Library Hours (Fall and Spring Semesters)

Day	Open	Close
Monday	8:00 a.m.	9:00 p.m.
Tuesday	8:00 a.m.	4:30 p.m.
Wednesday	8:00 a.m.	4:30 p.m.
Thursday	8:00 a.m.	8:30 p.m.
Friday	8:00 a.m.	4:30 p.m.
Saturday	CLOSED
Sunday	CLOSED

Library Hours (Summer)

Day	Open	Close
Monday	8:00 a.m.	4:30 p.m.
Tuesday	8:00 a.m.	4:30 p.m.
Wednesday	8:00 a.m.	4:30 p.m.
Thursday	8:00 a.m.	4:30 p.m.
Friday	8:00 a.m.	4:30 p.m.
Saturday	CLOSED
Sunday	CLOSED

Guide to the Library 

Purpose Statement

The purpose of The Allison Library is to support the education curricula of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and Mid-America College. The library develops, provides, and maintains facilities, materials, and services for the degree programs of Mid-America and for faculty, staff, and alumni patrons in traditional classroom and distance learning settings.

Academic Research Support

A primary objective of The Allison Library is to provide research resources for faculty members and students. Areas that are covered for students include material for seminar papers, seminar presentations, and dissertations. The Director of Library Services places priority on purchasing recommendations and specific requests from faculty members and students. The request form is available at the Circulation Desk. The form is used to make requests for books, theses, dissertations, microforms, journals, DVDs, CDs, databases, and other material formats.

Circulation Policies

Loan periods vary according to the type of materials borrowed. 

Material Type	Loan Period	Overdue Fines
Book	2 weeks	$0.20/day
Kindle, CDs, DVDs, Videos, Kits	2 weeks	$0.20/day
Journals/Periodicals	Non-circulating
Microfilms & Microfiche	2 weeks	$0.20/day
Rare Books	Non-circulating
Reference Books	Non-circulating
Reserve Books	2-, 3-, 5-day periods	$2.00/day

Maximum Fines

Book—$20 per book 
Reserve Books—$30 per book 
Lost Books—No fine will be charged; however, borrower must pay for the book plus a $35 processing fee. 

Overdues 

The borrower is responsible to return materials promptly. A reasonable effort will be made to notify patrons when items are overdue. 

Who May Borrow

The primary patrons of the Library shall be members of the seminary family: students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Upon consultation with the Director, others may apply for user privileges. 

Renewals 

Library Materials are on loan for two weeks and can be renewed unless they are on hold for another patron. Renewals can be made in person, by phone (901)-751-3007 and responding to the automated Notification from the library, or emailing to library@mabts.edu. 

Holding Books 

A patron may ask an attendant at the Circulation Desk to place a book on hold when it is returned. They will be notified when the book is available. 

Reserve Books 

Faculty may place often used material “On Reserve” for limited check out periods by students. 

Other policies 

• The Library may have to request materials to be returned for other students to use. Be considerate and make wise use of the Library’s books. 
• Do not send your entire reading list in one request; rather, please submit it in increments of 10. 

Cell Phone Policy

If using a cell phone while in the Library, PLEASE KEEP THE RINGER ON SILENT OR VIBRATE. IF YOU MUST TAKE THE CALL, PLEASE DO SO IN THE CARPETED AREA OF THE HALLWAY OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY. Please be considerate of your fellow library patrons. 

Food or Drink

Drinks with lids are permitted anywhere in the library. Food is now allowed anywhere in the Library. 

Noise Policy

While in the Library, if you are listening to videos online, please be considerate of your fellow students and library guests by wearing earbuds or headphones. Videos are disruptive to others who are trying to read, study, research, or write papers. Patrons causing excessive noise will be asked to leave the Library. 

Classification of Material

The Library of Congress (LC) classification system is used in organizing all materials. A call number is assigned to all materials according to the subject of the material. The ”call number” is used to locate an item on the shelves. 
The Library of Congress classification for philosophy, psychology, and religion is shown below, since most of our collection is classified in these sections. 

B	Philosophy (General)
BC	Logic
BD	Speculative Philosophy
BF	Psychology
BH	Aesthetics
BJ	Ethics
BL	Religion, Mythology & Rationalism
BM	Judaism
BP	Islam, Bahaism, Theosophy, etc
BQ	Buddhism
BR	Christianity
BS	Bible
BS 701 – 1899	Old Testament
BS 1901 – 2970	New Testament
BT	Doctrinal Theology
BV	Practical Theology
BV 2000 – 3799	Missions (including evangelism)
BV 4000 – 4470	Pastoral Theology
BV 4485 – 5099	Christian Life
BX	Denominations & Sects

Reference Assistance

Reference assistance is provided for library patrons in using the OPAC, locating materials, and searching for answers to questions. During regular business hours, the Director of Library Services is available to assist any patron. During other hours, questions should be directed to the circulation desk attendant. 

The Allison Library Online Student Account

The Allison Library is excited to bring its patrons another enhancement to their online experience. Patrons will now be able to log in and see the items that they have checked out, know when their items are due, see how much they owe in fines, reserve items, and compile a printable list of resources for their various classes. The guide below explains how to log into your online account and the various features that the account offers. To set up your account, or should you have any questions, please see an IT member. 
   

Steps for Logging In

You will need to speak with an IT member about activating your library username and password. 

• Go to the Atriuum Catalog online 
• On the top right-hand side of the page, you will see an account box. 
• Click “Log In”. Your Patron User Name is your Student ID Number, your Pin is your Sonis password. Once both of those blanks are filled, click “Log On.” 
• To log off of your account simply click Log Out. 
• Once you are logged into your account you will see the following options.

Items Checked Out
At the top of the page you will see a list of items that you currently have checked out. For each item you have checked out you will see the title of the item, the author of the item, the due date for the item, the call number for the item, and the amount of fines owed for each item if it is overdue. At the bottom of this section you will see the total amount of fines owed and the total number of items that are overdue. 

 Reserving an Item

To reserve an item, please speak to Library staff in-person, via email, or phone.

Printing 

• A self-operated photocopier/scanner is available for use in the copier room. For all students and visitors, the cost of copying is $0.05 per page. 

Library Staff 

Terrence Neal Brown	Director of the Library
Collin McAdams	Head of Circulation
Marilee Babler	Head of Conservation
Elisabeth McAdams	Library Technician
Lillian Horn	Library Technician
Rachel Uithoven	Library Technician

Library User Registration 

Who can register?

• All Mid-America students.
• All Mid-America staff or faculty.
• Staff/students from reciprocal organizations (ATLA, TTLA, MALC) that are in good standing.
• Library Director approved visitors.

How to register

Speak to Library staff at the circulation desk. Be prepared to give your name, address, email address, and phone number. 

Visitor Policy 

• Visitors are welcome to come and use the Library facilities.
• To check out materials, visitors must be either a member of a reciprocal organization (ATLA, TTLA, MALC) or approved by the Library Director.
• Visitors are allowed to check out four books for a three-week period.
• You do not need to bring your books back in to renew them; simply call or send us an email.
• Books that become overdue will be charged a fine of $0.20 per day per book. If items are lost or damaged, there is a $30 processing charge plus the cost of the item. If the item is no longer available for replacement, the Library Director will determine the value of the item.

Distance Learning  

Students, regardless of location, have access to all of the Library’s holdings via the online public access catalog (OPAC), as well as the listing of journal items on the Library’s website. These titles are readily available for off-campus and distance learning students upon their request.

If you participate in a Mid-America Seminary or College Distance Learning Program, you’re encouraged to utilize available resources of Community College, College, and University Libraries in your area in addition to your sources here at Mid-America. For visitor privileges, if they require a Letter of Good Standing or a card showing you’re a current student, please contact library staff at library@mabts.edu or Terrence Brown at tbrown@mabts.edu with your request.

For off-campus students requesting books, please make a list of the books you need, according to priority, and submit it in person or by fax, mail, or email. Please include title, author, and call numbers. 

Student Library Mailing Program (SLMP) 

Students living outside a 75-mile radius of Mid-America are eligible to join the Student Library Mailing Program (SLMP). To join the program, you must email Library@mabts.edu with your book requests, your address, and a viable phone number. As packages are mailed to you, the Business Office will send you an invoice for the shipping cost. For this postage, you must reimburse the Business Office of Mid-America. Any books that you return to the Library by mail will need to be sent at your expense. All books, going and coming, must be sent via UPS or FedEx, not USPS.

Non-circulating items such as journals will not be mailed; however, these materials can be scanned and emailed by a member of Library staff.

If you need items/articles mailed to you, you will need to e-mail a list of needed materials to Library@mabts.edu. The list must include the title, author, year of publication, and call number for the items you need; the same applies for books needing to be scanned. Journal requests must include title, year, and volume of publication, title of article, and pages to be copied. Include name, mailing address, and phone number.

Students living within the 75-mile radius of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and Mid-America College are not eligible to join this program and must obtain their books directly from the Library. 

Your Child and the Library 

The Allison Library encourages children of all ages to visit the library with their parents to take advantage of the resources available for them to meet their informational, recreational, and educational needs. To help meet those needs further, the Library, as of summer, 2024, established a designated area, including children’s books, bookcases, and special seating and tables for reading, crafts, and games. It is the responsibility of parents to ensure the appropriate behavior of their children in the library. Library Staff is not responsible for the supervision of children left unattended by their parents. 

Collection Development Policy 

OBJECTIVES

• To provide the fundamental support required by both faculty and students for the curricular offerings. 
• To provide the research needs for the faculty and for the doctoral programs. 
• To provide a scale of priority in material selection:
  • Curriculum support materials 
  • Faculty and doctoral programs research materials 
  • Technical material that will enrich the collection 
  • Secondary material may be of interest for one of several reasons, such as:
    • The author is an alumnus 
    • The work represents a different viewpoint 
    • The only treatment on a subject
• To add to the collection the most significant books in the fields of Biblical languages, Biblical studies, missions, church history, theology, and undergraduate majors—both doctrinal and practical—published by leading American trade book publishing houses, denominational agencies, and university presses, including the major works in these areas published by the major European theological publishers and book dealers, including E. J. Brill, Peeters, Oxford University Press, T & T Clark, etc. 
• To acquire out-of-print materials that are vital to the collection as they become available in reprints or electronic formats. 
• To provide adequate resources that are readily available to faculty and students for curricular needs and for personal enrichment. 
• To provide controlled access to rare and other archival materials for faculty and student research. 

STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY 

STATEMENT OF COVERAGE 

1. SCOPE

• In accord with the purpose of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and College, The Allison Library concentrates in the acquisition of materials in the field of religion and theology, including Biblical languages, Biblical studies, missions, church history, theology, counseling, and undergraduate majors. The Library also has supporting collections in education, history, philosophy, ethics, archaeology, music, and marriage and family life. 

2. DELIMITATIONS

• Geographical Areas
  • Emphasis will be placed upon those areas significant in the historical development of Judaism and all branches of Christianity.
  • The material in areas of study which are only peripheral to the origin and development of Judaism and Christianity will not be collected.

• Chronological Periods
  • Emphasis will be placed on the period covered from the beginning Old Testament through the present day.
  • Materials related to the “pre-history” of man will be acquired only on a level sufficient to support the curricular requirements.

3. DEPTH OF COLLECTION

• Definition of levels
  • Intensive: doctoral and post-doctoral research with a minimum of interlibrary loan.
  • Comprehensive: a wide range of published materials, but with little manuscript or archival materials.
  • Research: the fundamental works of scholarship.
  • Teaching: resources sufficient to satisfy curricular requirements but not in a large number of textbooks.
  • Reference: the essential reference works that support teaching and research.
• Collection level profile (subject)
  • Associates and Bachelor level courses
    • Old Testament
    • New Testament
    • Church History
    • Evangelism
    • Missions
    • Theology
    • Practical Theology
    • Christian Studies
    • Biblical Counseling
    • Communication
    • Organizational Leadership
    • Business Administration
    • General Education: History, Spanish, Latin, basic mathematics, music and literature
  • Master Level Courses
    • Old Testament and Hebrew
    • New Testament and Greek
    • Church History
    • Evangelism
    • Missions
    • Theology
    • Practical Theology
    • Christian Ministries
    • Church Music
    • Biblical Counseling
  • Doctor of Ministry Courses
    • Colloquium and Required Proficiencies
    • Pastoral Ministry Track
    • Missiology Track
    • Terminal Requirements for D Min Program
  • Doctor of Philosophy Courses
    • Required Proficiencies for Ph.D. Program
    • Old Testament and Hebrew
    • New Testament and Greek
    • Church History
    • Evangelism and Missions
    • Theology
    • Practical Theology
    • Graduate-Level Requirements
    • Counseling
    • Terminal Requirements for Ph.D. Program
• Policies of Depth Coverage
  • Cost of materials will be considered in the acquisition of materials. However, the cost, with few exceptions, will be secondary to the importance of material to the collection.
  • Faculty may request up to three copies of a book if the following criteria are met: (1) the course for which the books are intended shall be taught at least once per academic year, (2) the books shall be used in the course for at least three academic years. More than three copies of a given title may be purchased if the need can be justified.
  • The library appreciates and encourages gifts to its collection, but limitations of space and costs or processing sometimes restrict what can be received. The library maintains the right to decide whether any gift is to be added to the collection, placed on exchange, sold or discarded. The following criteria is used with respect to gift books: (1) Keep books which fit the profile library collection, (2) discard books which do not fit the profile library collection.
  • The library accepts gifts of money for the purchase of books with the understanding that the selection of specific titles is the prerogative of the faculty or the Director of Library Services, who will consider the interests of the donor.

4. EVALUATION

• The library will review the following items to evaluate book selection.
  • Buy everything by certain authors, once such a determination of said authors has been established.
  • Scholarly journals which are used for book selection.
  • A periodic check of the missing book lists (primarily from inventory lists)
  • Check the faculty request.
  • Check the student request.
  • Review interlibrary loan requests.
• The following criteria are used to determine which materials will be weeded from the collection.
  • Is it relevant to the current curriculum and projected curriculum?
  • Is the material a classic in its field?
  • Is it out of print?
  • Is the material current?
  • Are more current materials available?
  • Physical condition of the material: does it need repair, rebinding, replacing, or discarding?
  • How often has the material circulated?
  • Are there unnecessary duplicates on the shelf?
  • Does the faculty favor its removal?

STATEMENT OF PHYSICAL NATURE OF MATERIALS SELECTED: 

1. BOOKS 

• Hardbound or eBook copy
  • Select when book will receive long term usage.
  • Select when book is only printed hardbound or in eBook copy.
  • Select when professor indicated this as first preference.
• Softbound
  • Select when price is considerably less than the hardbound copy.
  • Select when book is only printed in softbound.
  • Select when second copy is requested.
  • Select when a book will only receive minimal usage
• Database
  • Select pertinent databases for purchase with pertinent book and journal titles.
  • Select databases with entire collections, if the library does not possess such general collections otherwise.

2. SERIALS 

• Journals
  • Receive subscribed journals in printed form.
  • Receive subscribed journals online.
  • Receive gift subscriptions in print or online forms.
• Databases/Online
  • Subscribe to any database which contains journals that cannot be purchased elsewhere.
  • Subscribe to an online version of a journal if it reduces the cost of a subscription, if it is the single source of availability, or if it contains retrospective issues.

WEEDING

• On a periodic basis, the Director of Library Services shall assess the collection to identify materials to be withdrawn. Reasons for withdrawal include:
  • Material that is discovered to be out of the scope of the library
  • Duplicate copies of works that were used at one time but are no longer needed
  • Material that is out of date and that has no continuing value for research
  • A material whose physical condition has deteriorated beyond repair. This material may be replaced depending upon its value for the collection and its availability.

History of The Ora Byram Allison Memorial Library 

Dr. B. Gray Allison, the founding President of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, historically told the Seminary story during Founders’ Days in August of each academic year since the school’s inception. While audience members note particular aspects of Dr. Gray’s account that they recall with clarity, amusement, astonishment, or favor, the keen listener grasps one noteworthy theme—Mid-America’s need for a strong, vibrant, and resourceful Library facility. Throughout the years, Dr. Allison repeated this seminal subject often, “the Library, the Library, the Library,” emphasizing this special section of the school. Indeed, The Ora Byram Allison Memorial Library retains both a singular place in the history of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary and a historical account unto itself. 

The Library of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary began with nothing—no space, no books, no staff, no director, and no name. When the Seminary started classes in 1972 in Little Rock, Arkansas, the library commenced with multiple donations from original faculty members, including Drs. Roy Beaman, J. Philip Allison, and B. Gray Allison. From the outset, the faculty and students realized the critical role that a library affords the life of any academic institution, as its serves as the intellectual hub of learning, research, and attendant matters. 

Operating fairly informally, but recognizing the overriding necessity of place, materials, and staff, the Library organized under the guidance of its initial officer, Suzanne Allison Grigsby, daughter of Dr. B. Gray and Mrs. Voncille Allison. Besides establishing a place for the Seminary’s first library in a temporary “out building” at Olivet Baptist Church (the Seminary’s initial home) Mrs. Grigsby laid a foundation that her successors in the Library and generations of students understood to be of vital importance: Mrs. Grigsby placed all library materials in the Library of Congress classification system, one that lends itself to in-depth specialization, such as music, nursing, law, or theological studies. From the Library staff’s point of view and, indeed, all users of the facility for nearly four decades, this original and profound choice has blessed countless people. By the autumn term of 1973 the Library counted over 7,500 items in its budding collection. 

When Mid-America moved to Memphis, Tennessee, for classes in the fall of 1975, the Library relocated into temporary quarters, again, in an old house on Montgomery Street, directly across from the recently acquired Jewish property. While the Seminary renovated the Temple estate, classes took place in the facilities of the old Bellevue Baptist Church and the Library offered services from the large, two-story dwelling on Montgomery. Holdings in the Library measured nearly 14,000 volumes. 

By October 1976, the Seminary had completed its remodeling of the Jewish Temple site, and both classes and the Library entered the new accommodations. Given the actual weight of Library materials, the Administration placed the Library’s holdings and offices on the ground floor of the school’s education wing, flanked by Montgomery Street and Bellevue Baptist Church. Mrs. Grigsby left the Seminary in 1978 to have a child, as the Library approached the possession of 50,000 items Dr. Reginald Barnard assumed the position of Librarian. 

During Dr. Barnard’s short tenure as Librarian, the Library acquired thousands of theological works from another institution that closed. Also, the Library gained, finally, its official name in 1979—The Ora Byram Allison Memorial Library, as designated by the Board of Trustees. The ceremony bestowing the new title came in Founders Days services, on Tuesday, August 21, 1979, with various members of the Allison family on the program, along with Dr. Thomas Lane of Bellevue. 

Dr. James Edwin Powell succeeded Dr. Barnard, who while teaching in the Theology Department, retained the title of Library Consultant for a number of years. In Dr. Powell’s term as Librarian, the Allison Library made its first contact with computerization by joining OCLC in late 1981, permitting the Library to transact interlibrary loan cooperation electronically and to produce computerized card sets. This eliminated the arduous typing of multi-page paper cards for the catalog. The staff under Dr. Powell, on the cusp of computerization, included ten full-time and four part-time staff. Dr. Powell brought to the staff Mrs. Ada Sumrall, a librarian of some note and years of experience from Mississippi, in order to assist the Library in its preparations for seeking accreditation from SACS. Two other professionals, Ms. Nancy Taylor Technical Services and Mr. Terrence Neal Brown Serials Librarian joined the staff in May 1981.  

By the summer of 1982, with the Library nearing 80,000 titles in its holdings, more changes came to the Allison Library. Dr. Powell moved into full-time teaching in the New Testament and Greek Department while a tandem began administering the Library. Mr. Bill Hair, whom the Administration had sent to the George Peabody Library School, received an appointment by the Board of Trustees to become the first Director of Library Services, effective July 1, 1982, and while Mr. Brown became Assistant Director, the only person ever to hold the position at Mid-America. By the Christmas break, the Allison Library moved yet again, transferring from the old synagogue site to the renovated Shriners’ Building, a three-story edifice next door at 1257 Poplar Avenue. Books and some study area occupied the basement floor—again, due to literal weight. Offices, including Technical Services and Circulation, the catalog, more study areas, and the Reference Room took the second main level, and journals, storage, and Ph.D. study carrels shifted to the upper third story. Connected to the main campus by a covered walkway, the Library would reside at 1257 Poplar for exactly 13 years. 

Several years of change marked the conclusion of the 1987–88 academic year when Mr. Hair departed Mid-America for Golden Gate Seminary. In the 1988–89 school year Dr. Barnard returned as Interim Director of Library Services, and the Allison Library registered its 100,000th title, The Correspondence of Roger Williams, Volume 1, 1629–1653 in November. Mr. Brown assumed the Interim Director’s role for 1989–1990 after Dr. Barnard’s health prevented his serving longer.

The Board of Trustees voted Terrence Brown as Director of Library Services, effective July 1, 1990, after he completed a year as Interim Director. Mr. Brown has served in the role of Director since the 1990 appointment.

In the “Brown Years” of The Allison Library the primary theme that is change. Under Mr. Brown, The Allison Library has relocated twice more—to Germantown in December 1995, and to the Cordova campus (Appling Road) in the summer of 2006. Computerization has continued apace with the entire paper catalog transferred to an electronic database in 1995, just before the move to Germantown. In the succeeding 16 years all acquired resources have entered the Library by way of the OPAC—online public access catalog. To complement this invaluable tool, The Allison Library has purchased databases, including EBSCOHOST’S ATLA Religion databases, the Southern Baptist Periodical Index, EBSCO’s Academic Search Elite (primarily for undergraduates), and ATLA’s twin Historical Monograph Databases, of 29,000 titles, lifting the Library’s total holdings, in both traditional print and electronic modes to over 163,000 titles, as of July 1, 2011.

By spring 2018, the Library passed another milestone. With the addition of Dr. Spradlin’s edited version of Dr. Roy Beaman’s commentary on the book of John, the Library noted the acquisition of its 200,000 title. Mr. Brown made this announcement public in chapel to honor Dr. Spradlin and to note publicly for the Seminary community this important event. Watch the video here.

After months of discussions and planning for the Seminary and College at the direction of Dr. Spradlin during much of 2025, two major changes came to the Library. First, the Mid-America administration determined to sell the Cordova campus after almost 20 years of residence there, meaning that the Library would also depart its accommodations. During much of the Fall 2025 semester, Library staff examined plans, made suggestions, attended preparation sessions, and delivered detailed, sketched layouts for offices, study space, and materials stacks.  By February 2026, the Library’s part was underway, with all shelving, physical books, and office contents in place within the new Arlington, Tennessee, campus by the end of February.  Even in the hectic paces of the relocation, the Library never suspended its services to the Mid-America community, keeping circulation and interlibrary loans going steadily. Second, to signal a new chapter in the history of the school and The Ora Byram Allison Memorial Library in the shift to Arlington, the administration amended the Library’s official name to The Allison Library to honor the significant and lasting contributions of this crucial founding family.