Brisbane School of Theology

LIBRARY

STUDY ⋅ LIBRARY

Welcome to the W. J. Tunley Library

So much more than just books...

Explore a wealth of theological resources, expert support, and a vibrant community committed to your academic and spiritual growth. Whether you’re a student, alumnus, or casual member, you’ll find tools, guidance, and access to world-class resources tailored to your needs.

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FOR OUR STUDENTS
The heart of the student study experience

Designed to nurture and support, the library offers students world-class resources in an immersive space of inspiration. Explore global databases, seek expert guidance, or retreat to the massage chair and let Eve the turtle offer her unique pastoral presence.

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FOR OUR ALUMNI
Continue your journey

Connection to the library doesn’t end at graduation. Alumni are always welcome and retain borrowing rights to the physical collection. For those seeking more, a small fee unlocks premium membership, providing lifelong access to thousands of eBooks and top theological journals online.

Transformational-Community
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FOR CASUAL MEMBERS
Not a student? Not a problem...

We believe everyone should have the tools to study God’s Word, whether you're a student or not—that’s why our library is open to the public. For a small annual fee, anyone can sign up to access both our physical collection and thousands of online books and top theological journals.

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Slide
FOR OUR STUDENTS
The heart of the student study experience

Designed to nurture and support, the library offers students world-class resources in an immersive space of inspiration. Explore global databases, seek expert guidance, or retreat to the massage chair and let Eve the turtle offer her unique pastoral presence.

Slide
FOR OUR ALUMNI
Continue your journey

Connection to the library doesn’t end at graduation. Alumni are always welcome and retain borrowing rights to the physical collection. For those seeking more, a small fee unlocks premium membership, providing lifelong access to thousands of eBooks and top theological journals online.

Casual Members
FOR OUR CASUAL MEMBERS
Not a student? Not a problem...

We believe everyone should have the tools to study God’s Word, whether you're a student or not—that’s why our library is open to the public. For a small annual fee, anyone can sign up to access both our physical collection and thousands of online books and top theological journals.

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What you'll find in the Library...

Books and Journals

With over 30,000 titles, our library covers the needs of all our patrons, with standout strengths in Biblical Studies, Asian Christianity and Missions, and growing expertise in Pastoral Care and Child Safety. We also maintain over 100 key theological journals, all meticulously catalogued for easy access—thanks to our dedicated volunteers.

Online resources

All current library members can access 5,000 eBooks, carefully selected to meet the library's needs, along with the leading theological journal database, ATLA Serials Plus, which includes over 750 journals curated by the American Theological Libraries Association. Students further benefit from out Digital Theological Library 2 membership, granting access to over 1.5 million eBooks and 60,000+ journals. This includes top databases such as Loeb Classical Library, Oxford Handbooks, and the Biblical Archaeology Society library.

Audiobooks & DVDs

For auditory and visual learners, our collection includes over 100 audiobooks and 300 DVDs, featuring alternate formats for key textbooks, classic Christian works, and a variety of family-friendly or thought-provoking films designed to inspire.

Chinese resources

The W. J. Tunley Library is dedicated to supporting our Chinese program and the wider Chinese Christian community, with over 5,000 physical books in Traditional and Simplified Chinese, 165 eBooks, and 16 physical journal titles. Students also have access to two leading Chinese journal databases through DTL2.

If you would like to donate books or other resources to our library, please refer to our Collection Management Policy and Donation Policy.

Opening hours

Current students

Monday—Friday: 8:00am-10:00pm
Saturday: 8:30am-10:00pm

PUBLIC MEMBERS (sign in at reception)

Monday—Friday: 8:30am-5:00pm
Saturday: Closed

LIBRARY FUN FACTS

The two oldest books in the library are Bible commentaries on the “small prophets” and the gospel of John, published in 1657, 40 years after Shakespeare died.
Two Bible dictionaries from 1732 were donated to the library after they were found buried under a Queenslander that was being razed.
The library’s pastoral care team consists of not only the librarian but “Eve” the Murray River turtle and Mr. Sambuca “Sammy B" Black, the melanistic blue-tongue lizard who was donated to the library in 2023.
The research room for our PhD students also houses 900 books from the collection that were published before 1900.
Eve, the Library’s Murray River Turtle, is internationally famous after being the topic of a conference paper and journal article on bringing nature into libraries. You can read about her in the ANZTLA journal.
Read Eve's article!
The first massage chair that was donated to the library by a student was so loved that when it died, a graduation appeal raised the money to buy a new one.
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Pastor Grace Lung

BSci (Comp Sci), GradDipDiv, MA (ChrStds)

DIRECTOR

Grace grew up in Sydney in a large Chinese church. Since then she has served at various Chinese churches over the years in youth, students, young workers and women. Her passion and interest is contextualizing the gospel to Asian Australians and developing Asian churches in Australia. Grace is a graduate of Sydney Missionary and Bible College and Fuller Theological Seminary. Her study focussed on Chinese Australian identity and ministry.

Her previous roles have included: Director for Asian Contextual Engagement for the RICE Movement, Team Member for Interserve Culture Connect and OMF QLD’s Ministry Team. She was an Anglican Deaconness Ministries Summer Fellow in 2019. Her writing has appeared on the SOLA Network, Gospel Coalition Australia, Centered: Resources for the Asian American Church, Common Grace and Ethos: EA Centre for Christianity and Society.

In addition to her role as Director of CAC, Grace is also serving as a pastor alongside her husband, Chris, at Rise Alliance Church – a new church plant servicing the Rochedale area.