About the Library

The Library at Wesley Theological Seminary strives to be your partner in theological education and research. The Library provides print, audiovisual, and electronic resources to meet the teaching and learning needs of those within and affiliated with the Wesley community. In addition, the recently renovated first floor Learning Commons provides a comfortable and welcoming venue for both individual and group study. We believe that the Library is not simply a storehouse of information, but a place to enter into dialogue with the vast treasury of the Christian theological tradition.

With over 175,000 print and non-print items, the library collection reflects the intellectual breadth of religious thought and practice. On average, 275-300 volumes are added to the collection each month. In addition, the Library holds subscriptions to over 400 journals. Although the Library has materials on various subjects, the focus of the collection centers on religious and theological studies. Furthermore, while the Library's resources are decidedly ecumenical in scope, its particular strength is Methodist studies. 

The Library is recognized for the excellence of its collections and for its response to the information needs of students, faculty, clergy, and other researchers. Library staff are committed to providing user-oriented services and cultivating a dynamic resource collection in support of the Seminary’s teaching and service mission.

Through Wesley's membership in the Washington Theological Consortium, the Library joins with other libraries in the Consortium (1.5 million volumes) to provide reciprocal borrowing privileges and services for all students and faculty. Likewise, due to the relationship between American University and WTS, students, faculty and staff have borrowing privileges with the American University library.