Electronic Reference

In addition to the indexing utilities and full-text data delivery programs on our Online Databases page, the Library maintains an extensive collection of electronic research materials and instruments. Some of these programs are not accessible through the campus network. They must be fully loaded on specific computers in the Library, and therefore can only be used inside the building. These programs are described briefly below.

Also mentioned below are some online resources maintained at other institutions, to which we have provided links.

User's guides or manuals for some of these materials may be found in the Reference Room or at the Circulation Desk. Operating some of the software programs requires borrowing a CD-ROM data disc from the Circulation Desk; please see the bib record for each resource in our online catalog, or ask for reference assistance.

Bible Windows : Analytical Greek NT and Hebrew OT (BHS) and Septuagint with grammatical tags and dictionary forms coded in the text. English translations, lexicons, the Silver classical library (Aristotle, Herodotus, Homer, Plato, Plutarch, Sophocles, Tacitus, Thucydides in translation), Early Church Fathers, Josephus. On RR1 and RR2 (no data disc required).

BibleWorks 9.0 : A greatly expanded and updated version of the electronic exegesis tool BibleWorks is now available, loaded onto several computers in the Reference Room and downstairs in the computer lab. This complex and powerful program contains the searchable Greek and Hebrew texts of Scripture in several different versions, the Septuagint, Tanakh, Peshitta and Targumim, scores of Bible translations into European languages, the full contents of several important lexicons (such as Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich and Brown-Driver-Briggs), Metzger's textual commentary, several grammars, and many related texts from the Greek apostolic fathers, Philo, Josephus, etc. (For a fuller description see their website at http://www.bibleworks.com.)  The program includes very extensive online help files and a "Getting Started" guide -- even animated video tutorials with sound. Please bring your own headphones to the Library to listen to the video guides.  No data disc required.

Biblical World in Pictures : More than 1,300 photographs of Bible sites, archaeological remains, maps, artifacts, inscriptions, ancient manuscripts, and breathtaking vistas. The Biblical context of each image is explained in extensive captions written by world-renowned scholars.  On RR1, under Libronix (no data disc required).

Book of Common Worship : 2000 software edition contains the full text of the standard cloth edition of the Book of Common Worship as well as material for use in planning and leading worship and resources for the seasons and festivals in the liturgical calendar. Notes and highlights can be added to the text and edited for formatting in word processing applications.   On RR1 (no disc required).

Book of Confessions : searchable and downloadable versions are available online at the PCUSA website, http://oga.pcusa.org/constitution.htm.

Book of Order : searchable and downloadable versions are available online at the PCUSA website, http://oga.pcusa.org/constitution.htm. There is also an Annotated Version available that includes jump links to Permanent Judicial Commission Decisions 1983-2005, the advice of the Advisory Committee on the Constitution 1984-2004, General Assembly authoritative interpretations, and Earlier References (citations from predecessor churches). This Annotated Version is on RR1, RR2 and several computers in the CL.

Coptic Workplace : Includes the Coptic New Testament and Nag Hammadi texts; a subset of PHI 7. On RR1 and RR2; requires CD-ROM 49 from the Circ Desk.

Dead Sea Scrolls Electronic Library : Comprehensive collection of reference materials on the Dead Sea Scrolls and related areas of interest including digitized images of the scrolls, transcriptions, translations, and associated literature. On RR1.

Elenchus Bibliographicus : A research bibliography for biblical and theological studies, produced in conjunction with the periodical Ephemerides Theologicae Lovianenses, edited by the Faculteit Godgeleerdheid (KU Leuven) and the Faculté de Théologie UCL (Louvain-la-Neuve). To access this resource online, click HERE.  We are an institutional subscriber, so you should not need to login to use this resource.

Encarta Africana : Multimedia resource for learning about the history, achievement and culture of African peoples from Africa to North America, Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe, written and edited by foremost scholars in the field. Includes a wealth of beautiful illustrations and maps, and many music and sound recordings. To listen to the recordings, please bring headphones.  On RR2.

Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception : A very detailed and scholarly Bible dictionary online, which also discusses the history of the interpretation of each person or term. It can be accessed online with a network user ID and password. For more information, click HERE.

Encyclopedia of Religion : Electronic version of the classic reference published in hard copy (16 v.) by Macmillan in 1987. On RR1 and RR2 (no disc required).

Greek Tutor : Teaches biblical Greek at the user's pace; designed for new students as well as those who have had some Greek in the past and need a refresher. Includes 28 lessons, with drills, exercises and review screens, texts, charts, graphs and bibliographies. Requires CD-ROM 1 1999 from the Circulation Desk; use on RR2.

Hebrew Tutor : Teaches biblical Hebrew at the user's pace; includes 14 lessons, with drills, exercises and review screens, texts, charts, graphs, bibliographies and other features. Requires CD-ROM 2 1998 from the Circulation Desk; use on RR2.

Index Islamicus : (9th ed.) An international classified bibliography of publications in European languages on all aspects of Islam and the Muslim world. It covers the main Muslim areas of Asia and Africa, as well as Muslims living elsewhere - just under a fifth of the world's total population - and their history, beliefs, societies, cultures, languages and literatures. It includes materials published since 1906 by Western orientalists and social scientists and by Muslims writing in European languages. Journal articles, books and reviews, as well as all essays and papers contained in multi-author volumes are recorded, classified and indexed. This release of the Index Islamicus on CD-ROM adds Yearbooks for 2005, as well as publications though 2007. Also, special attention has been given to material on Iraq. On RR2 (no disc required).

Index Theologicus : An index to more than 600 periodicals in theology, Festschriften, and conference proceedings, produced by the Universitätsbibliothek Tübingen. A search interface in English is provided. For free access on the web, click HERE.

Islamic Scholar : Includes three major Qur'an translations, a complete Arabic recitation of the Qur'an, selections from the Hadith, history of the Prophets, letters and treaties of Muhammad and other materials. Requires CD-ROM 12 from the Circulation Desk; use on RR2. To listen to the recitation, please bring headphones.

Luther's Works : This CD-ROM makes available the entire 55-volume set of Luther's Works, a magisterial translation project published jointly by Fortress Press and Concordia Publishing House in 1957. On RR1 under Libronix (no disc required).

Microsoft Word and other Office applications are available in the CL. Please do not use computers in the RR for word processing or email.

Monumenta Germaniae Historica : A selection of texts from all five divisions of Monumenta Germaniae Historica (Scriptores, Leges, Diplomata, Epistolae, Antiquitates).  Double-click on the desktop icon to begin; be aware that the program opens slowly (about 30 seconds).  User's manual is available as a searchable PDF by clicking on "Guide."  Texts are fully loaded on RR1.

PHI 5 Workplace (Packard Humanities Institute, Latin Texts) : Latin literature from its beginnings to 200 AD, plus Justinian's Digest, Servius' Commentaries on Virgil, and Porphyry's Commentary on Horace. Several Bible versions in Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Coptic. On RR1 and RR2; requires CD-ROM 48 from the Circ Desk.

PHI 7 Workplace (Packard Humanities Institute, Greek Texts) : Ancient Greek inscriptions, as compiled thus far by the Greek Epigraphy Project at Cornell, including inscriptions from Attica, Delos, Peleponnesos, Central Greece, Delphi, Crete, Ionia, Caria; also Christian inscriptions from the Mediterranean. Greek Papyri from the Duke Data Bank of Documentary Papyri. Coptic literary texts: the Coptic New Testament; Nag Hammadi writings. On RR1 and RR2; requires CD-ROM 49 from the Circ Desk.

Presbyterian Hymnal : Users of this software can search for hymns by first line, common title, tune name, subject, keyword, scriptural reference, meter, author, translator, composer, arranger, and scripture reference from The Revised Common Lectionary. Hymns may be viewed with both text and music, or with text alone. Users can hear one stanza of the musical accompaniment played on piano. This software includes complete versions of The Presbyterian Hymnal, The Presbyterian Hymnal Companion, and The Presbyterian Hymnal: Complete Concordance and Indexes. Use on RR1; requires CD-ROM 5 from the Circ Desk.

Stated Clerks Handbook is produced by staff in the Office of the General Assembly with extensive input from the staffs of several General Assembly Council Units. It is a manual for stated clerks, executives or other governing body staff with administrative responsibilities. The searchable elecronic version is on RR1, RR2 and several machines in the CL.

TLG Workplace (Thesaurus Linguae Graecae) : A databank of electronic texts on CD-ROM, comprising the entire corpus of extant Greek literary texts from Homer (8th century B.C.E.) to the sixth century C.E., as well as a selection of historiographical, lexicographical, and scholastic texts from the Byzantine period. Approximately 3000 authors are represented, in over 8000 works and fragments.   On RR1 and RR2; requires CD-ROM 44 from the Circ Desk.

World of Islam : Provides resources for understanding Islam and Christian life and witness in Muslim contexts. Includes the full texts of 45 books and articles, survey of Islam, seven basic educational courses on Islam, maps, photographs and an annotated bibliography. Includes examples of music. On RR1; requires CD-ROM 27 from the Circ Desk.

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