The Spencer Library

The Spencer Library participates in the mission of the seminary by maintaining a core collection that:

• supports the curriculum of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities.

• supports the andragogy and scholarship of the seminary’s faculty.

• is representative of the breadth of religious, philosophical, and theological thought and practice as reflective of the seminary's curriculum.

• provides access to the wider universe of information resources through networking and the utilization of new research tools in print and electronic formats as they can be made available.

• provides instruction to individuals and classes on the use of the library and its resources.

• serves as a resource for the life-long education and ongoing formation of clergy, laity and others in the wider community.

Spencer Library Facts

The Spencer Library was formed from the merging of two collections at the founding of United Theological Seminary in the early 1960s; Mission House Theological Seminary and Yankton School of Theology.  

Current collection stats:

• 50,000 print books 

• 90+ periodical subscriptions

• 22,000 eBook titles 

• 60+ online databases

An active member of the Minnesota Theological Library Association (MTLA), the five participating seminary libraries comprise the largest collection of theological and religious materials between Chicago and the West Coast. 

Collection Development Policy—guides the acquisition of materials and the ongoing maintenance of the library collection

Copyright Policy—addresses copyright, fair use, and plagiarism

Book Donation Policy

• Books can be checked out of the library any time that the building is open, either using the self checkout machine or completing a paper checkout form at the circulation desk.

• Students who do not live in the Twin Cities area can request that books be mailed to their address. Please email requests to library@unitedseminary.edu.

• All physical items checked out of the library during the current term are due the Friday before the last week of the term. Books may be recalled if necessary.

• Books can be returned by either depositing them in the drop box at the library circulation desk or mailing them to the seminary:

Spencer Library
United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities
767 Eustis St., Suite 140
St. Paul, MN 55114

The ATLA Reciprocal Borrowing Program is an arrangement between participating North American ATLA Institutional Members and Affiliate Candidate Libraries to grant check-out privileges to each other’s patrons/students. A patron/student walks into a participating library, shows proof of current enrollment at another participating library, and checks out materials based on its local lending policies.

Use the ATLA Map to see if there is a participating library close to you.

United’s writing tutor can assist students with the written components of their United programs, from course papers to theses and dissertations. Common areas for assistance include paper structure, citing sources, Turabian style, grammar, and formatting.

To schedule an initial one-hour appointment with the writing tutor, please complete and submit the online Writing Tutor Request Form. After the initial meeting, the writing tutor will schedule additional sessions with you as needed.