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Coming from Lawrence or Topeka, Kansas, or Kansas City North
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Take 1-70 EAST to the Noland Road exit; turn NORTH on Noland (left); take Noland to
Walnut (3 miles); turn West on Walnut (Left); Walnut to River (6 1/2 blocks)
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Coming from St. Louis, Oak Grove, Grain Valley, Blue Springs, Lee's Summit, Missouri
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Take I-70 WEST to the Noland Road exit; turn NORTH on Noland (right); take Noland to
Walnut (3 miles); turn West on Walnut (Left); Walnut to River (6 1/2 blocks)
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Coming from Metcalf, Overland Park, Bonner Springs, Topeka, Lawrence, Kansas
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Take I-435-NORTH to Truman Road exit; turn EAST on Truman (right); take Truman Road to
River (4 1/2 miles); stop light at Truman and River (convenience store on right); turn
SOUTH on River (right) and go 3 blocks; corner of River and Walnut.
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From Gladstone, Antioch, St. Joseph, or KCI Airport, Missouri
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Take I-435-SOUTH to Truman Road exit; turn EAST on Truman (left); take Truman Road to
River (4 1/2 miles); stop light at Truman and River (convenience store on right); turn
SOUTH on River (right) and go 3 blocks; corner of River and Walnut.
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In April 1865, Isaac Sheen, editor of the "True Latter Day Saints Herald," was appointed
as the first church librarian. Frederick M. Smith was appointed librarian in 1896. In
1907 a library commission was appointed to administer the library and select a librarian.
In 1918, President Frederick M. Smith recommended that the General Church Library become
part of Graceland College.
It is believed that only the rare books and historical materials were kept by the
historian and moved with that office to Independence in 1920.
By 1922, four library or book collections were consolidated into one building, the
Institute of Arts and Sciences building: historian's collection, the remaining part of the
General Church Library transferred from Lamoni, the Independence Stake library, and the
Institute of Arts and Sciences library.
In 1925, President Frederick M. Smith called for the coordination of all book purchasing
to avoid unnecessary duplication and expense. The library began functioning as a public
and research library. By 1928 the library had a full-time librarian. In 1929 it was
dedicated "The Emma Hale Memorial Library." The depression of the 1930s greatly curtailed
the functioning of the library.
In 1952 the bulk of the library was moved to the fifth floor of the Auditorium where it
was a private, closed-stack research library. In 1976 the library became open to the
public and circulated books.
In October 1979, the library became part of Temple School (the educational arm of
the church). In 1992 the library moved to the Temple. An Online Catalog began in 1994 as part
of the Kansas City Library Consortium. Combined holdings in the Kansas City Library
Consortium are over 3.4 million items.
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The library collection includes approximately 20,000 books, 150 periodicals, 400 videos,
2,000 audiocassettes, a pamphlet collection, a departmental collection, a quarterly
collection, a foreign language collection of scriptures, an unpublished collection, a
vault collection, and a Herald House preservation collection.
The main emphasis is religion as it relates to the Community of Christ mission with an added focus
on the history of Christianity, theology, social science, and peace studies.
The archival collection is housed within the library with over 1,000 linear feet of the
church's institutional material. There are letters, diaries, pictures, and journals
available for research and study.
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The library has resources cataloged with the Library of Congress.
The Community of Christ Library is a member of the Kansas City Library Consortium, which offers an automated shared
database of holdings with the Kansas City Missouri Public Library and 29 other libraries
in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Holdings are available through the online catalog.
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The library provides Internet connection and use of Microsoft Word. There are other
databases available for use of patrons. The ATLA Religion Database includes over 600,000
bibliographic citations of articles in journals, essays in books, book reviews, and
theses. The ProQuest Database contains articles from1,800 periodicals, 1,000 business
periodicals, and 27 national newspapers. OCLC Firstsearch Database connects to a wide
range of subjects in 17 databases. Patrons have access to the library's interlibrary loan
services.
All library users must have a barcoded library card in order to borrow books and reserve
materials. Library materials circulate up to three weeks and may be renewed. All items
must be checked out at the Circulation Desk. Borrowers are responsible for any library
materials checked out in their name. Fines for all regular circulation items are 10¢
per day per item after the due date.
Journals and reference books do not circulate and must be used only in the library.
Library users may request items from the online catalog to be delivered to the
library within 2-7 days. In addition, students, staff, and faculty may obtain a
semester-use UMKC Courtesy Card for circulation privileges at several area colleges and
seminaries.
All materials checked out from other libraries are subject to circulation periods,
restrictions, and fines according to the policies of the lending library.
The main library phone number at the circulation desk is (816) 833-1000, extension 2400.
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