Instructional - Guide to the library for Southwest Staff: General FAQs

How do I get in touch with the library?

Email us at library@ssw.edu, call us at 512-478-5212, or stop by when we're open at 509 Rathervue Place.

Does the library have books available while Harrison Library is under renovation?

We have a small collection of print books on campus, and we are still purchasing some books in print. The rest of our print books are in storage and unavailable. We have many, many ebooks and electronic resources available. We also have borrowing privileges at the nearby Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary library and the UT Libraries. Use the library's discovery tool, Seeker, to search for items. Once you find what you need, use this form to submit your request. Don't see what you need? Write us at library@ssw.edu and describe what you are looking for.

How do I access Harrison Library's ebooks and other electronic resources from my device(s)?

Log into your Seminary of the Southwest Google account, log out of all other Google accounts, and then follow these instructions.

I'm having trouble using the library's discovery tool, Seeker. Can you help?

Yes, please take a look at our Seeker tutorials and reach out to us if you need any more assistance.  

A book I need is not in your collection. What now?

Write us at library@ssw.edu with information about the book and a link to it on the web, if possible. We may be able to borrow it from the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary for you. We may interlibrary loan (ILL) it for you. We may, in consultation with the collection development policy, choose to buy it for the Harrison Library collection and lend it to you.

How does Interlibrary Loan (ILL) work?

Read all about ILL services on the Interlibrary Loan LibGuide.

May I suggest titles for you to purchase for the library collection?

Yes! Please do. Email us the details at library@ssw.edu. And if you are published or are about to be, please let us know.

I'm making a Populi page for my course. How can the library help me?

We have an entire page dedicated to these Populi FAQs. Read more here!

What is a LibGuide?

A LibGuide is an online platform used to organize and disseminate useful information. This guide you are reading is an example of a LibGuide. Read more about LibGuides here. 

Are there printers and scanners in the library?

Yes. If you want to use them yourself, feel free to come on by.  

What are the library's policies?

Library policies were updated in 2022 and are now housed in one document: The Harrison Library Policies. It includes the library's collection development policy.

We also steward the Copyright Policy, which we highly recommend all professors read.

How do I get a Harrison Library card?

You only need a Harrison Library card if you wish to borrow physical items from the Harrison Library. If you'd like to borrow library items from us, please come by and we will create a library card account for you. Your Seminary of the Southwest ID card will then serve as your Harrison Library card. We use it to check out physical material to you. Your library card does not help you access e-resources. To access e-resources, read our Accessing eResources LibGuide.

What other libraries can I use?

You are surrounded by amazing libraries in Austin! Read all about your access to area libraries on this guide. Note that we participate in the TexShare program. 

You may have noticed the Harrison Library is under construction. We have a temporary space set up just up the street known as the Deanery at 509 Rathervue Place.

Photo depicts the front of the Deanery, which is the temporary location of the library. It is a white house with four pillars out front. Photo credit: Keela Vaughn

Photo depicts the Harrison Library renovation on 7-7-2022. Photo credit: Alison Poage