New GTU Students: after you register for classes, your library account will be automatically created (usually it takes a day or two after your first time registering) and you can begin using your Student ID number to log in. Check with your registrar for instructions on getting a photo ID.
Returning GTU Students: No current semester stickers needed for the Spring 2023 semester. Your borrowing privileges will be renewed automatically.
Other library accounts: You may have access to even more resources depending on which GTU member school you attend. There are also excellent public libraries in the Bay Area that provide access to databases and e-books that could be helpful in your research. Even if you do not live in the Bay Area, the librarians recommend that you check in with your local public library for additional resources. More information on this in the Books section.
As a student you may have additional accounts with other libraries. We will discuss using these libraries later in the guide.
JST students only: JST students will receive a Santa Clara University account: MySCU for remote access.
PLTS students only: PLTS students will receive a CAL Lutheran account: MyCLU for remote access.
SFTS/GST students only: SFTS/GST students will receive a Redlands Armacost Library account: MyRedlands for remote access.
All California residents: (eventually you will need to bring a piece of mail to show your address) are eligible for accounts in many public libraries including Berkeley and San Francisco. You don't need to live in Berkeley to get a Berkeley Public card. Libraries are making it easier during the shelter-in-place order to sign up for library privileges online.
Out of state residents: Check with your local libraries for privileges. You might be able to use public or university libraries near you. One thing to check is if they provide Interlibrary Loan. If they do, we can send our books to your local library for you to access. We are not able to send books directly to your home.
ATLA member libraries: We have agreements with many seminaries and theological libraries in the US and Canada, please see the map here. Please be aware that depending on local shelter-in-place orders or institutional policies during the pandemic that some libraries and their services may not be available to you.
What are all these library terms? You'll hear a lot of terminology around the library, here are some of the most frequently used terms. 
Curbside PIckup - a contact-free & safe appointment-based service to pick up library materials. If you cannot find an item online, you'll place a hold on the physical item and request an appointment to pick it up. Library staff will conduct a socially-distanced drop-off or will guide you to park & open your trunk so that library staff can safely place materials inside your car. On the next page, Library Services Basics, you'll learn more about this and other library services.
Holds- an item is checked out, and you'd like to be next on the list. Or, you'd like the item brought over from another location (for example, it's at a branch library and you want it retrieved). Most libraries notify (by email) when it's available for pickup.
Recall- an item is checked out, and you'd like to ask for it to be returned before the due date. At the GTU, we will contact the person who has it and give them 2 weeks to return it. This process allows us to have long checkout periods. Please note: not all libraries do recalls.
Renew- you'd like the book for longer and want to extend the due date. However, you won't be able to renew if there is a hold or recall on the item. You can often do this online, or by calling the library.
Interlibrary Loan- the item is not owned by the library and you'd like it from another library- books are sent in the mail, while articles are often emailed as a PDF.
Even if you are in another state or country- you can still request interlibrary loan of articles from the GTU.
For GTU holds, recalls, or renewals: call the circulation desk at GTU, email GTU at library@gtu.edu, email SFTS at gordon_gilmore@redlands.edu, or login to your your library account.
