Doherty Library

The Doherty Family and the Doherty Library Grand Opening in 1972

Construction on Doherty Library began on December 1, 1970, completed on July 31,  1972.  On November 14, 1972, UST president Father Patrick O. Braden dedicated the library in honor of Robert Peace and Ada Mary Doherty for their support of church, community, and education. Robert Doherty Jr., son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Doherty, for whom the library is named after, was presented a key to the library during the dedication ceremony.  The Doherty Library is centrally located on the academic mall, designed by Phillip Johnson.  The Mall features the University Chapel facing the Doherty Library, an architectural representation of the harmony between Faith and Reason.

Whether you are a student or faculty member here at the University of St. Thomas, or a visitor to the campus, you are welcome to explore the varied strengths of our library collections.

For visitors, see our library entrance policy.  With over 270,000 books and access to 75,000 periodical titles, and subscriptions to over 200 databases, the Doherty Library is a major learning resource for students, faculty and the Houston community.

We hope that you find the Doherty Library more than adequate in fulfilling your research and academic needs.

https://libguides.stthom.edu/archive

Peggy Shiffick Endowed Environmental Studies Collection

In 1996, the Peggy Shiffick Endowed Environmental Studies Collection in the Doherty Library was established to create a collection of material to support the Environmental Studies Program at the University of St. Thomas. Books purchased by this endowment are identified by a bookplate placed on the inside cover of the volumes acquired for the collection. For more information about this collection, visit:  

• http://campusguides.stthom.edu/shiffick

Sally S. Slick and William T. Slick, Jr. Endowed Collection in Business Ethics

In 1996, the Sally S. Slick and William T. Slick, Jr. Endowed Collection in Business Ethics was established to create a collection of material in the Doherty Library to support the Center for Business Ethics and the Cullen Trust Endowed Chair in Business Ethics at the University of St. Thomas. Books purchased by this endowment are identified by a bookplate placed on the inside cover of the volumes acquired for the collection. The material is shelved throughout the Doherty Library collection.

• View a listing for the Sally S. Slick and William T. Slick, Jr. collection 

L. Tuffly Ellis Collection Endowed Fund

In 1997, the L. Tuffly Ellis Collection Endowed Fund was established to support the “Ellis Collection of Texas, the South and the Southwest” in the Doherty Library at the University of St. Thomas. This collection contains more than 1,500 titles and is housed in the basement level of the Doherty Library.

• View a listing for the L. Tuffly Ellis collection 

Greenwood Endowment for Children’s Literature

Established in the 1970’s, the Greenwood Endowment supports the acquisition of material in children’s literature and other materials in the general areas of education and human development related to the curricula offered by the School of Education. The Greenwood Children’s Literature Collection is located in the children’s literature section of the main collection of the Doherty Library. Other material that is not children’s literature is shelved throughout the library collection.

• View a listing for the Greenwood Endowment for Children’s Literature collection 

If you would like to make a gift to the Doherty Library, please contact the Director of the Library:

Jim Piccininni
jpicci@stthom.edu
713-525-2192

UST students, staff, faculty, alumni and ELS students must have either current UST ID or current ELS ID to be allowed access to the Doherty Library.  

Visitors who are residents of Texas without a university or college ID are required to have 2 forms of ID; a current TexShare or Friends of Doherty Library card and one of the following:

• A government issued photo ID (State ID, Passport, or military ID)
• Current teacher ID

Visitors from other universities or colleges are required to have two forms of ID; their current University or College ID and one of the following:

• A government issued photo ID (State ID, Passport, or military ID)
• Current TexShare card
• Current Friends of the Doherty Library card
• Current teacher ID
• Current work ID (example: Oil Company ID such as Shell, Exxon, etc... or medical center ID)

Non-Texas residents without a current university or college ID are required to purchase a Friends of the Library Card (see tab on this page for more details).

All ID's must meet the following criteria:

1. Current – this means they must have dates on them to prove that they are not expired
2. Valid – only the kinds of ID’s listed above are considered valid forms of ID for entry to the library
3. Photo – they must have a photo of the person presenting the ID.

Guest scholars (visiting professors, etc.) and school groups are welcome and should see the Dean of libraries, or librarian for more information.

Guest scholars will need a letter from a UST faculty member/administrator or their home institution that asks us to grant access to a guest.  The letter needs to state what the specific research will be and how long the guest needs to use the library.  An e-mail is sufficient, but a letter is preferred.

Family members related to UST students can be admitted to the Doherty Library whenever they are accompanied by the UST student, faculty or staff member.  Family members not accompanied by the related UST student will be required to present two of the criteria listed above.

Membership

The University of St. Thomas is proud to invite you to join The Friends of Doherty Library. Your membership is good for one year from the date your Friends card is issued.

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.

Levels of Membership:

Benefactor $250 for 12 months
Patron $125 for 12 months
Sponsor of Doherty Library $60 for 12 months from date issued /$30 for 6 months from date issued
 

• Friends of the Doherty Library Membership Form
• Pay Registration Fee Online

Contact:

Doherty Library at the University of St. Thomas
James Piccininni, Dean of Libraries
jpicci@stthom.edu - (713) 525-2180
3800 Montrose Blvd., Houston, TX 77006

Doherty Library

In 1954, students at the University of St. Thomas demonstrated their support for the University library by forming a human chain to move the collection from its first home in the Link-Lee Mansion to Murphy Hall.

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.

View Collections

If you would like to make a gift to the Doherty Library, please contact the Dean of Libraries:

Jim Piccininni
jpicci@stthom.edu
713-525-2192

Library Map - Fall 2022

Summer Hours (May 22 - August 7, 2023)

Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Changes to Regular Hours:

Monday, May 29: CLOSED. Memorial Day Holiday

Monday, June 19: CLOSED. Juneteenth Holiday

Monday, July 3: CLOSED. Independence Day (Observed)

Tuesday, July 4: CLOSED. Independence Day

 Doherty Library – General Use Policy

Resources at the Doherty Library are primarily intended for scholarly use.

Creating a disturbance of any kind, (including, but not limited to, loud noise, loud talking, harassment or abusive behavior toward other patrons or library staff, vandalism, carrying a weapon, smoking, inappropriate behavior, viewing pornography or sexually explicit material, inadequate personal hygiene, soliciting, unauthorized petitions or surveys, unauthorized entry to private or closed areas, unauthorized recordings, etc.) are not allowed and will result, at minimum, in your removal from the library.

For serious or repeated violation of the general use policy, you will be banned from future use of the library.

 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

 The Doherty Library will follow ADA requirements for automatic door entrances, aisle width, suitably wide doors, restroom requirements, door handles and other ADA requirements as needed in an academic library.  Specialized software and workstations will be installed at the library for the visually impaired and other ADA-related conditions as required by law.

Computer Use Policy

The library computers are primarily intended for scholarly use only. 

Viewing pornography and sexually explicit materials is prohibited for all users.  Failure to abide by this policy will result in your removal from the library and may result in being banned from the library.

The library computers are not intended for non-scholarly uses such as computer games, music videos, and excessive e-mail and chat and you may be asked to cease these activities.  Refusal to abide by this policy may result in your removal from the library, and will result in the intervention of UST Police as appropriate.

The computers in the library basement computer lab are restricted to University of St. Thomas students, faculty and staff use only.

Children in the Library

Anyone under the age of 14 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at all times while using the Doherty Library.  Children cannot be monitored and supervised by the staff; therefore the safety of unattended children cannot be guaranteed.  UST Police will be called to resolve incidents involving unsupervised children under age 14.

Cell Phone Usage in the Library

Cell phone use is permitted in the Library; however, please be respectful of your fellow library users by following these guidelines:

• Set your phone to silent or vibrate.
• If you must answer or make a call, please speak in a low voice and, if the call will last for more than a few minutes, exit the building.

Designated “Silent Areas” are found in the Silent Reading Room, located on the first floor, east-wing; and also the first floor west-wing book stack area.  Cell phones should not be used in these areas.

Special Accommodations

Here at Doherty library we respect each individual patron as our guest and if you have a need for a special accommodation or have a special circumstance that you would like us to be aware of please contact a librarian at the reference desk or a circulation desk manager.  If your request does not infringe on anyone else’s library use we will try to accommodate your request. 

We are always interested in hearing your comments and concerns. You can email the library Dean Jim Piccininni at jpicci@stthom.edu. 

Copyright Notice

Copyright infringement may lead to serious legal and financial consequences.  Library materials may be subject to the copyright law for purpose of preservation, scholarship, or research only.  No reproduction, distribution, display, or performance is authorized.

Copies of copyrighted works should include proper attribution and copyright notices.

Additional Policies

No self-propelled or electronic vehicles are allowed to be stored in the library foyer, or anywhere inside the library.  Patrons are encouraged to use the bicycle rack located outside the front of the library to store these vehicles.  

No animals or pets are allowed in the library with an exception for patrons requiring assistance of a service animal.

Limited food and beverages for individual use are permitted.  Food and beverages for large groups are not permitted.  Exceptions may be made by the library staff in advance.

Furniture, such as arm chairs, study desks, tables, easels, whiteboards,  etc. may not be moved from their positions so that they block walkways, doorways, emergency exits, fire alarms, or anywhere that will disrupt library patrons and processes. 

• Collection Development Policy
• Circulation Policies
• Social Media Policy

Jim Piccininni
jpicci@stthom.edu
​713-525-2192

Read Bio

Memorial and Gift Book Program for the Doherty Library

Here is your opportunity to make a lasting gift or memorial. You can support the academic needs of the University for decades to come. Your decision to sponsor the cost of a book for the Doherty Library is a lasting, useful and very affordable donation. It will be appreciated for its thoughtfulness by both the person receiving the gift and by our library patrons. What is the cost of your generosity? A book sponsorship will cost $ 50 per hardcover book. A specific book title can be requested, but the cost to obtain a specific book will be determined on a title-by-title basis.

A sponsorship costs $ 50 per book if the library selects the book. The library will notify both the sponsor and the person receiving the gift when the sponsored book is added to the library collection. Simply mail your payment along with the sponsorship form to the Doherty Library.

If you would prefer to select a specific book for sponsorship, mail this form to the Doherty Library without payment and someone from the library will contact you about the cost. Keep in mind that only books that support the UST curriculum are acceptable.

• View a list of books that have been sponsored

Four easy steps to complete your sponsorship:

• Print out the Sponsor a Book form.
• Fill out the form.
• Make checks payable to the “University of St. Thomas”.
• Mail your Sponsor a Book form and your payment to:

Dean of Libraries
University of St. Thomas
Doherty Library
3800 Montrose Blvd.
Houston, Texas 77006

Acquisitions
kowalsn@stthom.edu
713-525-2182

Archives
jpicci@stthom.edu
713-525-3895

Circulation
circulation@stthom.edu
713-525-2180

Interlibrary Loan
loans@stthom.edu
713-525-2180

Reference
reference@stthom.edu
713-525-2188

--Individual Staff--

Herebia, Azalia 
Circulation Supervisor
circulation@stthom.edu
713-525-2180

Asselin, Rachel
Public Services Librarian
Rachel.Asselin@stthom.edu
713-525-3891

Coy, Sylvia
Head of Circulation
coys@stthom.edu
713-525-2180

Delagarza, Ashley
Technical Services Librarian
delagaar@stthom.edu
713-525-2183

Gerson, Pat
Acquisitions
gerson@stthom.edu
713-525-2191

Gregg, Audra
Weekend Circulation Supervisor
circulation@stthom.edu
713-525-2180

Hess, Ariel
Weekend Reference Librarian
reference@stthom.edu
713-525-2188

Keever, Kaitlyn
Electronic Resources Librarian
Kaitlyn.Keever@stthom.edu
713-525-2175

Kowalski, Nicholas
Collection Development Librarian
kowalsn@stthom.edu
713-525-2182

Meanley, Carolyn
Weekend Reference Librarian
reference@stthom.edu
713-525-2188

Piccininni, Jim
Dean of Libraries
jpicci@stthom.edu
713-525-2192

Sims, Tiffany
Weekend Circulation Supervisor
circulation@stthom.edu
713-525-2180

Tiznado, Gaspar
Library Courier
circulation@stthom.edu
713-525-2180

UST Students, Faculty, and Staff 

The TexShare library card enables current UST students, faculty, and staff to borrow books from the University of Houston, Houston Baptist University, and other participating Texas libraries (Rice University does not accept the TexShare Card). 

You may obtain a new Texshare Card at the start of the academic year at the Doherty Library’s Circulation Desk or through the online TexShare form. You must return your books to the library from which you borrowed them. If they are late, the lending library may charge you overdue fees. 

Non-UST Patrons 

Non-UST patrons can obtain a TexShare card through their participating public library or through their affiliation with a participating Texas university/college. 

Lending policies are set by each participating library. Specific policies are available at the Libraries and Catalogs link on the Texshare website here. 

Doherty Library Vision Statement

The Doherty Library has the strongest commitment to cultivate the life of the mind and imparting knowledge to students that will instill a love for truth and promote intellectual discipline.

Library Mission Statement

The University has the strongest commitment to the religious, moral and intellectual formation of the whole person. To support this commitment, the mission of the Doherty Library is to acquire, make readily available, and promote the use of print and electronic information resources in accordance with the diverse academic needs of the University. The library also supports teaching and research activities by providing instruction in finding, evaluating and using scholarly resources.  In all of its activities, the library will support the core values of the University: goodness, discipline, knowledge and community.

Read about our future vision here.