The Hammond Library, centrally located in Hooker Hall, is a working theological collection of over 120,000 volumes. The library also receives over 200 periodicals. The collection is strong in the classical theological subject areas of Bible, Church History and Theology. Special holdings include the Boisen Collection in Psychology and Personality Science and the Harry and Cora Lowenbach Congregational Heritage Library. Particular fields of note include African American religion and spirituality, women’s studies, gay and lesbian studies, and Jewish and Christian studies. The Library maintains a small collection of multi-media materials and equipment.
Association of Chicago Theological Schools
As a member of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools, CTS students have reciprocal library privileges at all other ACTS libraries, three of which are within walking distance. Hammond Library maintains a special resource sharing relationship with Meadville/Lombard Theological School. A continuously updated computerized bibliographic database, OCLC, provides access to all the ACTS libraries, including the University of Chicago, and thousands of other libraries worldwide. A regular courier service runs among the ACTS schools, while the Interlibrary Loan network provides delivery from other libraries.
CTS students can also arrange to have free and open library privileges at the University of Chicago libraries, local denominational libraries and the Chicago Public Library system.
In addition, The Hammond Library provides students with access to the World Wide Web through computer terminals in the Hammond Library Reading Room. These terminals are also equipped with word processing software, the Religion One Index and student e-mail boxes.
