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Seminary & Graduate Student Information Guide: Partner Libraries - Reciprocal Borrowing

In-person borrowing privileges to authorized patrons from other ACL institutions. Patrons, including faculty, students, and staff, have reciprocal access to the physical collections of participating Christian institutions

Expansion of the Reciprocal Borrowing Program

The ACL Reciprocal Borrowing Program now offers three participation levels to better meet the needs of member libraries: Standard Member Library, Expanded Lender Library, and Borrower-Only Library.

Standard Member Libraries maintain physical collections and lend only to other Standard Members and Expanded Lenders, opting not to lend to Borrower-Only Libraries.

Expanded Lender Libraries may choose to extend borrowing privileges to both libraries that can reciprocate lending and to Borrower-Only Libraries—institutions without physical collections—thereby broadening resource sharing across the ACL community.

Institutions unable to lend physical materials but meeting other membership requirements can participate as Borrower-Only Libraries. While they do not lend physical collections, they are encouraged to offer other valuable resources and services to visiting patrons, such as onsite study areas, digital resource access, reference assistance, and involvement in the ACL ILL borrowing and lending listserv.

This updated Reciprocal Borrowing Program will launch on September 2, 2025. All current participants are encouraged to renew their participation by completing the updated agreement form. New libraries are also welcome to apply and join this expanded program.

By offering more flexible participation options, the program fosters greater collaboration and resource access among Christian libraries throughout the nation and beyond.

Member Schools

Extended Lender Libraries

Lend to other Extended Lenders, Standard Members, and Borrower-Only Libraries | Borrow from other Extended Lenders and Standard Members

  1. Anderson University – Anderson, SC
  2. Arizona Christian University – Glendale, AZ
  3. Asbury University – Wilmore, KY
  4. Calvary University – Kansas City, MO
  5. Central Christian College of the Bible – Moberly, MO
  6. College of Biblical Studies Houston – Houston, TX
  7. Concordia University Irvine – Irvine, CA
  8. Emmaus Bible College – Dubuque, IA
  9. Family of Faith Christian University – Shawnee, OK
  10. Grace Christian University – Grand Rapids, MI
  11. Heritage Bible College – Dunn, NC
  12. Heritage Christian University – Florence, AL
  13. Hope International University – Fullerton, CA
  14. Hudson Taylor University – Suwanee, GA
  15. John Brown University – Siloam Springs, AR
  16. Kentucky Christian University – Grayson, KY
  17. Lancaster Bible College – Lancaster, PA
  18. Life Pacific University – San Dimas, CA
  19. Manhattan Christian College – Manhattan, KS
  20. Mission University – Springfield, MO
  21. Northpoint Bible College – Haverhill, MA
  22. Northwest Nazarene University – Nampa, ID
  23. Olivet Nazarene University – Bourbonnais, IL
  24. Ozark Christian College – Joplin, MO
  25. Pacific College of Technology – Atlanta, GA
  26. Remnant University – Hurst, TX
  27. Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College – Saint Mary of the Woods, IN
  28. Southern California Seminary –  El Cajon, CA
  29. Southern Nazarene University – Bethany, OK
  30. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary – Fort Worth, TX
  31. Sterling College – Sterling, KS
  32. The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology – Seattle, WA
  33. Trinity Anglican Seminary – Ambridge, PA
  34. Trinity International University – Deerfield, IL
  35. Underwood University – Suwanee, GA
  36. University of Mary Hardin-Baylor – Belton, TX
  37. Vanguard College – Edmonton, AB CANADA
  38. Welch College – Gallatin, TN
  39. Wesley Biblical Seminary – Ridgeland, MS
  40. Williams Baptist University – Walnut Ridge, AR

Standard Member Libraries

Lend to Extended Lenders and other Standard Members | Borrow from Extended Lenders and other Standard Members

  1. Appalachian Bible College – Mount Hope, WV
  2. Ascent College – Gainesville, VA
  3. Barber-Scotia College – Concord, NC
  4. Bethlehem College & Seminary – Minneapolis, MN
  5. Biola University – La Mirada, CA
  6. Boise Bible College – Boise, ID
  7. Carson-Newman University – Jefferson City, TN
  8. Carver Baptist Bible College & Sem. – Kansas City, MO
  9. Cedarville University – Cedarville, OH
  10. Cornerstone University – Grand Rapids, MI
  11. Covenant Theological Seminary – St. Louis, MO
  12. Crown College – St. Bonifacius, MN
  13. Dallas International University – Dallas, TX
  14. Emmanuel University – Franklin Springs, GA
  15. EPIC Bible College & Graduate School- Sacramento, CA
  16. Johnson University – Knoxville, TN
  17. Kingswood University – Sussex, NB CAN
  18. MidAmerica Nazarene University – Olathe, KS
  19. Nelson University (formerly, SAGU) – Waxahachie, TX
  20. North Greenville University – Tigerville, SC
  21. Point Loma Nazarene University – San Diego, CA
  22. Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary – Grand Rapids, MI
  23. Randall University – Moore, OK
  24. Regent University – Virginia Beach, VA
  25. Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies – Jacksonville, FL
  26. Roberts Wesleyan University – Rochester, NY
  27. Shepherds Theological Seminary – Cary, NC
  28. Simpson University – Redding, CA

Policies

General Policies

  • Reciprocal borrowing is a voluntary program. It is not a requirement for CLC or ACL institutions.
  • Participation is open to any institution with at least one full individual ACL member.
  • Libraries choose to join or continue participation in the program under one of the following membership categories:
    • Standard Member Library – for institutions with a physical library collection that agree to reciprocal borrowing with other standard member libraries or with expanded lender libraries. (No lending to Borrower-Only libraries)
    • Expanded Lender Library – for institutions that agree to provide borrowing privileges to authorized patrons at both standard member and borrower-only libraries.
    • Borrower-Only Library – for institutions that wish to participate in the program that meet eligibility requirements but are unable to extend lending privileges (because they do not own a physical collection to share).
  • Participating libraries are responsible for promoting the service to their own patrons, linking to the list of participating libraries on the ACL website, printing and/or providing electronic access to the Authorization Form, and signing the Authorization Forms in-person or virtually.
  • Lending libraries determine their own lending policies (such as loan periods, fines/fees, material types loaned, etc.) and are responsible for providing this information to patrons.
  • Borrower is responsible for paying any fines or fees for lost materials as determined by the lending library. If the borrower does not return materials in good order, the borrower’s home library/institution should be prepared to assist the lending library in resolving the situation with the borrower. Such assistance may include communication with the patron, suspension of library privileges at the patron’s home library, placing a registration hold, or other reasonable efforts to motivate the patron to resolve the matter. The lending library also has the right to bill the patron’s home library/institution for lost or damaged materials, and the lending library may exercise this right at its discretion.

Borrowing Procedures:

  • The borrower obtains a signed Authorization Form from the home library to receive borrowing privileges from a participating library. This Authorization Form can be downloaded and signed digitally.
  • Currently employed faculty and staff and currently, enrolled students in good standing are eligible. The home library has the authority to issue or deny this privilege.
  • The home library determines the length of a valid authorization. The authorization period may vary depending on the status of the borrower but should be no longer than a year.  When the authorization period expires, the borrower may request another signed authorization form from the home library.
  • The borrower takes the signed Authorization Form along with a photo ID to a participating library. Privileges and loan periods are determined by the lending library and may vary from those of the borrower’s home institution.
  • Borrower returns materials to the lending library by the requested due date and pays any applicable fines and fees for late, lost, or damaged materials as determined by the lending library.

Lending Procedures:

  • The lending library collects Authorization Form and any additional contact information needed from the borrowing patron in order to create a library record for the patron.
  • The lending library provides the patron with a due date and the applicable circulation/fines policies.
  • The lending library communicates directly with the patron regarding overdue/replacement fees. As needed, they may request assistance from the borrower’s home library in resolving the matter, as outlined in the General

Map

Borrowing Privileges

As an Reciprocal Patron you can borrow:

  • Up to 10 items at a time
  • Books check out for 14 days, with 1 renewal.
  • DVDs 14 day checkouts with 1 renewal.
  • Kits 14 days (may have an extended borrowing time with approval)