Library
The Wallace Library, named for Mr. and Mrs. Robert Wallace, was the original Gaston Avenue Baptist Church building. Built in 1904, and renovated in the late 1980s, this stately, three-story edifice houses the College's collection of books and learning resources. The library encompasses approximately 100,000 volumes, including a section of rare books, and some 500 different periodicals. The library is the primary landmark of the College's campus. Library facilities are intended primarily for student and faculty use, although they are also available to the public on a limited basis.
The College contracted with Endeavor Information Systems, Inc. (DesPlaines, IL) for the installation of "Voyager," its state-of-the-art integrated online bibliographic control system. Voyager is designed specifically for handling academic and research library needs (such as book acquisitions, online catalog, circulation, and serial, control functions) and operates from a Windows NT server platform. Students and faculty have access to our public catalog either locally (in-house), or long-distance via Internet.
The library consists of several book collections, current and bound periodicals, audio and video materials, microforms, bibliographical aids, and other learning resources. The present facility provides abundant study space and room for additional library growth.
In addition, Criswell College is a member of TexShare, a statewide consortium of academic and public libraries administered by the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. The program is designed to facilitate resource sharing among member libraries. The TexShare card program is designed to allow registered users of participating institutions to borrow materials directly from the libraries of other participating institutions; and the TExpress courier service provides five day-a-week pickup and delivery service to participating libraries, with deliveries around the state in two days. This latter service provides faster, more cost effective delivery of interlibrary loan materials within the state.