Local seminary donates books to library

Moody Library obtained 102 theology books worth approximately $3,000-$5,000 from the Lanier Theological Library in Houston on March 20. These books provide further material for graduate students to use in the Masters of Theology program.

The collection includes reputable publishers such as E.J. Brill and the Society of Biblical Literature. The books are used in theology classes to assist graduate students’ focus on the curriculum in their research.

Dr. David Capes, the Thomas Nelson research professor, facilitated the idea of obtaining the books during the time he helped Meryl Segal donate approximately 10,000 volumes to the Lanier Theological Library from the collection of her late husband, Alan Segal, a Professor Emeritus of Religion at Bernard College and a close colleague of Capes.

After the contribution, Capes said the Lanier Theological Library obtained a number of duplicate books that the library already had, and decided to send them to libraries in Africa and other places with a limited supply of theology books.

Capes, who already had a good relationship with both owners of the Lanier Library, Charles Mickey and Mark Lanier, suggested that the owners place some of the copies in the University library.

“When I heard Lanier Theological Library had some duplicates and were donating them, I approached Charles Mickey, the library director, and asked if there was any way HBU could benefit from their generosity,” Capes said. “He responded that it might be possible and that he would talk to Mark Lanier; they both agreed to do so.”

Capes then discussed the donation with Ann Noble, the director of Moody Library, and asked her to select the books she would like to have from the collection. Noble then asked Dean Riley, professor in library science, to help her choose some of the books.

Noble and Riley traveled to the Lanier Theological Library on Feb. 23 to hand pick books to be placed in the library, and the decision on the books that were selected was finalized Feb. 28. Noble said she believed that the donation will be a chance to improve the library.

“We have an excellent collection of theology books, but we are always looking to improve the library,” she said, adding that students would be able to check out the books from the donations for any research material that they need.

Riley said the connection with Lanier benefits the University in many ways.

“The Lanier Library is a magnificent asset to the city as well as to our students,” Riley said. “I hope that one day the Moody Library can work into a fraternal relationship with them for the benefit of our students.”

Capes told Lanier and Mickey that by adding library resources to the library they are helping build towards the eventual establishment of a doctoral program in theology.

“We ultimately want to start a Ph.D. program on Biblical Theology, and we’ve been taking the necessary steps to make that happen,” Capes said. “Having the resources of faculty and library materials are two important pieces toward reaching that goal.”

Capes added that improving the library is one of the necessary steps to further the connection with the Lanier Theological Library and help expand the University’s network.