How Do I Check Out and Return Books?

Borrowing Books

During Intensives, students can check out a book by coming up to the library and finding the book you need. Of course, you’re always welcome to ask for help from whichever member of the library and archives staff is in the library, but if you know where to find your book, you can retrieve it on your own. You can find the book in our catalog and check it out at the circulation desk.

To check out a book during the rest of the year, use the I-Share catalog to make requests for books in the Wiggin Library collection (including course reserves) or from other I-Share libraries. Making your request through I-Share means you can monitor due dates and renew borrowed books online. If you would like to pick up your book(s) in person at the Wiggin Library, when you submit your request select “Meadville Lombard Theological School” as the pick-up library and “Circulation Desk” as the pick-p location. If you’d like your book(s) shipped to you, leave the pick-up library as Meadville Lombard but change the pick-up location to “USPS delivery (MLTS Only).”

If you do not have an I-Share account, contact the library to request books. In your email, send as much information as you can, including at least the title and author of the book, and your address. A librarian will email you back as soon as possible to let you know when the book has been checked out to you, and when it is in the mail to you. Find out more about checking out books by mail.

Returning Books

Library books can be returned in person to a librarian or placed in the library mailbox in the Atherton Lounge on the sixth floor. When returning books in person, do not leave library books with any member of Spertus staff, including the security staff on the first floor of the building. This also applies to any borrowed I-Share books. 

If you borrowed a book and picked it up at another I-Share library, return it there. 

Books can also be returned by mail. If you are returning books by mail, email the library when you ship them and you will receive an email back to confirm that your books have been received and checked in. Find out more about returning books by mail.