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Library Membership

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Overview

If you’re in a ministry role, a theological student, or a parish member of the Anglican or Methodist Church, you are warmly invited to register as a library member. We also welcome those beyond these communities, especially from other denominations with reciprocal membership arrangements.

Paid membership options are available to the wider public.

Library members enjoy the privilege of borrowing from our collections and accessing a rich range of electronic databases and full-text academic journals, supporting study, research, and lifelong learning.

The John Kinder Theological Library is open to everyone, even if not a library member.

Visitors are always welcome to spend time reading and exploring our resources on site. If you’re not a registered member, simply check in at the desk and sign our visitors’ book when you arrive – we’re glad to have you with us. 

If you are planning a significant piece of research, letting us know ahead of your visit enables library staff to consider suitable resources.  For access to archival materials, an appointment is normally required. 

Please email our Archivist at: archivist@kinderlibrary.ac.nz

Register to Become a Library Member

It’s simple to become a Kinder Library Member.

  1. Read the membership eligibility above
  2. Fill out a Registration Form
  3. Send it to us
  4. We’ll be in touch if we need any more information
  5. You’re in!

Please choose an option to view our Registration form:

When you have completed the registration form, please send it to library@kinderlibrary.ac.nz

➡️ Need help accessing your library account? Check out this video.

Borrowing policy

Library items are loaned for five weeks. If you need longer, you can renew your loan once, for an additional five weeks through the online catalogue.

After this period, books need to be returned to the Library for any further renewal.

If another reader places a request on an item you have borrowed, we’ll be in touch and ask that it be returned within three days, so it can be shared promptly. Likewise, if you’ve requested a book that is currently on loan, please allow up to three days (plus any postal days) for it to be available for you.

Books to be read in the library only

Books from special collections such as the New Zealand and Pacific Collection and the Reference Collection are not available for loan. This is indicated in the library catalogue where it says “not for loan”.

Recently acquired books

New books are added to the new books display on a Wednesday. These may be borrowed. Look also for the flyers advertising new eBooks, which have a QR code to link you directly to the book text.

You can also see recent additions to the library, both print and eBook, on the home page of the library catalogue, and in a revolving display. Clicking on a book image gives you further information.

If you need a resource that we don’t hold

Only books for your own College, Taapapa or Diocesan Library as well as those at John Kinder Theological Library are generally available for you to borrow.

However, arrangements may be able to be made with other libraries if a title is needed. This needs to be arranged by library staff.

If a title is on loan, this will be indicated in the catalogue. Follow the steps in Using Library Resources Effectively to Support Your Study to see how to place a request for a title already on loan.

Please ask library staff if you are unable to find books and articles that you need in the catalogue. We can often access these from another New Zealand library.

Distance Services

If you’re a Distance Borrower, the Library staff can assist distance users with reference enquiries by:

  • Identifying relevant print and electronic resources which can be made available by post or email.
  • Helping users to find relevant books on our online catalogue ANGLICAT.

Users can also conduct their own searches by:

Guidelines for postal borrowers

Some required reading for courses is held on desk copy in the Library and is not available for borrowing.

If you are a postal borrower and you are sent books by the Kinder Library, you will need to purchase your own postal bags to return them. You can find them at your local post shop.

Books returned to the Library by post must be securely wrapped and addressed to:

John Kinder Theological Library

Private Bag 28 907

Remuera,

Auckland 1541

For your convenience, there will be an address sticker inside the post bag when we send you your books. Simply peel off the address and place it onto the postal bag. Otherwise, you can write the address above on the postal bag.

You will be sent reminder emails when your books are overdue. Always ensure the library has your up-to-date email address. If you are not receiving overdue notices via your email please check with us and your internet provider.

Newsletter

Each month we endeavour to send out a newsletter to keep you up to date with what’s happening around the John Kinder Theological Library, some new books that have been added to the catalogue, what we’ve posted on the blog and more. Sign up to receive the newsletter here.