Franciscan International Study Centre

Last updated 20th December 2013 
Name of library Franciscan International Study Centre 
Address Giles Lane, Canterbury CT2 7NA 
Telephone 01227 769349 
Fax 01227 786648 
E-mail library@franciscans.ac.uk 
Website http://www.franciscans.ac.uk 
Alternative names Formerly Franciscan Central Library 
Contact & Job Title Robin Saunders O.F.S.,  Librarian
Purpose & main user community of the library  Library of English Franciscan Provinces: supports academic and formation courses offered by the Study Centre, and provides research facilities into Franciscan subjects
Terms of access Appointment preferred – access is only available when library staff are present. Access to manuscripts, incunabula and other early or fragile materials is limited and application should be made in advance with evidence of need and of previous experience in using these materials. 
Opening hours 10am – 4pm Mon-Fri during term time. for details please check the opening hours web page. 
Disabled access  Library not yet mobility-friendly: narrow aisles, high shelves. Staff are willing and able to give assistance – alert us in advance if possible, please.
Lending to other libraries & visitors  Only staff and students of institutions with which reciprocal agreements are in place may borrow books – mainly this applies to Theology students and staff at the University of Kent at Canterbury, Canterbury Christ Church University and the South East Institute for Theological Education. Books may be supplied to other libraries within the Canterbury Circle of Librarians.
Number of volumes 65,000 
Periodicals – Back Issues 350 
Current Periodicals  140
Other materials Some catechetical videos 
Volumes added per year  300
Coverage Franciscan history, theology, & spirituality; also systematics, pastoral theology, church history, patristics & scripture 
Special Collections Early Franciscan works, including incunabula. Bishop Moorman’s Index of Franciscans in England. 
Manuscripts Several MSS (14th-15th century) plus a necrology of Franciscan friars of the English Province who died during the suppression of the Catholic Church in England. 
Research resource For Franciscan studies 
Catalogue Type Card and Online 
URL of catalogue http://www.franciscans.ac.uk/library/fisc-library-catalogue 
Other facilities  
Full Time Staff  
Part Time Staff  
Voluntary Staff  7 part-time
Changes in next five years affecting the above Development of an electronic catalogue and library system, and a web catalogue, together with a program to digitise selected MSS, incunabula and other items, preparatory to a redevelopment of the library. 
Anything else about the library