The Reverend Reverdy C. Ransom Memorial Library

          The Reverend Reverdy C. Ransom Memorial Library will be completed in the Spring of 2009. The current library is a vital component in the education and research program of Payne Theological Seminary. It provides bibliographic and physical access to recorded knowledge and information in support of learning, teaching and research needs of seminary students, staff, faculty and administrators. The library houses over 35,000 circulating volumes, audio and video tapes; and subscribes to several current periodicals and newspapers. It comprises a unique collection emphasizing African American theological, historical, cultural, and biblical studies.

The library’s open stack holdings are housed in a main Reading Room and two book stack areas. Reference materials and other non-circulating items including periodicals and a collection of African American source materials can be found in the main Reading Room.

One full-time professional librarian and a dedicated support staff provide a wide range of services and guidance for maximum use of the library's resources.

The library participates in a variety of cooperative agreements with surrounding libraries. Reciprocal direct-borrowing privileges network Payne Seminary locally with nearby Wilberforce University and United Theological Seminary in Dayton, with Methodist Theological School of Ohio and Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, and with Cincinnati Bible Seminary. An additional six colleges and universities are located within an hour drive. Their collections provide substantial additional resources for both faculty and students. Other information can be obtained through the library's interlibrary loan program.

The library’s electronic reference services include "Religion Indexes" on CD-ROM and network access to on-line reference search services. On-line search services and networks include the Internet, OHIONET, OPAL (Ohio Private Academic Libraries), OCLC and the state-wide OPLIN (Ohio Public Libraries Information Network).

The rare book collection consists of theological, ecclesiastical, historical, and biblical material primarily pre-dating 1900; some date as early as the 16th century. The library participates in the American Theological Library Association and the Ohio Theological Library Association.

The Archives of Payne Seminary contain significant materials from the African Methodist Episcopal Church and African American history. Books, manuscripts, pamphlets, tracts, sermons, microfilm, periodicals, photos, and memorabilia are preserved in the archives. Two special collections housed in the archives are the Bishop Reverdy C. Ransom collection and the George A. Singleton collection. Additional African American collections are housed locally at Central State University, the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, and Wilberforce University. This cluster provides a rich resource for African American research.