Library Non-Reference Materials (Module III)

Introduction to the Library: Module I
Library Reference Materials: Module II
Library Non-Reference Materials: Module III
Library Research Strategies: Module IV

Navigate this page:
Books
- How to search for books
- How to locate books in the stacks
Periodicals
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Journals
- How to search for journals
ATLA with ATLASerials
OTA
NTA
RTA
- How to locate periodicals in the Periodical Room
Dissertations
- How to search for dissertations
- How to locate dissertations

Non-reference materials

Books can be checked out and are organized in collections:
- Main Collection
- Hispanic Studies
- Black Studies
- Juvenile Collection
- Korean Studies
Audiovisual materials can also be checked out. They include: videos, DVDs, audiotapes, CD-ROMs, CDs.
Periodicals are magazines, newspapers, and journals. They cannot be checked out.

Books

Represent most of the Library collection.
Classified under the Library of Congress Classification System (LCC).
LCC System composed of letters and numbers. All books are assigned an ID number known as the book's call number, following the LCC classification system.
Letters indicate a specific topical area. For example:
- BS = Biblical Studies
- BT = Biblical Theology
- BV= Practical Theology
Letters and numbers are progressive and help to indicate the specific location of a book in the stacks. For example:
- BR will be found before BS, and
- BS 191.2 will be found before BS 491.2

How to search for books

Books (reference and non-reference materials) are easily located using the Library online catalog (OPAC).
OPAC stands for Online Public Access Catalog.
Books can be searched in the online catalog (OPAC) by:
- title
- author
- subject, or
- a combination

Locate book by title, author, or subject using the Library online catalog (OPAC). Note call #.
For example: BV 4536 .D56 1997
- Verify book is available, not checked out.
- Using call #, find book in the appropriate collection (Main Collection, Black Studies, Hispanic Studies, etc.).
- Books are arranged first by letters alphabetically, and then by numbers.

Magazines, journals, and newspapers are considered periodicals or serials because they are published periodically (weekly, monthly, etc.)

Are not generally considered scholarly publications.
Provide articles on current events of popular culture that appeal to a broader audience.

Examples:
- Newsweek
- Hispanic
- Christianity Today

Provide news about current events in a specific region or a larger community.
Information is brief and general in nature. Are written by journalists who usually specialize in a specific field (politics, social events, science, etc.).

Examples:
- Philadelphia Inquirer
- New York Times

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Periodicals: Journals
Are scholarly oriented and field specific. Intended for readers who are educated in the specific field of their study. Provide in-depth research and discussion of a topic. Are expected to provide the newest insights and discussions in the field.
Examples:

Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
Harvard Theological Review

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How to search for journals
Journal articles are most easily found through databases. Databases in our library are web-based. They can be accessed on and off campus. To access databases off-campus you will need to enable the "remote access" option available through the EU Warner Library website.

To enable the remote access option, visit the Library circulation desk. The circulation attendant will set up your My Athens account for you using your eastern.edu email address. Allow at least 24 hours for the account to be implemented.

Most popular theological databases are available through EBSCOhost. See below for a full description.

ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Old Testament Abstracts (OTA)
New Testament Abstracts (NTA)

Another popular theological database available online:

Religious & Theological Abstracts (RTA)

Produced by American Theological Library Association.
Combines indexes to journal articles, book reviews, and essays in all fields of religion with ATLAS's online collection of religion and theological journals.
Includes more than 460,000 article citations from more than 1,500 journals, 260,000 essay citations, and more than 423,000 book review citations.
Journals selected for inclusion according to scholarly merit and scope. Represent all major religious faiths, denominations, and numerous languages.
Some articles, essays, and reviews linked to full text for viewing online (ATLASerials). Yet most articles, essays, and reviews only provide citations.

A product of partnership between the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) and the Catholic Biblical Association.
Contains over 29,000 records spanning more than twenty years of biblical scholarship from 1978-2000.
All abstracts are in English regardless of the language of the original work.
Sources are predominantly journal articles but also include books, essays, and electronic resources.

Abstracts at least 2,150 articles every year chosen from more than 500 periodicals in numerous languages.
Indexes and abstracts articles on the New Testament appearing in Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish periodicals.
Abstracts are in English, although the books and articles may be in other languages.

Currently abstracts more than 400 journals with summaries produced by a team of scholars from around the world.
Coverage includes journals relating to Christianity, Judaism, and other world religions.
English language abstracts are provided for articles in French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Afrikaans, Hebrew, Italian, and Spanish.
Advantage: provides abstracts for each record in the database.

Find journal article using databases.
Check if Library carries journal. Journals are listed in the online catalog. A list of journals is also available at every computer station.
Find journal in Periodical Room (lower level, see map on module I).
Journals arranged alphabetically in Periodical Room.

A written document of an academic research project written by a doctoral (Ph.D.) student.
Will offer new contributions into the field.
Are revised, critiqued, and approved by a committee of experts in the field (dissertation committee).

Available for online searching through First Search database, accessed through the Warner Library website.
May be searched by:
- title
- author
- subject, or
- a combination.
For more information about author, title, subject, and combination searches, refer to "how to search for books" section.

World Cat available through First Search database provides the names of the libraries that own specific dissertation titles. If a dissertation is available at the Seminary library, it may be located by call number using the online catalog (OPAC). If a dissertation is not owned by the Seminary library, it may be requested through interlibrary loan (ILL). Interlibrary loans take approximately 1½ to 2 weeks.