University Libraries

John E. Buschman, D.L.S., Dean

Walsh Library faculty and staff provide Seton Hall University students library services on the South Orange campus. During the academic year the Library can be open as many as 18 hours per day; see Library website for current hours. This four-story 155,000 square-foot facility opened in August 1994 and houses print book and journal collections, the Walsh Gallery, and the Monsignor William Noé Field Archives and Special Collections Center. Walsh Library also accommodates the Teaching, Learning and Technology Center (TLTC) which includes the Instructional Design Team, the Computer Training Center, the Student Technology Assistant Program, the Interactive Television Classroom and University Media Services.

Walsh Library is home to the Bernard J. Lonergan Institute, the Center for Catholic Studies, the Chesterton Institute, and the Valente Italian Library. The Monsignor James C. Turro Seminary Library is located in Lewis Hall as part of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. Strong print collections in the University Libraries are augmented by robust electronic databases, e-book and e-journal and collections that connect Seton Hall community members to library resources any time, regardless of where they are. Visit the library website at library.shu.edu. The Peter W. Rodino, Jr. Law Library, located on the School of Law campus, is separately administered.

The University Libraries

The University Libraries have notable resources, including extensive holdings of more than 2,000,000 print and electronic book volumes and access to full-text articles in over 100,000 print and electronic journals, and provide a vital document delivery and interlibrary loan service.

Through active participation in resource sharing consortia— including PALCI (Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc.), and VALE (Virtual Academic Library Environment of New Jersey) —the vast majority of interlibrary loan requests for journal article are delivered through e-mail, often arriving the same day. Last year, these services provided more than 11,000 interlibrary loans to students and faculty.

The University Libraries have strong and growing collections in the areas of Health Sciences, Theology, DEI Resources, Judeo-Christian Studies, Italian Studies, Slavic and Eastern European studies and other areas of the Humanities. The Information Commons offers soft chair seating, study tables, and computer workstations. All information resources are catalogued and accessible through SHUSearch, the University Libraries’ online discovery system.

Walsh Library accommodates students, faculty and visitors in a variety of study facilities, including tables, carrels, a silent study room, group study rooms, scholar study rooms, and a 24/7 After Hours Study Space during fall and spring semesters. The library’s third and fourth floors are designated as quiet study floors to accommodate those students who prefer a quiet environment for their research and scholarship. In pre-pandemic years, more than 13,000 students used group study rooms and more than 390,000 people visited the library yearly. A workforce compromised of full-time professional library faculty and administrative support staff focus on offering excellent service to Seton Hall’s community of students, faculty, and alumni. The library faculty also provide bibliographic and research services at the reference desk, via telephone, email, chat and through individual research consultations. Library faculty serve as subject bibliographers and liaisons to various academic disciplines for collection development and curriculum support.

The library faculty instruct over 6,000 students including upper level and graduate students in data design, research skills, and information literacy.

Technology available in the Information Commons provides users with state-of-the-art Mac and PC computer workstations, printing, scanning, charging stations, and two dedicated accessibility workstations. University Libraries feature wireless connectivity throughout the facilities, with electronic reserve (e-Reserve) system providing students access to faculty-assigned readings from any place with internet access. University Libraries is committed to keeping abreast of trends in technology with the goal of implementing new systems to better serve our students. The integration of SMART board computer technology in some study rooms is expected in 2023. 

Students or faculty with visible or invisible disabilities, who self-identify at the Circulation Desk, may receive special assistance. Individuals may use an array of adaptive equipment that is available to assist persons with disabilities or impairments in the use of resources and facilities in the libraries. University Libraries has partnered with Counseling and Psychological Services to provide a dedicated calm space in the library for individual students who may feel overwhelmed or overstimulated. Information on accessing the room may be obtained by calling CAPS at 973-761-9500.

The Interprofessional Health Sciences Library

Located on the first floor of the Interprofessional Health Sciences (IHS) campus contains numerous tables and study carrels, twenty study rooms, a small print reference collection of health sciences resources and books, and computers for database searches.

The IHS Library supports the College of Nursing, the School of Health and Medical Sciences, and the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine The library is staffed by a team of four Health Sciences Librarians Monday-Friday from 8am – 6pm. Access to databases, journals, electronic books and interlibrary loan is available online twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week. Access to the library’s digital collection, information on how to book study rooms, contact information for the library staff, and much more can be found at the library’s website: library.shu.edu/ihs.

For general inquiries, contact ihslibrary@shu.edu.

The Monsignor James C. Turro Seminary Library

The Monsignor James C. Turro Seminary Library is located in Lewis Hall on the South Orange campus. Its collections support the undergraduate and graduate curricula of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology, which is also the major seminary of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. The Turro Seminary Library contains more than 75,000 books, 400 periodical titles, and some audiovisual material. The collection’s focus is on theology and Church history and is particularly strong in liturgical and biblical studies.

Access to the collection is primarily for students and faculty of Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology and other University faculty. Seton Hall University undergraduate and graduate students sign a guestbook in order to use the library. Borrowing privileges are extended only to those with a valid Seton Hall ID (students, faculty, administrators, staff and alumni). All others must make requests through the interlibrary loan services provided by the University Libraries, or their home library. Visit the Turro Seminary Library website at library.shu.edu/TurroLibrary.

The Monsignor William Noé Field Archives and Special Collections Center

The Monsignor William Noé Field Archives & Special Collections Center and Walsh Gallery, located on the first floor of Walsh Library, maintains long-term stewardship for the care, research and display of Seton Hall University’s archival collections. The Archives collect culturally, artistically and historically significant materials, both digital and physical, that enhance and enrich the mission of the University Libraries and Seton Hall University. Collections are available to both the Seton Hall community and the general public for teaching and research. Researchers have access to a reading room designed for serious research and an adjacent room for instruction and small-group seminars. Microfilm readers are available for reading and photocopying or scanning. The collections are open by appointment to faculty, clergy, administration, students and the general public. Special Collections accepts donations of materials that fit within its scope. For more information about Special Collections please consult our website at library.shu.edu/archives or call (973) 761- 9476.

Office of Records Management

The Records Management Center is located within the Monsignor William Noé Field Archives and Special Collections Center. It houses non-current and permanent non- archival institutional records. The Records Management program is designed to create, facilitate and monitor the official retention schedules for each University department. Files are systematically transferred, stored and made available for review by the originating University office upon request. The Records Management Center can be reached at (973) 275-2063 or recordsmgmt@shu.edu.

The Walsh Gallery

In keeping with the mission of Seton Hall University, Walsh Gallery promotes spiritual growth and intellectual curiosity through the presentation of exhibitions that promote critical thinking and cultural appreciation. Serving both the campus and surrounding communities, the gallery hosts three exhibitions annually. Admission to the gallery and all special events is free and open to the public.

For further information, contact the Director at 973-275- 2033, jeanne.brasile@shu.edu or visit the website at library.shu.edu/walsh-gallery.