Mission and History

The Keller Library provides an environment and collections to educate and form leaders for the church and resources in support of the curriculum of the General Theological Seminary.

The Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion in a changing world are the primary context and focus of this collection. These are recognized to be broad and inclusive in their reach and interests.

The Library seeks to maintain its historic collections and enhance the resources available to its patrons through cooperation with other libraries, particularly theological libraries in the New York area.

About the Keller Library

The General Theological Seminary Library is the oldest Episcopal seminary library. In 1820, John Pintard, an early New York civic leader, found “the only set of the Fathers now for sale in America” and raised $330 from his friends to donate the set to the fledgling General Theological Seminary, “to form the proud commencement of a Library.” Many of these volumes are shelved in the Julius M. Cruse Rare Book Reading Room. In its first year, the collection grew to 2,500 volumes. When the Rev. Eugene Augustus Hoffman became Dean in 1879, the library embarked on a period of expansion during which the Copinger Collection of Latin Bibles and illuminated manuscripts were acquired.

The Library of the General Theological Seminary was known as the St. Mark’s Library from the 1960s to 2011, when the Library moved into a beautiful new facility on the former site of Sherrill Hall. In October 2011, the building was dedicated as the Christoph Keller, Jr. Library, to honor the Rt. Rev. Christoph Keller, Jr. who served as the tenth Bishop of Arkansas from 1970 to 1981.

The Library was designed by Beyer Blinder Belle with floor-to-ceiling windows in the reading room, providing sweeping views of the Seminary’s Chapel and gardens. The reading room features formal and informal study space. On the lower level, collections are efficiently housed yet readily accessible and carrels allow for focused study. Group study rooms are equipped for interactive learning, and the lounge and lobby provide break-out space for conversation and coffee.

The Library’s Special Collections consist of over 30,000 volumes with an emphasis on Anglican and Episcopal documents, early Bibles, and editions of the Book of Common Prayer. Rare printed Bibles include the Coverdale Bible (1535, the first complete Bible printed in English) and a first edition of the Authorized King James Version (1611). Other significant holdings include over 150 incunabula (pre-1501 printed books), works of 16th- through 18th-century English theology, important editions of patristic texts, devotional works and sermons from the 15th to the 21st centuries.

Included within Special Collections are the GTS Archives, which contain archival papers of many Episcopal bishops from the 18th to present, including the major collection of papers of Samuel Seabury, the first bishop of the Episcopal Church. The  Archives identifies and preserves significant and unique records generated or received by the General Theological Seminary community that have enduring value and are past the period of active use. Access to these materials is regulated to safeguard confidentiality and privacy in accordance with policies established by the Library.

The library offers students in all GTS programs extensive theological resources through its large collection of printed materials and its online catalog. Visiting scholars, clergy and lay people from may use the library’s resources for reference and research. A cooperative arrangement with the Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary offersGTS students borrowing privileges at that institution.

The Library is a founding member of the New York Area Theological Library Association (NYATLA), which permits students access to over four million volumes in the collections of its 20 member institutions. The Library also participates in the New York Metropolitan Reference and Research Agency (METRO) cooperative, which offers the resources of over 200 libraries in the metropolitan area. Other materials may be obtained by interlibrary loan.

The library staff welcomes visits from prospective students and visiting scholars.  We look forward to meeting you!

Spring Break Hours

Friday, Mar. 9: 9 am - 5 pm
Saturday, Mar. 10: 10 am - 6 pm
Sunday, Mar. 11: closed
Monday-Friday, Mar. 12-16: 9 am - 5 pm
Saturday, Mar. 17: closed
Sunday, Mar. 18: 3 pm - 10 pm

Easter 2018 Hours

Sunday3 pm - 10 pm
Monday9 am - 10 pm
Tuesday9 am - 10 pm
Wednesday 9 am - 10 pm
Thursday9 am - 10 pm
Friday9 am - 5 pm
Saturday10 am - 6 pm

The library is closed from 10 am - 11 am, Monday - Friday for morning prayer. The library is also closed on Tuesday evenings from 5:30 - 7 pm for community Eucharist.

Public Hours

The library is open to the public from 11 am - 5 pm, Monday - Friday

Learn about The Way of Wisdom Declaration by our Faculty,
and discover more about the Way of Wisdom in the
Keller Library News.
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