FAQ

Academic Center

Library Map

Contact Us

Quick Facts

Introduction

Resources and Services

Policies

 

Quick Facts:

Our library collection includes over 385,000 volumes including more than  70,000 print books, 311,000 e-books, videos, equipment, and much more.

​Crown InfoSearch is connected to WorldCat—the largest online library catalog  with access to over 405 million books and other resources in nearly 500 languages, representing more than 10,000 libraries in more than 100 countries around the world.

Find what you need through InfoSearch. If our library doesn't have what you need, expand your search in WorldCat to other libraries. Select your resource, and then use Interlibrary loan to generate a borrowing request.
​

More than 90 research databases containing millions of full text articles available to you immediately, and expanded indexed results of other articles available through Interlibrary loan​​
​

​​Films on Demand with over 28,500 full length academic videos
​

​Mango languages--a database with courses for more than 70 languages
​

Camera gear, voice recorders, laptop computers, and Kindles for loan

​Group study rooms and private study cubicles
​

​Wireless access throughout the library

 

Crown College:

Introduction

The purpose of the Watne Memorial Library is to facilitate a biblically based education by providing educational resources and services that support the curriculum. 

You may find Crown College Library different from libraries you’ve visited in the past. Food and drink are allowed. Talking is also allowed, although we ask you to be considerate of those around you who are studying.  We like people to be comfortable, so feel free to take off your shoes and curl up with a book, magazine, or laptop computer on a couch in one of our study rooms!

There is much more to the Watne Memorial Library than meets the eye. Some people used to think of libraries as repositories for books. More and more, libraries are seen as places to access information in any format.  Our library has over 385,000 cataloged volumes (including over 1,700 videos, DVD’s and CD’s) and e-books.
​
If you have questions, suggestions or complaints about the library, please bring them to the director or leave a comment in the suggestion box at the InfoDesk.
​
​

Obtaining Information 
The primary way to obtain information in our library is the library web page. From this website you can access our library online catalog, millions of full-text journal articles, thousands of full-text books, extensive world-wide news sources, and much more. The amount of information available through this site is massive and may be overwhelming; so please don’t hesitate to ask one of the librarians for help. That’s a big part of what we’re here for.

 

Library Resources and Services:

Computers
There are 14 desktop computers available for student use in the library's west wing computer lab. In the North wing, you can plug your own laptop into one of our 10 docking stations to make use of an additional monitor, keyboard and mouse. 9 laptop computers are also available for checkout. All computers are connected to the campus network and the web. Wireless access is available throughout the library. For Crown College policy on internet use, see the Information Technology Department internet policy.
​

 90 Electronic Research Databases 
The library has access to dozens of indexes and full text databases providing literally millions of full-text journal articles.  To find articles, simply use Crown InfoSearch! To only search databases relevant to your topic, try the "Search by Subject" tab.

80,000 full-text magazines and journals 
See the “A-Z List of Crown Journals” link on our library web page for the complete list. ​
​

Over 385,000 volumes 
The library has over 71,000 cataloged volumes of books videos, DVD’s, CD’s, plus over 311,000 e-books.
​

Group Study Rooms
Available for group study, viewing videos or DVD’s.
​

Curriculum Library   
The curriculum library provides materials primarily for the students and faculty of the Teacher Education Department.

​Children’s Collection   
The children's collection provides materials primarily for the students and faculty of the Teacher Education Department. It is also available for homeschooling students and children of the Crown College family.
​

Interlibrary Loan  
For resources not available at Crown College, we can borrow books and articles from other libraries. There is usually no charge for this service but it may take a week to 10 days for delivery, so plan ahead.                                                                                                                               
ACL Reciprocal Borrowing Agreement
Especially helpful for our online students is an agreement within the Association of Christian Librarians. If you live near one of 75+ participating Christian Colleges, you can have borrowing privileges in their library. Crown College students and faculty can download the authorization form here. Once your application is reviewed by a Crown Library staff member, they will sign the form and return it to you. You will then present the signed form to a librarian at the library you want to use. That's all there is to it!

We entered the Atla Reciprocal Borrowing Program in October of 2025 to further extend borrowing privileges for our distance community. This map indicates the location of approximately 140 libraries within the program. If you are a current Crown College faculty, staff or student member living near one of these participating libraries, you can apply for Reciprocal borrowing privileges. You may be required to show proof of your current status with Crown College. The Atla affiliated library will have a list showing Crown College as an active member in the program and may ask you to fill out whatever forms they may require as a library. They may also contact our library to confirm your status as a library patron in good standing. 

​

Mango Languages       
Learn a new language! Over 70 language courses are available to you. Set up an account and learn from your own computer or phone at your own pace.
​

Cameras, projectors, laptops, DVD players, microphones, phone chargers, and more are available for check out! ​
​

Amazon Kindle      
If you can’t find the book you need in our library, we can borrow it from another library, purchase it, or get the Kindle version. Kindle titles can be searched here. If you find something you want, let a librarian know! We can download it to one of our Kindles available for you or lend it to you through the Kindle App.

 

Policies:

Fine Policy
Regular fines are $0.25 per day with a $5 limit per item. This applies to general collection material as well as A/V material, periodicals and Kindles.
High fines are $2 per day with a $20 limit per item. High fines apply to equipment, course reserve and reference material.
Professional equipment fines are $50 a day.
Interlibrary loan fines are $1.00 per day with no limit.

A fine totaling $5 or more places a block on the patron’s account for checkout privileges.
 
If library material is returned damaged or missing items, additional fees may be charged. Those who lose library material are responsible for replacement.
 
The names of graduating students and non-returning students who have outstanding fines or material still on loan are submitted to the registrar’s office. Transcripts, as well as diplomas, are not released until the issue is resolved.

Replacement costs
The charge for lost material is $15.00 for processing (e.g. ordering, receiving, cataloging, barcoding, labeling, covering, etc.) plus a replacement fee of $30 or more depending on the cost of the material. If the material is no longer available, the library director determines the cost to purchase something in the subject area of the material that was lost.  It is important to note that “replacement cost” in this paragraph means what it will cost our library to purchase something in the subject area of the book that was lost.  Replacement cost does not necessarily mean the purchase of a book of equal value.  For example, if someone loses a 40 year old book on theology (a 40 year old book on theology may still be useful), that book may only bring $5 at a used book sale, but it may cost the library $35 to purchase the reprint of that book, or a similar theology book.
​

Intellectual Freedom and Censorship
The educational process demands that students and faculty have access to, and interact with, a wide variety of viewpoints. Intellectual honesty demands that scholars interact directly with primary sources and not just summaries, opinions, or reviews of those sources. This being the case, it is essential that a quality academic library contain information from a wide variety of perspectives including controversial material. Materials included will sometimes represent political, moral and religious views that are in opposition to positions taken by Crown College faculty and administration. Similarly, literary, or artistic expression may contain written or graphic depictions that may be offensive to Crown College faculty, administration, or constituents.
 
This does not mean, however, that all such material is necessarily appropriate to the educational mission of Crown College. Complaints concerning library materials should be submitted to the director, who will review and discuss the objections with the patron and make a final decision.
 
If the director decides to keep the material, and the patron wishes, he or she may appeal the decision with the Vice President of Academic Affairs. Since this library is funded by the institution and not by public funds, the director will abide by the decision of the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the administration. 

Patrons from the Community
Public patrons are welcome to Watne Memorial Library. Since the college is secured, visitors will want to plan their visit not only during library open hours, but also when the college's welcome center is open--The front lobby is open from 7:30 am until 6 pm Monday through Friday. Visitors should let the receptionist know they are on campus to visit the library. Check the library's home page for current library hours.

As a community service, Crown College makes its regular checkout material available free of charge to area residents who have a valid ID. Five books may be checked out at one time.

Since the Watne Memorial Library exists primarily to support the curriculum of Crown College, the library reserves the right to place additional restrictions on the use of our library by the public.
​

Americans with Disabilities Act
It is the policy of this library to assist disabled students to the fullest extent practical. This may include, but is not limited to, getting materials off the shelf, ordering audio books, and considering the purchase of special equipment to make accessing information possible.  

Our Staff:

Kathleen McBride

 Library Operations Manager
M.P.S.​
​Email: [email protected]
Office: 952-446-4240
​

Mary Meehan Obermiller

Director of the Library
​M.L.I.S.
Email: 
​[email protected]
Office: 952-446-4414

Willis
​Barney

Library Assistant
B.S.
Email: 
​[email protected]
Office: 952-446-4242

Please do not hesitate to contact us, we are here to help!

Additional Contact Information:

Phone:
(952) 446-4241
Please record a message and we will get back to you.

Email: 
​[email protected]

Inter Library Loan:
 [email protected] 

IT Help: 
[email protected]
(952) 446-4357
(866) 276-9637 (toll free)

​Address:
​8700 College View Drive
​St. Bonifacius, MN 55375

Academic Center 
(Academic Center page)
​

Disability Services Contact:
Tom McCracken 
[email protected]
(952) 446-4216
​Office: N315