Seton Hall Libraries: Your Partner in Research and Innovation

Seton Hall University Libraries are a vital resource for students and faculty alike, fostering academic excellence and personal growth within the University’s Catholic intellectual tradition. As the intellectual, ethical, cultural, and historical heart of the University, the Libraries prioritize user-friendly services, robust collections, and innovative programs to advance teaching, learning and research throughout the Seton Hall community.  

“We look forward to welcoming returning students and seeing them utilize our many study spaces, InterLibrary Loan and our Data Services department,” said John Buschman, Associate Provost for Research and Innovation and Dean of University Libraries. “We also encourage students to create and publish e-journals in our Institutional Repository, which has almost 8 million downloads.”

In addition to a plethora of accessible resources, the Libraries champion values such as diversity, equity, inclusion, intellectual freedom and openness, ensuring a supportive and comprehensive academic environment.  Through their dedication to student and faculty needs, the Libraries are central to the University's intellectual life, aiming to be an essential asset and resource to support scholarly endeavors and lifelong learning.

Seton Hall Library

The domed Rotunda of Seton Hall University's Walsh Library is an iconic landmark on campus and boasts 332,000 visitors to the building annually. The Walsh Library offers an extensive array of resources and services to support Seton Hall students and faculty in their academic endeavors and beyond, including plenty of primary and secondary sources alongside archival records and even modern literature. Through the University Libraries, students have access to a vast collection of materials including articles, books, databases, specialized eBooks, films, news, and archival records.

The library also has several course-required textbooks in the Course Reserves, which means students can save money on books without leaving campus. Check with your instructors to see if they have placed material on reserve in Canvas or ask a librarian at the Walsh Circulation Desk. If a resource isn’t available, Seton Hall also offers InterLibrary Loan (ILL), and the robust network delivers electronically requested articles or book chapters, often within 24 hours.

Archives & Special Collections and Walsh Gallery 

The Archives & Special Collections are the home of Seton Hall's rare book and manuscript collections, which highlight Catholic and immigrant history. “The Walsh Gallery hosts exhibits and cares for the university's art and artifacts, including notable collections of Asian art and historic prints,” according to Sarah Ponichtera, Assistant Dean for Special Collections and the Gallery. “Classes often visit this part of the library for special sessions, using historical objects in research in disciplines across the curriculum.” Students can make an appointment to see materials in person anytime.

Interprofessional Health Services Library

In addition to the Walsh Library on the South Orange campus, Seton Hall also has a library on the Interprofessional Health Services campus in Nutley. The IHS Campus Library is open to students, faculty, and staff 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The library includes a small print reference collection, tables and study carrels, a quiet study room, twenty individual and group study rooms, a conference room for library instruction, and desktop computers for database searches. The Library is located on the ground floor of the IHS campus.

Additionally, a health sciences librarian team is available to assist students with research and assignments, including systemic reviews. Plus, students can access databases, journals, electronic books and InterLibrary Loan 24 hours a day, seven days a 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 here.

Researching at Seton Hall Libraries

One of the University Library’s largest assets is SHU Search, which students can utilize for broad inquiries in multidisciplinary databases such as Academic Search Premier, ProQuest Databases, and LexisNexis Uni. Research guides created by specialist librarians are also available to help students navigate the thousands of library resources and improve research skills.

Last year, Seton Hall librarians taught a total of 296 classes across disciplines to reach a total of 5920 students. Research Data Services at Seton Hall include workshops, book consultations, supported software and data management plan support. Or, for more specialized guidance, librarians offer private consultations for general research and data related services.

Beyond research materials and guidance, Seton Hall Libraries offer plenty of resources to assist in crafting academic papers and personal research. For example, students can get citation help and access tools like Zotero; learn how to responsibly incorporate Artificial Intelligence into research, and review Copyright and Fair Use rules for utilizing datasets, images and videos in academic work.

Publishing Research

In addition to academic research, students can also publish their own work through University Libraries. Seton Hall’s Institutional Repository is an incredible resource for students to self-publish a journal for their student organizations, and the database has 7.5 million downloads to date. 

Study Spaces

Seton Hall Libraries have 28 student rooms available to borrow for study groups and collaborative learning, ensuring a supportive environment for all students. Students can book a study room on both the South Orange and Nutley campuses.

In addition to group study rooms, the library also has personal rooms available for check-out. These are excellent spaces on-campus for virtual interviews, testing or private study time.

Wellness Room

Seton Hall understands that studying and research can be exhausting, especially as a college student with extracurricular activities. At Walsh Library, students can decompress and unplug in the Wellness Room to promote mental and physical health during rigorous academic sessions.

Categories: Education