Löhe Memorial Library - About

Mission statement

The mission of Löhe Memorial Library is to serve God by supporting the faculty and students of Australian Lutheran College, the pastors, teachers, and lay people of the Lutheran Church of Australia, and others associated with related institutions. This we do by developing excellent theological and educational collections and providing global access to information for teaching, learning, research and ministry. In carrying out this mission, our well-trained staff are committed to quality service within a warm, Christian environment.

Objectives

The following are the objectives of the Library:

• To support the vocational programs and academic courses of Australian Lutheran College, by providing the resources and services for the training of pastors, teachers and diaconal workers for service in the Lutheran Church of Australia.
  
• To collect, preserve, and provide resources for theological research that cover and extend beyond the specific academic courses of Australian Lutheran College including a representative collection of the best of the literature of Christianity and related subjects through the centuries.
  
• To collect and preserve the literature and documentation of the history and theology of the Lutheran Church, and especially (in cooperation with the LCA Archives) of the Lutheran Church of Australia and its predecessor bodies.
  
• To support students in their learning and to equip them with the library and information skills required for a lifetime of intellectual and professional development.
  
• To provide extension services to the pastors, teachers, and diaconal workers of the Lutheran Church of Australia.
  
• To cooperate with related libraries in collection development and resource sharing, and to make resources and services available to the general public as personnel and finance permit.
  

Location

Parking

A permit is required in order to park vehicles within the grounds.
Please contact the library staff in order to arrange for a permit, prior to your visit to the library.

Temporary permits can be requested from the library staff upon arrival.

Vehicles without a temporary permit may receive a fine.

History

The building in which the library is located was erected in 1882 as the lecture hall and auditorium of Whinham College. It also served as a gymnasium before being converted to use as a library. It was dedicated as the Löhe Memorial Library on 2 October 1960 and named in memory of Director Johannes Paul Löhe, who was principal of Immanuel Theological Seminary from 1923 to 1944. When Immanuel Theological Seminary was amalgamated with Concordia Seminary to form Luther Seminary in 1967, the Löhe Memorial Library became the library of the new institution, being augmented with most of the collection of the former Concordia Seminary Library.

When Lutheran Teachers College moved onto Luther Campus at the beginning of 1990, its collection was also moved into the Löhe Memorial Library. At the beginning of 1998 Luther Campus reverted to being called Luther Seminary. The Seminary was renamed Australian Lutheran College at the beginning of 2004.

The establishment of the library was chiefly the work of Dr S P Hebart and his wife, Mrs Anny Hebart, who served as cataloguer for 16 years (1965-1981). Dr Helga Zinnbauer assisted her in the latter years, from 1974 till her death in 1980. Mr A Lopez has served as bookbinder from Mrs Hebart's time until his retirement in 2002. The first full-time Librarian, Rev Trevor Zweck, was installed into office in February 1980 and took up his duties at the beginning of 1981. This period of service ended with his death on 13 September 1996.

Dr Vic Pfitzner was appointed associate librarian in 1980 and served in this capacity until 1985. Mr Mark Sutherland was appointed Seminary Librarian in January 1998 and served until July 1999. Ms Jocelyn Morris commenced duties as Library Manager in July 1999 and served until April 2003 with Ms Blan MacDonagh being appointed to this role in March 2004.

Updated: 15/8/2006 [1.00]