The George Mercer Jr.
Memorial School of Theology Library

A theological library has to meet the needs of many populations; for example, readers who seek theological answers to the problems of life, laity who are answering God’s call for ordination, and clergy who are preparing sermons. In doing this it has to address both the popular focus of a public library and the scholarly resource of a seminary library.

The Mercer Library has extensive collections in all aspects of human life and faith, and these collections can address many needs and contingencies. The primary mission of the library is to support classes at the George Mercer Jr. Memorial School of Theology, but circulation is open to all those who register with the library. Members of the diocese may register without restriction; those outside the diocese may register with certain preconditions to ensure return of materials. Library hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays 3:30 pm to 9:00 pm and Saturdays from 8:30 am until about 3:00 pm, and by appointment at any time on Tuesdays and Thursdays (cegleston@dioceseli.org; 516-248-4800, ex. 39).

This year the Mercer Library collections have been updated and reorganized. To the online catalog (youseemore.com/gmercer) has been added all of the library’s 35,000 books, and most of these books have been converted from Dewey to the Library of Congress classification system, the scholarly norm. The library now subscribes to the online version of Religious and Theological Abstracts. The goal has been to make the library both a better resource for the students of the School of Theology, and to make it more welcoming and useful to the laity and clergy of the Diocese of Long Island. All are welcome.

>> Go to the George Mercer Jr. School of Theology Library's online catalog.

Charles Egleston, Librarian and Archivist