Today, the collection is housed in the Robert Pace and Ada Mary Doherty Library on the University academic mall, symbolizing the Library’s continuing centrality to the intellectual life of the University. With more than 250,000 books, access to approximately 50,000 periodical titles, and access to a variety of electronic databases, Doherty Library is a major learning resource for students, faculty and the Houston community.

As the University of St. Thomas continues to meet the challenges of the 21st century, the Library must expand to serve the needs of an increasingly complex society.

By becoming a member of The Friends of Doherty Library, you can play a key role in the Library's growth and development. The Friends of Doherty Library make a commitment to strengthen the Library through the giving of time, financial and in-kind support, and the maintenance of the Library as a forum for a shared interest in the world of letters.

The Cardinal Beran Library, according to unofficial history, began in the 1950's as the collections of priests and bishops maintained by seminarians.  These early donations of erudite and renaissance men established a collection well-rounded in the classics as well as theological materials.  Today the emphasis of the collection is on supporting the curricula of the University of St. Thomas Graduate School of Theology, the Center for Faith and Culture, the Center for Pastoral Studies, the Permanent Diaconate program, the Ordinariate for Anglicans entering the Catholic communion, and the formation program of St. Mary's Seminary.  The Beran Library is the primary graduate Catholic theological library in this region.  As such, it has a responsibility to acquire and maintain materials that might be of historical value to the researcher.  The library also collects all published materials of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as well as numerous local and national magazines and newspapers.

As a member of the Doherty Friends, you will receive:

• The satisfaction of supporting Doherty Library and the educational mission of the University of St. Thomas.
• Your personal Doherty Library card, which provides free borrowing privileges for up to 4 books at a time from the main circulating collection. (Interlibrary loan and special collections are not included.)
• Invitations to cultural and social events sponsored by the Friends of Doherty Library.
• Notification of Doherty Library's annual book sale.

The Friends of Doherty Library also sponsors a program which encourages gifts in honor of special individuals and occasions and in memory of the deceased. Such gifts are lasting tributes and memorials. Special bookplates imprinted with the name of the individual being honored or remembered and of the donor are placed in the chosen books. A copy of the bookplate will be sent to the honoree or to the bereaved family.

As a member of the Beran Friends, you will receive:

• The satisfaction of supporting Beran Library and the educational and Church mission of St. Mary Seminary.
• Your personal library card, which will provide free borrowing privileges from the Beran collection. (Limit of two books at Beran).
• Invitations to cultural and social events sponsored by The Friends of Beran Library.

Levels of Membership for one or both libraries:
Benefactor $250
Patron $125
Sponsor of both libraries $100
Sponsor of Doherty Library $60
Sponsor of Beran Library $40

 Membership Form. Memberships are valid for one year from the date issued.

Beran Library at St. Mary's Seminary
Mary Kelleher, Chair, Beran Library
kellehm@stthom.edu - (713) 686-4345, ext. 255
9845 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77024-3498