Byzantine Catholic Seminary Library
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Policies and Procedures
The Library seeks gifts that support the Seminary’s teaching and research mission as a Catholic institution forming leaders for the Church.
Historically, the acquisition of gifts and donations has served as a valuable part of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary Library’s collection development strategy. We have been blessed by the generosity of priests, families and parishes in enhancing our library holdings.
Currently, the Library accepts gifts of books, journals and non-print materials if they are judged to be a significant contribution to the overall collection. In order to ascertain their significance, donors should first provide a list of titles that they seek to donate. We discourage donors from simply dropping off materials or sending boxes without first contacting the Library.
The library reserves the right to determine the retention, location, cataloging treatment, and other considerations related to the use or disposition of all gifts. The Library staff is not authorized under IRS regulations to appraise gifts or to provide a signature to any document that applies a monetary value to said gifts or donations for income tax purposes. Furthermore, due to limitations on space, time and staffing, the Library cannot assume responsibility for items that require extensive care or restrictive conditions.
Contact the Library at 412-321-8383, ext. 23. Lists of potential donations or further questions can also be emailed to scollins@bcs.edu for consideration.
Historically, the acquisition of gifts and donations has served as a valuable part of the Byzantine Catholic Seminary Library’s collection development strategy. We have been blessed by the generosity of priests, families and parishes in enhancing our library holdings.
Currently, the Library accepts gifts of books, journals and non-print materials if they are judged to be a significant contribution to the overall collection. In order to ascertain their significance, donors should first provide a list of titles that they seek to donate. We discourage donors from simply dropping off materials or sending boxes without first contacting the Library.
The library reserves the right to determine the retention, location, cataloging treatment, and other considerations related to the use or disposition of all gifts. The Library staff is not authorized under IRS regulations to appraise gifts or to provide a signature to any document that applies a monetary value to said gifts or donations for income tax purposes. Furthermore, due to limitations on space, time and staffing, the Library cannot assume responsibility for items that require extensive care or restrictive conditions.
Contact the Library at 412-321-8383, ext. 23. Lists of potential donations or further questions can also be emailed to scollins@bcs.edu for consideration.
With nearly 25,000 cataloged items, 150 periodicals and a growing catalog of electronic resources, the Byzantine Catholic Seminary Library (hereafter Library) finds itself holding a specialized collection of unique items in the field
of Eastern Catholic theology and music as well as Eastern European history.
The library collection holds publications from the 16th to the 21st century. It contains some manuscripts, but most of the collection consists of printed books and increasingly, other non-print media. It is a collection concentrating on the Byzantine Catholic Church and Eastern Catholicism specifically. But it extends its focus as well to the Eastern Orthodox Church, its theology, and history as well as seeking items to add to our extensive collection of musical resources unique to the practice of prostopinije, or Ruthenian liturgical chant. The library also has a general collection of Christian dogma and theology books and the other major religions of the world as well as Eastern and Central European history and languages.
The Library primarily serves the seminary student body, providing intellectual and technological support for course work as well as thesis research. Furthermore, the Library also responds to the research needs of its faculty as they produce scholarship in their chosen fields. While the primary focus of the Library is academic, by virtue of its unique collection of materials on the Byzantine and Orthodox Churches as well as liturgical music, it is also a research and special collections library.
Read our full collection development policy
The library collection holds publications from the 16th to the 21st century. It contains some manuscripts, but most of the collection consists of printed books and increasingly, other non-print media. It is a collection concentrating on the Byzantine Catholic Church and Eastern Catholicism specifically. But it extends its focus as well to the Eastern Orthodox Church, its theology, and history as well as seeking items to add to our extensive collection of musical resources unique to the practice of prostopinije, or Ruthenian liturgical chant. The library also has a general collection of Christian dogma and theology books and the other major religions of the world as well as Eastern and Central European history and languages.
The Library primarily serves the seminary student body, providing intellectual and technological support for course work as well as thesis research. Furthermore, the Library also responds to the research needs of its faculty as they produce scholarship in their chosen fields. While the primary focus of the Library is academic, by virtue of its unique collection of materials on the Byzantine and Orthodox Churches as well as liturgical music, it is also a research and special collections library.
Read our full collection development policy
If you have a suggestion for a book, periodical or other resource for the library to consider acquiring, please complete the form below. Your name and email are optional, however they are helpful if we need to contact you for additional details.
The Internet has become nearly indispensable for information, for research and communication. Used in moderation, it can also provide a variety of recreational opportunities. Such digital media, however, demand maturity from those who use them. Recreational use of computers can easily become addictive and internet users must exercise prudence and honest self control, so as to avoid being tempted by websites featuring vulgarity, violence and pornography, which are so numerous and so
aggressive.
Possession of and viewing digital pornography is absolutely incompatible with priestly life. The experience of the larger Church has found that programs like the Friends of Saint Joseph have proven very successful in bringing healing to those struggling with this compulsion.
To protect the integrity of its computer system against unauthorized or improper use, and to protect authorized users from the effects of unauthorized or improper usage of the system, The Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius (BCS) reserves the right to limit or restrict any account holder or user’s right to use, inspect, copy, remove or otherwise alter any computer data, file or system resources, with or without notice to the account holder or user.
Computing Ethics
As a member of the BCS community (whether student, faculty or staff), users should recognize that each of us represents the Seminary in some way. We must all therefore be mindful of our physical as well as virtual presence. All users of the BCS computing system therefore are expected to exercise responsible, ethical behavior when using this system, including the exercise of the following:
Any questions about this policy or of the applicability of this policy to a specific situation should be referred to the Director of Media and Outreach.
These rules and guidelines are not meant to be complete, but merely indicative of the standard of conduct that should be maintained by all users of the seminary systems and networks — regardless of whether the user is a student, a member of the staff, a faculty member, or a guest.
Your acceptance of these rules and guidelines is a condition for use of the seminary systems and networks. If you do not wish to observe these rules and guidelines, you should make this known and your login will be deactivated. Violation of the rules and guidelines may subject you to disciplinary action as outlined in the Honor Code– and/or civil and criminal penalties when appropriate.
These policies will be presented each fall at Orientation. A signed copy of the student’s agreement to these policies will be kept on file each academic year.
Possession of and viewing digital pornography is absolutely incompatible with priestly life. The experience of the larger Church has found that programs like the Friends of Saint Joseph have proven very successful in bringing healing to those struggling with this compulsion.
To protect the integrity of its computer system against unauthorized or improper use, and to protect authorized users from the effects of unauthorized or improper usage of the system, The Byzantine Catholic Seminary of Ss. Cyril and Methodius (BCS) reserves the right to limit or restrict any account holder or user’s right to use, inspect, copy, remove or otherwise alter any computer data, file or system resources, with or without notice to the account holder or user.
- The BCS computer system, BCS e-mail account, equipment and any proprietary information found therein are owned by BCS and all users can have no expectation of privacy.
- BCS reserves the right either periodically, or in the event it appears necessary to do so, to monitor and inspect all aspects of the system, including log-on sessions, and reserves its rights, as necessary, to protect the BCS computer system, equipment, proprietary information and facilities in any manner it deems appropriate.
- BCS provides computer equipment and its communications systems for the business, educational and scholarly activities of BCS; use is to be limited to those purposes.
- BCS disclaims responsibility for loss of data or interference with the files resulting from its efforts to maintain the integrity, privacy and security of the BCS computer system.
- Users of the BCS system are required to comply with the BCS Policy on Computing Ethics, and by using the system, the user agrees to comply with, and be subject to, the BCS Honor Code and these Conditions of Use.
- BCS reserves the right to amend this statement at any time with or without notice.
Computing Ethics
As a member of the BCS community (whether student, faculty or staff), users should recognize that each of us represents the Seminary in some way. We must all therefore be mindful of our physical as well as virtual presence. All users of the BCS computing system therefore are expected to exercise responsible, ethical behavior when using this system, including the exercise of the following:
- You may use only those computer accounts that have been authorized for your use by BCS. The unauthorized use of another’s account, as well as the providing of false or misleading information for the purpose of obtaining access to computing facilities or the system is prohibited. Such uses may be regarded as criminal acts and will be treated accordingly by BCS.
- You may not authorize anyone to use your account(s) for any reason. You are responsible for all usage on your accounts. You must take all reasonable precautions, including password maintenance and file protection measures, to prevent use of your accounts by unauthorized persons.
- You are allowed to use the computer facilities or the system for related and reasonable purposes unless specifically excluded by this agreement or its amendments, or otherwise prohibited by law or BCS policies. For example, you may use the BCS computer system for incidental personal communications and collecting information. However, if your activities cause a burden on the BCS computer system, disrupt or inhibit the normal functioning of BCS or its system, abuse the system in some manner, or otherwise violate this policy, BCS reserves the right to restrict or cancel such activities. Staff may not use the BCS computer system for personal entertainment, such as the downloading of videos or music, or the playing of games, or to download any proprietary information from the system for any purpose not related to his or her BCS employment. Any staff violating any part of this paragraph may lose their computer privileges and/or be subject to other disciplinary or legal action.
- You may not use the BCS computer facilities, the system or any proprietary information contained therein for solicitation for any other entity or organization, or for any non-BCS business or commercial purposes, whether or not such activity involves remuneration, or for political activity; scholarly activities, including the publication by faculty, shall not be deemed commercial purposes.
- You may not use your accounts for unlawful purposes, including the installation of fraudulently or illegally obtained software or the transmission of pornographic or illegal material. This includes peer-to-peer file sharing of copyrighted materials. YOU MAY NOT INSTALL ANY SOFTWARE WITHOUT THE EXPRESS PERMISSION OF THE DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY. This includes, but is not limited to, software available over the Internet, by desk or CD, and software that is owned by you personally or by others. You may not use the system in a manner that obscures or blocks your identity.
- You may not access or copy files (including e-mail or documents) that belong to another user without prior authorization from the account holder. Files may not be divulged or sent to other individuals without permission from the individual in whose account or computer the files reside.
- You may not use the system irresponsibly, or engage in activity that is morally objectionable, illegal, harassing or defamatory, or needlessly affects the work of others. This includes (a) transmitting or making accessible pornographic, offensive or harassing material, (b) intentionally damaging the system, (c) intentionally damaging information not belonging to you, or (d) intentionally misusing system resources or allowing misuse of system resources by others.
- You are responsible for reporting to the Director of Technology any violation of these guidelines by another individual, and for preventing and reporting viruses that affect the BCS computer system. You are also encouraged to report any information relating to a flaw in, or bypass of, computer facilities security.
- Your account was assigned to you solely because of your affiliation with BCS. In the event that affiliation ends, your account will be terminated and any information or data contained in those files will become open to inspection and deletion.
Any questions about this policy or of the applicability of this policy to a specific situation should be referred to the Director of Media and Outreach.
These rules and guidelines are not meant to be complete, but merely indicative of the standard of conduct that should be maintained by all users of the seminary systems and networks — regardless of whether the user is a student, a member of the staff, a faculty member, or a guest.
Your acceptance of these rules and guidelines is a condition for use of the seminary systems and networks. If you do not wish to observe these rules and guidelines, you should make this known and your login will be deactivated. Violation of the rules and guidelines may subject you to disciplinary action as outlined in the Honor Code– and/or civil and criminal penalties when appropriate.
These policies will be presented each fall at Orientation. A signed copy of the student’s agreement to these policies will be kept on file each academic year.