The Ambrose Library serves the students, faculty and staff of Ambrose University College and Ambrose Seminary. It is one of largest private academic libraries in western Canada. Its rapidly growing collection features more than 100,000 bound volumes and 350 journal titles. Particular strengths include Christian studies, history, music, behavioral science, business, English, and Islamics. For more information on the library’s collections see Collections and the Annual Report.

The library also seeks to serve the local congregations of the Church of the Nazarene in Canada and Christian & Missionary Alliance in Canada (CMAC), as well as the broader Calgary community.

The Ambrose Archives, which is administered by the library, serves as the official repository for the institutional records of Ambrose University College, Ambrose Seminary, and the CMAC. In addition, a special research collection of books and periodicals documents the history and thought of the Christian and Missionary Alliance and the Church of the Nazarene.

Borrowing Privileges

Ambrose belongs to a local consortium of academic libraries that also includes the University of Calgary, St. Mary’s University College, and Bow Valley College. The students, faculty, and staff of the participating institutions may borrow up to 50 items at a time on two-week loan from any of the four member libraries.

Calgary-area residents who are not enrolled in or employed by members of the consortium may borrow up to 10 items at a time. The Ambrose Library does not charge an external borrowers’ fee.

All patrons of the Ambrose Library (including those from the broader community) may:

• Renew loans online. See Services for more information.
• Place holds online. See FAQ's for more information.
• Use the library’s online databases on site (non-Ambrose users pay a $10.00 per semester fee for this service). See Electronic Databases for more information.