Using the library and borrowing
New registrations
You need a library card to borrow books. For an ID card, you must register in advance on Swisscovery under the link swisscovery - Registration (slsp.ch) and have it issued by the University Library of Basel. The library cards are not only valid for Mission 21 and at the University Library, but also in many other academic libraries throughout Switzerland.
Order and return of books
Due to the Corona pandemic, the open access area of the library will remain closed until further notice. You can pre-order books from our library online in the catalogue and pick them up at the library as soon as you have received an invitation to pick them up. The ordered books will be deposited at the entrance of the library. Works published before 1890 can only be consulted in the reading room.
The loan period for books is generally 28 days. If there is no reservation, this period is automatically extended twice and can be extended three more times in the user account. The maximum loan period is 6 months.
Books that are no longer needed can be placed in the return box provided in the entrance area of the library around the clock or delivered by post.
usage regulations
More detailed information on the topic of use and lending can be found here (German).
Two factors determine the main subject areas covered by our library. On the one hand, there is the enormous amount of material collected by Basel Mission over many years (1815 – 2000); and on the other, the subjects we cover are geared to Mission 21's ongoing development cooperation work and the requirements of researchers in our own archive and elsewhere. As well as specialised academic literature, we also offer non-fiction books on socially relevant issues that are easily understandable to general readers.
Subjects covered by our collection:
- Mission – in history, and in the present
- World religions, interfaith dialogue
- Theological perspectives from Africa, Asia and Latin America
- African Studies, with heavy emphasis on West Africa and Southern Africa
- Development policy in the broadest sense, personnel exchange in development cooperation, with a special focus on religion and development
- Key geographic areas:
- Africa: Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, DR Congo, Tanzania, South Sudan, South Africa
- Asia: India (especially South India), China (South China), Sabah/Malaysia, Indonesia
- Latin America: Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Argentina
Further links
Library catalogue Swisscovery: ► https://swisscovery.slsp.ch/
Basel University Library: ► www.ub.unibas.ch/ub-hauptbibliothek
GlobeTheoLib: ► www.globethics.net/gtl
Library of the Faculty of Theology, University of Basel: ► https://theolrel.unibas.ch/bibliothek
WCC Library at the Ecumenical Institute at Bossey: ► http://library.oikoumene.org
Association of Librarians of Swiss Faith-Based Institutions: ► www.bibrel.ch
Network of Swiss Development Documentation Centres (NEDS): ► www.neds.ch