.