Benet Hill Library
strives to meet the informational and leisure needs of the Benet Hill Community, Oblates, staff, retreatants and students in Benet Hill workshops and courses. Local clergy and religious may also request library privileges.
The library contains over 12,000 books, periodicals, pamphlets, video and audio cassettes, compact disks and digital video disks. The collection emphasizes monastic and religious life of women, contemplative living, liturgy and Benedictine values and spirituality. Contact us at:
library@benethillmonastery.org
| The Catalog | Locations |
| Check-out Periods | Check-out Procedures |
| Gifts | Assistance |
If you have a library and a garden, you have everything you need. Cicero
The materials are arranged according to subject using the Library of Congress classification system. Shelf guides indicate the main subject areas.
A rotating collection of Popular Fiction is shelved alphabetically by author's last name along the right wall.
THE CATALOG
The computer catalog can be searched by title, author, subject and combination of these elements. Instructions for searching the computer catalog are located on a card next to the computer.
The library uses Resource Mate 3.0 Plus for its cataloging and circulation functions.
LOCATIONS
Every item in the Catalog has a location field. If the location field in the catalog record is blank, the item will be shelved in the regular stacks of the Main Library.
Some items have a specific shelving location within the Main Library, e.g, Reference, Oversize, Folio, Popular, Feature Films, Periodicals, etc... and may have different check-out periods.
Items in the catalog may be located in places other than the Main Library. Items in remote locations may be requested in writing using forms located on the cart near the main desk. Retrieving materials from remote locations may take 1-2 weeks or longer if they are in use, and may be limited to in-library use only. In many cases another copy may be available in the Main Library.
Items with a location designation of Formation Library, Retreat Library, Liturgy Office, Storage and Private must be requested individually.
Some items such as Vatican documents have "Web document" or "Web only" in the location field. The internet address is given to locate the document online.
CHECK OUT PERIODS
Most library materials may be checked out for 3 weeks and may be renewed for 2 additional periods of 3 weeks (total of 9 weeks) if the items have not been requested by another user.
Current periodicals may be checked out for 3 days.
Reference, Rare, Folio, and Pamphlets may not be checked out, but may be used in the library.
Reserve materials for a class may be checked out according to the time periods set by the instructor.
CHECK OUT PROCEDURES
All library materials must be checked out.
Items that have a library bar code on the front cover and are not restricted may be checked out using the computer. Instructions for electronic check out are located on a card near the librarian's desk.
Community members, oblates, staff and regular volunteers are automatically entered in the library system. All others must fill out an application form and check out materials manually until entered into the system.
If no one is available to assist with checking out materials electronically, materials may be checked out manually. Please follow the instructions at the Librarian Desk.
GIFTS
Gifts to the library are welcome. Items that are not needed for the library are either sold or donated to charity. Benet Hill Monastery Library partners with Better World Books to support literacy projects on five continents.
ASSISTANCE
If you need information on any topic, librarian Barbara Neilon can assist you. She can help with internet searches, subject bibliographies, copyright issues, locating items in the area libraries, and reserving library materials for a workshop, class or retreat. She is available in the library on some weekday mornings or by appointment. If you have questions about the library's holdings or need other assistance, contact Barbara Neilon at 719-633-0655 ext 35 or by email at Bneilon@benethillmonastery.org or library@benethillmonastery.org.