MOBIUS & Interlibrary Loan
Access materials from other libraries around the state, the country, and even the world
-
MOBIUS
Streamlined requesting for books and media held in libraries in and around Missouri
-
Interlibrary Loan
Request books and articles from libraries across the country and around the world
-
Prospector
Request books from a MOBIUS partner network in and around Colorado
-
Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements
On-site check-out privileges at partner libraries around the country
MOBIUS
MOBIUS is a consortium of academic and public libraries in and around Missouri that share their resources. Using the MOBIUS Union Catalog, you can search the collections of all member libraries simultaneously and request books to be delivered either to the Covenant Library or to any MOBIUS institution you choose. (The ability to have books sent to other MOBIUS libraries for pickup is temporarily unavailable.)
Thanks to the MOBIUS courier service, delivery typically takes just 3 to 5 business days. If your prefer, you can also visit any academic MOBIUS member library in person and check out books with your Covenant Seminary ID. (Only certain MOBIUS sites are offering in-person borrowing at this time—see the map below.)
MOBIUS members include a wide range of institutions—from theological schools like Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, to small and mid-sized private colleges such as Maryville University and Lindenwood University, as well as large research universities like Saint Louis University and Washington University, plus all University of Missouri campuses. This diverse membership gives you access to a broad and extensive collection of resources—make sure to take advantage of it!
MOBIUS In-person Borrowing Sites
Interlibrary Loan
Interlibrary Loan (ILL) allows you to borrow books or articles from libraries across the country through the Covenant Library. Compared to the MOBIUS service described above, which offers faster access to books within the MOBIUS network, ILL provides an even broader range of materials, including journal articles. (Please note that DVDs, CDs, and similar media are usually not loaned through ILL.)
Who Can Use ILL? ILL services are provided for all current Covenant students, faculty, and staff.
How to Request. Most of Covenant’s databases provide a link to the online ILL request form that will automatically fill in the item details. You can also access the form directly and enter the information manually.
Processing Time and Loan Period. Books requested through ILL may take up to two weeks to arrive, while journal articles may be delivered electronically within a few days. The loan period depends on the lending library’s policies but is typically about one month from the date the item is shipped.
Cost. The Covenant Library strives to fulfill all ILL requests for free. However, in the rare occasion that a lending library charges a fee for a requested item, the Covenant Library will contact you before proceeding. You can then decide whether or not to approve the fee and continue with the request.
Prospector
As of January 2024, borrowing from Prospector has been suspended indefinitely. MOBIUS is working on interoperability between Prospector and the new MOBIUS system.
Prospector is a sister system of MOBIUS comprised of over 200 academic, public, and special libraries in Colorado and Wyoming. MOBIUS-eligible library users can search the Prospector union catalog and request items to be delivered via the interlinked courier system.
Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements
Covenant is a member of two reciprocal borrowing networks: the Atla Reciprocal Borrowing Program and the Association of Christian Librarians (ACL) Reciprocal Borrowing Program. Through these programs, Covenant students are entitled to on-site borrowing privileges at any participating library. Check the maps below to see if there is a participating library near you.
Atla Reciprocal Borrowing Program. Loan policies and ID requirements vary by library, so use the contact information provided to find out more before you visit. The library you visit will likely need to contact the Covenant library in order to verify your enrollment before you can check out books, so anticipate a 24-hour waiting period.
ACL Reciprocal Borrowing Program. Contact the Covenant library to obtain a signed authorization form before you visit a library.