Jerusalem Library Recap

As the first term of 2025 careens to a close, I have been enlisted to write a recap of the goings-on in the library this term.

The first thing to note, though it has been noted before, is that the library has gone through a long and arduous renovation process. The result of this is that the library has become a much nicer place to study. One thing that has not changed much from last year, however, is shelving training: the bane of every new librarian. In order to pass shelving training, one must shelve 100 books in a row without any mistakes. 

The Dewey Decimal system is not complicated. But there comes a point in shelving when all those book spines and numbers begin to blur together. One misreads a call number, but catches it. Then the paranoia surfaces. I had twelve books left when I misshelved one and had to completely start over. The next few days I frantically shelved as many books as I could find and somehow managed to pass shelving training. The bane of my existence is conquered and I can now work in peace. Huzzah.

All humor aside for a moment, Tyndale Library is easily the place I spend the majority of my time, and that’s not because I work here. It is a great place for studying: close to all my classes and comfortable, with a lot of study space, both in the front and the back. Though Tyndale is small, there are plenty of resources in the stacks to get one started, and even more in the basement. 

I found the theology section (200s) to be extremely helpful in writing my term paper. Augustine Through the Ages, Augustine’s Literal Commentary on Genesis, and Augustine: His Thought in Context were all books I checked out. I used a couple of them very extensively in my Lordship paper. I plan to continue taking advantage of all the library has to offer in future terms.

The last thing to note is the events we’ve had in the library. Last Saturday, we had our  “Coffee and Cram” event, for which the library provided coffee and cream and opened at 6am for students who desired to get an early start to their studying. Coming up (this Friday) is the library’s Soda and Study night. Very similar to Coffee and Cram, only designed for all the night owls.

The library plans to continue hosting such events in future terms. (Librarians are probably plotting as you read this.) So stay tuned. Finish Jerusalem strong and hit the ground running in Nicaea term.