Named for former dean and systematic theologian Dr. J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., Covenant's library is a familiar place on campus for hundreds of students and diverse visitors each year. A renovation in 2001 tripled the size of the original building, which is now home to more than 95,000 volumes and provides access to well over 30 million items through partnerships with MOBIUS (a statewide consortium of academic libraries) and the St. Louis Regional Library Network.
Standout features of the Library include the Tait Rare Book Collection, the PCA Historical Center, and a full-service resource center for theological writing (The Scribe). All of the Library catalogs, interlibrary loan systems, databases, and collections are searchable online, providing on- and off-campus students and alumni uninterrupted access to resources for their academic research, assignments, sermon prep, personal and family reading, as well as other needs and interests.
After you’ve collected the items that you would like to check out from the Library shelves, bring them to the circulation desk at the entrance to the Library. Present your Library card (student ID) to the staff member on duty (feel free to ring the bell if no one is at the desk), and then we’ll take it from there. Here’s how long materials check out, and what we charge if they’re turned in late.
| Material Type | Loan Period | Renewals | Overdue Fines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Books, Audio, Video | 3 weeks | Twice (3 weeks each) | 5¢ per day for the first two weeks and then 25¢ per day thereafter |
| MOBIUS Books | 3 weeks | Twice (3 weeks each) | None (but note the large replacement and billing fees below) |
| New Books | 1 week | None | $1 per day |
| Small Lockers | 3 weeks | None | 5¢ per day for the first two weeks and then 25¢ per day thereafter |
Note: Items that have been recalled will be assessed an additional 25¢ in fines per day while overdue.
The total number of items you can check out depends on your relation to the Seminary. The following table lists these limits. The Library does not have separate limits for the various material types (e.g., books, videos, CDs, etc.).
| Patron Type | Item Limit |
|---|---|
| Covenant Seminary Students | 25 |
| Covenant Seminary Faculty/Staff | 100 |
| Covenant Seminary Alumni | 20 |
| PCA/EPC/OPC Ministers | 15 |
| PCA/EPC/OPC Church Members | 15 |
| General Community Members | 15 |
| Info-Pass | 6 (3 per visit) |
After an item has been overdue for 4 weeks, the Library considers it lost and a bill for replacement and processing will be sent.
If the item is returned within a reasonable time after it has been billed, the replacement charge will be removed. In addition, the fee may be reduced:
Course reserves comprise many of the required and optional readings for the current semester's classes—often from the books and other resources that students are not required to buy. In order to ensure that every student in a class has access to the necessary materials, items on course reserve only check out for short periods of time—a couple hours, overnight, or perhaps a few days. The professors determine what is placed on reserve and how long the check-out period should be (taking into account the size of the class and the length of the reading).
Items that are on reserve are marked as such in the Library catalog. The catalog also contains a list of items on reserve for each class. You can search for reserve lists by class name or number, or by the name of your instructor.
The course reserves are shelved behind the circulation desk at the entrance to the Library. A Library staff member will be glad to help you get the materials that you need. Make sure that you bring your student ID when coming to the Library to use reserve materials. Even if you don't plan on leaving the Library, items on reserve cannot leave the circulation desk without being checked out.
| Reserve Type | Due Back | Renewals | Overdue Fines |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Hour | 1 hour from checkout | Once (1 hour) | 50¢ per hour |
| 2 Hour | 2 hours from checkout | Once (1 hour) | 50¢ per hour |
| 3 Hour | 3 hours from checkout | Twice (1 hour each) | 50¢ per hour |
| Overnight | 1 hour after the Library opens the next day | None | 50¢ per hour |
| 2 Day | Any time before closing 2 days later | None | $2 per day |
| 3 Day | Any time before closing 3 days later | None | $2 per day |
| 1 Week | Any time before closing 1 week later | None | $2 per day |
Please note that you may only check out up to 2 hourly reserve items and 2 overnight/multi-day reserve items at a time.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Large (Rental) Lockers | Rented on a semester-by-semester basis. Rental fees are prorated according to time left in the semester. See Library staff for full details and current prices. |
| Digital Audio/Voice Recorders | Loaned for free as a 3-day reserve (see details above). |
MOBIUS is a consortium of over sixty (mostly academic) libraries across Missouri that have agreed to share their resources with each other. By using the MOBIUS Union Catalog, you can search the collections of all the member libraries simultaneously and request books to be delivered either here at Covenant Seminary or at the MOBIUS institution of your choice. And thanks to the MOBIUS courier service, delivery usually takes only two or three business days. If you don't feel like waiting, you also have the option of visiting any MOBIUS member library in person and checking out books with your Covenant Seminary ID just like you would here!
MOBIUS members include other theological schools (Concordia Seminary, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary), small to mid-sized private colleges and universities (Maryville University, Fontbonne University), large research universities (Saint Louis University, Washington University), and all of the University of Missouri campuses. This diversity means that you have a very broad and extensive collection available to you. Be sure to make use of it!
MOBIUS is divided into several (roughly) geographical clusters. Covenant Seminary is part of the Bridges cluster. To search just the collections of our fellow Bridges libraries, visit the Bridges Catalog.
Interlibrary Loan (often abbreviated as ILL) is a service provided by most libraries in the U.S. whereby your home library borrows an item (book or article) from another library for you. This is distinct from the MOBIUS service described above, which takes advantage of a streamlined system to provide faster and easier access to books at libraries within the MOBIUS network. ILL, although slower, gives you access to a broader selection of items since it can be used to request items from libraries across the nation. In addition, ILL is frequently used to request journal articles. (Note that DVDs, CDs, etc. are usually not loaned through ILL or any other program.)
The Covenant Library offers free ILL service for all current students, faculty, and staff. Most of Covenant's databases provide a built-in electronic form for requesting items through ILL. You can also use our generic electronic form or the paper form available on the handout tables next to the Library front desk.
The length of time it takes for us to fulfill your ILL requests will vary depending on where each requested item is being sent from. You should probably plan for up to two weeks, though some items may take longer. Articles often arrive faster (even within a few days) since they can be sent electronically. The length of time you can keep an ILL book varies as the due date is set by the owning library. These dates can vary widely, though they tend to be about one month from the date that the owning library ships the item.
The Buswell Library welcomes donations of books and other materials as long as they are in decent condition and free from mildew, mold, insects, etc. Donations may simply be delivered to a staff member at the front desk of the Library. If you require a letter acknowledging receipt of your donation, please be sure to leave a note with your full name and address, or talk to Steve Jamieson (314-392-4102) who oversees the receipt of donations. If you have any questions or have special considerations, please call Steve in advance.
Donated materials may be used for one of several good purposes, such as new additions to our collection, replacements for existing copies that are heavily worn, supplementation in the form of second or even third copies for works in heavy demand, or sale at modest prices to our students for their own libraries with the proceeds being used to enhance our holdings or services.
Donation of materials to the Buswell Library qualifies as a non-cash charitable contribution that can be used as an income tax deduction. The Library cannot appraise donations, so it is up to the donor to determine the fair market value in accordance with IRS regulations.
Most importantly, please check with the IRS and your tax advisor for the most current information on deducting non-cash charitable contributions.
The Scribe is Covenant Seminary’s Resource Center for Theological Writing. The Scribe can help you learn to write and communicate more clearly to better complete your assignments.
Scribe consultants are happy to assist you with any area of writing, from choosing a topic to citing sources. You don’t have to have started your assignment, or even have a specific assignment in mind to visit the Scribe.
If you’ve gotten started, though, you should bring:
The Scribe does not have regular office hours during the summer. Email scribe@covenantseminary.edu to make an appointment.
Patrons of the Buswell Library can access their library account over the Internet at any time. This includes students, faculty, staff, alumni who have been issued an alumni card, and community members (including ministers) with an active library account. Please note that Infopass patrons do not have access to this feature.
When you log in to your library account online, you can:
You can log in using the account login below, or by visiting the Library Catalog (“My Library Account” on top navigation bar)If you have any problems, contact the Library at 314-392-4100.
Before submitting your thesis or dissertation for final approval, it will have to meet the Library’s formatting specifications. These specifications are designed to meet the general standards of academic professionalism and the technical requirements for binding.
After your thesis or dissertation has received final approval, you must submit it to the Covenant library so that it can be cataloged, listed in worldwide research databases, and made available to be borrowed by other students and researchers. DMin students should work with Kristen Sagar in the DMin office to arrange submission. ThM and MAET students should contact Steve Jamieson in the library directly.
All finalized theses and dissertations must be submitted to the library electronically as a PDF file, and must be accompanied by:
Creating a PDF: Windows users can use free software such as PDFCreator. Mac users can use the built-in print-to-PDF functionality.
You must also submit the following completed forms:
Bound copies for you: If you would like to obtain bound hard copies of your thesis or dissertation, you may do so by using our bindery’s Thesis on Demand service.
Nearly all of the electronic resources listed on the Library Web site can be accessed from off campus by current students, faculty, and staff. (Alumni may access the ATLA Serials database via The Portal. See the Reference Guide for Alumni for further information.) When accessing electronic resources from off campus, you will be required to log in to the Covenant Seminary E-Resource Gateway.
As long as your Library account is up to date, you will then be taken to the resource that you chose.
If you don't have an ID card, you can lookup your ID card number in the Portal.
Here are some of the possible error messages that may come up as you use the E-Resource Gateway. Don't hesitate to contact the Library whenever you experience any difficulties.
This error means that the E-Resource Gateway is having trouble communicating with the Library's patron database and thus can't verify your identity. This is usually a temporary problem that resolves itself after a short amount of time. Please be patient and try accessing the e-resource again at a later time. If this problem persists, please contact the Library to alert us to the situation.
This error means that your Library privileges have lapsed—most likely because you are not currently enrolled in a class. In accordance with the required licensing agreements, we can only provide access to e-resources to students who are currently enrolled in at least one class. If you have enrolled in a class but are still denied access due to an expired Library account, please contact the Library for assistance.
The research databases are only available to current students, faculty, and staff of the Seminary. If you get this error, then it means that the login information that you provided is not associated with one of these authorized account types. If you are a currently active student, faculty, or staff member, then contact the Library for assistance.
You’re writing a sermon, researching for an exegetical paper, or preparing a Bible study, and you want to find articles that talk about the Scripture passage that you’re working on. It’s a common task, and it should be easy. Unfortunately, as you may have already discovered, it’s not as simple and straight-forward as one would hope. This tutorial will walk you through the Scripture citation search functions of the major Biblical studies databases and help you work around the quirks of each one.
First, let’s define the problems.
Ephesians 5:1-10 ← search phrase
Ephesians 5:5 ← no match: 5 ≠ 1
Ephesians 5:1-11 ← no match: 1 ≠ 0
So now that we know the problems, let’s look at how to work around them in each database.
The ATLA Religion Database has good Scripture citation indexing, but the search interface for doing this kind of searching, despite recent improvements, is rather quirky. Therefore, there are a couple different search strategies that one can use. Each has its pros and cons, and a combination of strategies is required in order to be thorough.
When using the ATLA Hierarchical Scripture Authority search mode, the computer attempts to correctly interpret the verse ranges cited on the database records. The user is allowed to select an individual chapter or verse and the computer will attempt to display all the articles about the chosen chapter or verse specifically, as well as all the articles about any range of verses that includes the chosen chapter or verse.
Pros: Interprets Scripture ranges on the database records (in theory).
Cons: Only works on individual chapters or verses; it does not allow the user to enter a range to search on (although a work-around for small ranges is possible). Seems buggy—certain ranges are not interpreted correctly, which leads to the search results being incomplete.
At the top of the search screen, click on the link in the toolbar labeled “Scriptures”.
A Work-Around for Small Verse Ranges
When executing a search through the ATLA Hierarchical Scripture Authority, you’ll notice something similar to the following in the search box at the top of the results page.
Let’s say that this is the first verse in your desired range. Copy and paste the entire contents of the first search box into the second. Change the verse number to the second verse in your desired range, and switch the “AND” operator to “OR”. Repeat for each verse in your desired range, adding rows as necessary.
The Scripture Citation Index is a list of all the verse ranges cited on all the records in the database. The ATLA Religion Database allows you to browse this index and select any Scripture citations you deem relevant. Then, it will automatically construct a search that will display all the articles that are about any of the Scripture citations you chose.
Pros: You can create a highly targeted search.
Cons: You can easily miss a relevant Scripture citation in the list, especially since the sorting of the list is counter-intuitive (see more below). Ranges are not interpreted.
At the top of the search screen, click on the link in the toolbar labeled “Indexes”.
Click the “Add” button to add the selected Scripture citations to your search. Be sure to leave the “or” operator selected.
One way to get at articles on a large range of verses is to perform a search at the chapter level and then manually filter through the results picking out the articles that are about the verses of interest.
Pros: Search is quick and easy to construct.
Cons: Won’t necessarily pull up articles on broader ranges. Manually filtering through all the irrelevant results can take time.
Why do we read? The answer, of course, is to understand. But what does it take to grasp the point of a particular book? What are the skills needed to read well? While certain texts may be harder to understand than others, it is important to employ the basic principles of good reading, so that each book can be read and evaluated according to the reader’s needs.
If we are to understand our reading, then we must engage the text with full attention. This requires thoughtful pre-reading and active engagement with the book.
The purpose of pre-reading is to understand as much information as possible about the book before reading through it completely. The more information generated before reading, the easier it will be to understand the author’s thesis. Pre-reading involves critically examining the parts of the book most often overlooked: the front and back covers of the book, the Preface, the Table of Contents, and the Conclusion. An examination of these parts should give the reader an accurate picture of the book, including the main theme, the intended audience, and the historical situation of the book.
After pre-reading, actively engage the text chapter by chapter, always keeping in mind the author’s thesis. Read as if the author was engaging you in a conversation. Actively participate by observing and evaluating the content and structure of the writing. Dialogue by taking notes on what the author is saying, how it is said, and what questions you have in response. After finishing each chapter, take a moment to write down final thoughts and reactions to the material.
After completing a book, the reader should know the basic thesis of the book as well as the intricacies of the argument. Evaluate the notes you took while reading and record your reactions to the book as a whole. If possible, compare the book to others on the same topic.
Read the back of the book. Many times, there will be a short summary of the topics undertaken in the book.
Read the Preface. Often, an author uses the preface to include any important information about the book that would interfere with the structure of the book were this information to be included in the chapters. Note: not all prefaces will cover this material.
Read the Table of Contents. This offers a brief overview of the structure of the book and can give a window into the author’s method of proving the thesis.
Read the Conclusion. If there is not a formal conclusion, read the last few pages of the last chapter. Take note of the conclusions to see if and how they are proven in the book. As all books are finite, do not ignore the author’s conclusions just because the book does not consider every issue.
Find out the main point of the chapter. Read the introduction and conclusion of the chapter to understand why the author included this chapter in the book.
Observe how the main point is developed. Scan any subheadings to understand how the author is developing the chapter’s main point.
Resume reading from the beginning. Evaluate the chapter’s substance and whether the author succeeds at conveying the chapter’s message.
Further questions to ask when reading:
Set the proper reading environment. Sit up straight in a good chair. Lay the book at an angle, instead of flat on a surface. Make sure there are good sources of light available.
Always read the Introduction or Preface to the book. Here, the author often states the main message of the book, along with situating the book within the historical dialogue and stating the intended audience.
Engage the book physically to best engage it intellectually. Follow the words with your fingers, not just with your eyes.
Record your thoughts. Write down the answers to the questions you asked during the reading and your reactions to the material. Take notes, but DO NOT WRITE IN LIBRARY BOOKS. If you do not own the book, make use of sticky notes, flags, or a writing journal. If the book is yours, make liberal use of underlining and marginal notes.
Avoid the temptation to stop reading when confused. Try to complete the section or chapter that you are reading before using other sources for help. Pay attention to the way the author addresses specific terms or concept. Try to understand the author using the author’s own words. The more times you stop in the middle of a chapter, the harder it will be to grasp the author’s point.
For more, see How to Read a Book, revised and updated edition, by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, 1972).
A research paper is an essay, not a report. A report is a presentation of information gleaned from research, whereas an essay is a reasoned investigation that makes definite assertions and supports and defends those assertions. Some marks of a good paper are: clarity of expression, rigor in argumentation, correctness in form, balance in judgment, fairness in handling opposing views, breadth of coverage, discipline in focus, and plausibility of conclusions in light of all the relevant evidence.
The research paper follows standard academic writing procedures (this does not mean it must be boring). This means that the paper is written in your own words, with proper credit given when quoting or referring to words or ideas from another person. The paper should also be written in good English, which includes proper spelling and grammar as well as prose that is free from informal English (slang, appeals to the reader, contractions, etc.). The text should be clear, coherent, and as concise as possible—wordiness does not equal scholarliness.
This section seeks to lay out the process of writing an exegetical paper, not the exegetical method itself. For a discussion of how to do exegesis, or the questions to ask in exegesis, see either your professor or one of the many good books explaining the process, such as these:
The writing of an exegetical paper typically entails the following phases:
The typical exegetical paper is comprised of the following five sections:
Unless your professor requests otherwise, the following conventions are recommended.
A book review or book response is more than a book report. A report may be a summary of the contents, ideology and tools of a book, whereas a review or response is a reasoned investigation into the significance of the book’s contents or the successful demonstration of an author’s conclusion. Some marks of a good review are: clarity of expression, understanding of the author’s assertions or thesis, fairness in handling opposing views, consideration of the relevant historical discussion, and critical engagement with the text.
Book reviews follow standard academic writing procedures (this does not mean boring). This means that the paper is written in your own words, with proper credit given when quoting or referring to words or ideas from the book being reviewed. The paper should also be written in good English, which includes proper spelling and grammar as well as prose that is free from informal English (slang, appeals to the reader, contractions, etc.). The text should be clear, coherent, and as concise as possible—wordiness does not equal scholarliness.
The following tips are for writing book reviews or responses for class assignments here at Covenant. Always check with your professor about format preferences. If you are planning to write a book review for a peer-reviewed journal or periodical, make sure to follow the journal’s guidelines.
Unless your professor requests otherwise, the following conventions are recommended.
The Genogram paper is not a family history but rather is characterized by discussion and analysis of dynamics within the student’s family. This paper is largely an interpretive analysis of the one-page genogram drawing and should include information and history only as is helpful in demonstrating the underlying feelings, motivations, and reasons involved in the issues of the student’s family. Some marks of a good paper: clarity in expression, discussion/analysis of processes, integration of history and relational dynamics, concise transition between stories and analysis, breadth of coverage, discipline in focus.
The Genogram paper follows standard academic writing procedure but is heart-oriented and reflective in nature. Though citations will most likely be minimal, proper credit should be given if using words or ideas from another person. The paper should also be written in good English, which includes proper spelling and grammar as well as prose that is free from informal English (slang, appeals to the reader, contractions, etc.). The text should be clear, coherent, and as concise as possible.
This section seeks to lay out the process of writing the genogram paper, not give methods for how to draw your one-page genogram or analyze the family dynamics. For tips on these processes, see your professor or some of the following resources:
Choose a topic/focus. Based on the patterns you see on your genogram, choose the relational patterns/topics to focus. This focus should be narrow enough in scope for you to cover adequately in your paper and should be a prevalent theme throughout your genogram.
Formulate a thesis. This one-sentence assertion will summarize the issues you plan to focus on in your paper. A thesis should be narrow and doable, yet challenging and interesting to you and your reader.
Research/plan using class material and outside resources, explore processes. Take notes of key themes you will discuss in your paper and group similar thoughts together. Revise thesis if necessary. Using these groups, follow the lead of your thesis to build an outline.
Write your paper using the outline you have built.
Unless your professor requests otherwise, the following conventions are recommended.
LibX Covenant Seminary Edition allows you to easily search and access library resources with your web browser.
The Covenant Library search plug-ins allow you to search the Covenant and MOBIUS catalogs directly from your web browser's built-in search box. (Supported by Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Chrome.)
Interested in improving your research or writing project?
The following categories offer resources aimed at improving every step of a writing project, from initial research to putting the final touches on the completed project. Most categories include general resources as well as resources specific to the field of theological research.
★ = highly recommended
These resources assist writers in proper grammar and sentence mechanics, as well as correct vocabulary usage.
For students interested in improving research skills, these resources detail the general research process as well guiding specialized theological research. Each book offers direction for locating and analyzing both print and electronic resources.
For students interested in improving writing skills, these resources move from the research process to the writing process, demonstrating effective outlining, vigorous writing, persuasive arguing and clear editing. The resources help students to improve writing, making good communication into great writing.
For students needing instruction on proper citation and formatting, these resources provide the necessary guidance. Covering both APA and Chicago Style, these resources guide students through the technicalities of citation, style and format.
For students writing a thesis or dissertation, these resources either detail the entire research project or focus primarily on thesis/dissertation writing.
The Curriculum Resource Center (CRC) is a collection of Christian education materials for children and adults, including Bible study courses, Sunday school program kits, and audio-visual materials. It is designed primarily to meet the needs of the MAEM program; however, it is also a valuable resource for anyone working in a Christian education ministry.
Anyone may access to the Curriculum Resource Center upon request at the Library front desk. A librarian will be glad to open the CRC for you and help you get started.
Materials in the CRC are for reference use only and may NOT be checked out.
The Tait Rare Book Collection houses over 1,000 works from as far back as 1540. The primary focus of the collection is English Puritan works from the 17th and 18th centuries. The collection also contains many works and sermons from early Reformers and others since the Reformation.
Anyone with a legitimate research reason may, upon speaking with a librarian, be given supervised access to materials from the collection.
Materials may be viewed and read under the direction of a librarian; however, they will not loaned out to individuals or other libraries under any circumstances. All access to the collection is in person at the Buswell Library under supervision of the librarian. Requests to copy pages are dealt with on a case-by-case basis by the librarian.
Contact Denise Pakala (314.392.4104) for more information.
Housed in the W. Harold Mare Institute for Biblical and Archaeological Studies building on the Seminary campus, the Mare collection offers an extensive library of materials on biblical archaeology and ancient cultures of the lands of the Bible.
If you would like to see an item from the Mare collection, please talk to a librarian at the Buswell Library. We will arrange to have the materials brought to the Buswell Library for you within 24 hours.
Materials from the Mare collection are for reference use only and may NOT be checked out.
These guides provide valuable recommendations for a variety of print resources and web sites.
This list is intended to give the student and pastor an introduction to the major reference works available for the study of the Bible in English. There are many other tools available for aiding in the study of the Bible from the original languages – these are included in a separate guide.
This list is intended to give the student and pastor an introduction to the major reference works available for the study of the Bible in Greek and Hebrew. Those works intended to help with the study of the Bible in English (or in general, e.g., Bible dictionaries) are covered in a separate guide.
This guide is intended to aid those seeking reference works dealing with theology, ethics, or philosophy. It is a listing of many of the reference works that are available for finding information regarding topics and issues of these areas.
This guide is intended to aid those seeking to learn more about church history. It is a listing of many of the reference works that are available for finding information regarding the people, places, events, and movements that have influenced the church throughout the ages.
This guide is intended to be a helpful introduction and guide to those reference works owned by the Covenant Library of particular use to counseling students and counselors.
Always start your research from the Library homepage, which is your gateway to a wealth of research resources. Here is a sampler of what you'll find.
Books are valuable tools for research. Their comprehensive nature can help you learn about new subjects or provide you with greater depth of understanding for subjects you have already studied.
Journal articles give you focused information about a particular topic, and are often the best way to get the most up-to-date research. They are excellent sources for doing original research on a topic, and are also a great complement to what you find in commentaries. While you are enrolled in classes you can access our full collection of online databases from anywhere in the world. If you would like to browse all the databases that are available, then check the full list on the Library homepage. You can narrow that list to a particular subject area of interest, such as Religion and Theology, Counseling and Psychology, or Education. See also: Off-Campus Access To Electronic Resources
Although your local public library may not have a finely honed theology section, it is still a valuable resource for your research needs. Libraries like to share, so any book or article that you need can most likely be obtained by your public library through Interlibrary Loan—usually at no or little cost. Just take the complete citation (title, author, source, date, pages, etc. as applicable) to the the Reference Librarian and ask about requesting the item through Interlibrary Loan. Be aware, however, that an Interlibrary Loan request can take up to two weeks to arrive in most places, so put your requests in early.
Whenever you're taking a class and you're in St. Louis, you're welcome to use the Covenant Seminary Library. Books check out for 3 weeks and can be renewed twice by phone or online for an additional 3 weeks each time. That's up to 9 weeks total. When the books are due back you can simply pack them up carefully in a box and mail them back to us. (Be sure to send them off a couple days before they're due in order to avoid overdue charges.)
A Covenant Seminary Photo ID/Library card can be a handy thing to have. You will need to know your ID card number in order to access the online databases (although you can also find this number in the Library Tools section of the Portal). A Covenant Seminary ID will also allow you to check out books from the Covenant Seminary Library when you come to visit us. If you would like to get an ID card, contact the Distance Education or Doctor of Ministry office so they can walk you through submitting a photo.
If you need help with research for your coursework, thesis, or dissertation, the Library staff will be glad to help. Phone: 314-392-4100 Email: library@covenantseminary.edu
Journal articles give you focused information about a particular topic, and are often the best way to get the most up-to-date research. They are excellent sources for doing original research on a topic, and are also a great complement to what you find in commentaries.
Books are valuable tools for continuing education. Their comprehensive nature can help you learn about new subjects or provide you with greater depth of understanding for subjects you have already studied.
Although your local public library may not have a finely honed theology section, it is still a valuable resource for your research needs. Libraries like to share, so any book or article that you need can most likely be obtained by your public library through Interlibrary Loan—usually at no or little cost. Just take the complete citation (title, author, source, date, pages, etc. as applicable) to the the Reference Librarian and ask about requesting the item through Interlibrary Loan. Be aware, however, that an Interlibrary Loan request can take up to two weeks to arrive in most places, so put your requests in early.
Alumni who live in the St. Louis area are welcome to use the Covenant Seminary Library. Ask at the circulation desk to get a free Alumni card, so that you can check out books from our collection. Also, feel free to make use of any of our electronic resources while you're on campus. Unfortuatly, we cannot extend to you MOBIUS or ILL borrowing priveledges, nor off-campus access to electronic resources besides ATLA Serials.
This guide has been prepared by the Buswell Library as a quick reference tool that highlights a selection of important commentaries on each book of the Bible. Different works emphasize historical, linguistic, or theological aspects of the text—few are outstanding in all areas. We have not limited our selections to those with which we agree theologically, nor would all be regarded as “Reformed” or “Evangelical”. This guide is meant as a starting point for research and exegesis; many, if not most, students will want to consult additional sources.
The following are commentaries, listed in cannonical order, that the Library has purchased in order to add non-Western perspectives to our collection.
Judges is sometimes treated along with Joshua in a single commentary.
Ruth is sometimes treated along with Joshua, Judges, and/or Esther in a single commentary.
Esther is sometimes treated along with Ruth or Ezra/Nehemiah in a single commentary.
Ecclesiastes is sometimes treated along with Proverbs and/or Song of Songs in a single commentary.
Song of Songs is sometimes treated along with Proverbs and/or Ecclesiastes in a single commentary.
Lamentations is sometimes treated along with Jeremiah in a single commentary.
See also commentaries on Colossians & Philemon in the Colossians section.
see Turabian §17.2 (pp. 181 ff.)
| note | 1 John A. Doe, “Title of Article,” Title of Journal enumeration (date): pages. |
| bibliography | Doe, John A. “Title of Article.” Title of Journal enumeration (date): pages. |
For enumeration, the volume number immediately follows the periodical title without any intervening punctuation (e.g., Ex Auditu 21). If an issue number is also given, it is added after the volume number and preceded by a comma and the abbreviation “no.” (e.g., Faith and Philosophy 25, no. 3). However, if the periodical uses only issue numbers, and not volume numbers, then the issue number is placed after the periodical title, but is preceded by a comma and the abbreviation “no.” (e.g., Image, no. 58). In all cases use arabic numerals even if the periodical uses roman numerals.
For the date, follow the format used by the periodical—this could be a season (e.g., Spring 2007), a month (e.g., March 2007), or a specific day (e.g., March 15, 2007).
see Turabian §17.2.1–5 (pp. 181–184)
| note | 1 David Clyde Jones, “The Westminster Confession on Divorce and Remarriage,” Presbyterion 16, no. 1 (Spring 1990): 32. |
| bibliography | Jones, David Clyde. “The Westminster Confession on Divorce and Remarriage.” Presbyterion 16, no. 1 (Spring 1990): 17-40. |
Note that for journal ariticles a colon is used before the page numbers.
see Turabian §17.3 (pp. 185–186)
| note | 1 Robert Peterson, “Prophet, Priest, & King: The Perfect One of Israel,” Covenant, Fall 2004, 4. |
| bibliography | Peterson, Robert. “Prophet, Priest, & King: The Perfect One of Israel.” Covenant, Fall 2004, 2–5. |
Note that magazines are usually cited by date only, even if a volume and/or issue number is given. Also note that the page numbers are preceded by a comma, not a colon.
see Turabian §17.4 (pp. 186–188)
| note | 1 Amy White, “At One with the Shepherd,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 20, 2003. |
| bibliography | [Newspaper articles are usually not included in the bibliography.] |
Note that pages numbers are omitted from the citation for a newspaper article.
see Turabian §17.1.1 (pp. 162–167)
| note | 1 Charles Kuykendall and C. John Collins, “1 Peter 3:15a: A Critical Review of English Versions,” Presbyterion 29, no. 2 (Fall 2003): 81. |
| bibliography | Kuykendall, Charles, and C. John Collins. “1 Peter 3:15a: A Critical Review of English Versions.” Presbyterion 29, no. 2 (Fall 2003): 76–84. |
see Turabian §17.5.4 (p. 192)
The following form can be used for citing reviews of individual books. Longer review articles (especially those that cover multiple works) and full-fledged literature reviews are more aptly cited using the form above for a journal article.
| note | 1 Michael D. Williams, review of The Evangelical Left: Encountering Postconservative Evangelical Theology, by Millard J. Erickson, Presbyterion 23, no. 2 (Fall 1997): 119. |
| bibliography | Williams, Michael D. Review of The Evangelical Left: Encountering Postconservative Evangelical Theology, by Millard J. Erickson. Presbyterion 23, no. 2 (Fall 1997): 119–120. |
see Turabian §17.1 (pp. 162 ff.)
| note | 1 John A. Doe, Title of Book (Location: Publisher, year), pages. |
| bibliography | Doe, John A. Title of Book. Location: Publisher, year. |
see Turabian pp. 162–163
| note | 1 V. Philips Long, The Art of Biblical History (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994), 123. |
| bibliography | Long, V. Philips. The Art of Biblical History. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994. |
see Turabian p. 163
If the book has just two or three authors, list all of the authors' names in both the note and the bibliography.
| note | 1 William W. Klein, Robert L. Hubbard, Jr., and Craig L. Blomberg, Introduction to Biblical Interpretation (Dallas: Word Books, 1993), 74. |
| bibliography | Klein, William W., Robert L. Hubbard, Jr., and Craig L. Blomberg. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Dallas: Word Books, 1993. |
If the book has four or more authors, list only the first author's name followed by “et al.” (Latin, et alii, “and others”) in the note. In the bibliography, list all of the authors.
| note | 1 Quentin J. Schultze et al., Dancing in the Dark: Youth, Popular Culture and the Electronic Media (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1991), 189. |
| bibliography | Schultze, Quentin J., Roy M. Anker, James D. Bratt, William D. Romanowski, John W. Worst, and Lambert Zuidervaart. Dancing in the Dark: Youth, Popular Culture and the Electronic Media. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1991. |
see Turabian p. 164
| note | 1 William S. Barker and Samuel T. Long, eds., Sermons that Shaped America (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2004), 79. |
| bibliography | Barker, William S., and Samuel T. Long, eds. Sermons that Shaped America. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing, 2004. |
Note: If there is only one editor, use the singular abbreviation “ed.” instead of the plural “eds.”
see Turabian pp. 163–164
| note | 1 Gerhard Maier, Biblical Hermeneutics, trans. Robert W. Yarbrough (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1994), 17. |
| 2 C. S. Lewis, Christian Reflections, ed. Walter Hooper (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1967), 83. | |
| bibliography | Maier, Gerhard. Biblical Hermeneutics. Translated by Robert W. Yarbrough. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1994. |
| Lewis, C. S. Christian Reflections. Edited by Walter Hooper. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1967. |
Note: If the book has both an editor and a translator, list them in the order in which they appear on the title page of the book.
see Turabian §17.1.3 (pp. 170–171)
Only specify the edition if you are citing an edition other than the first. Use abbreviations whenever possible (e.g., 2nd ed., rev. ed.).
| note | 1 Bryan Chapell, Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI : Baker Academic, 2005), 22. |
| bibliography | Chapell, Bryan. Christ-Centered Preaching: Redeeming the Expository Sermon. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI : Baker Academic, 2005. |
Note: The first letter of the edition designation should be lowercase in the note and uppercase in the bibliography.
see Turabian §17.1.3 (p. 171)
Specify the publication date of the original printing and then give the publication details of the version that you consulted, indicating that they refer to the reprint edition. In the footnote, place a semi-colon after the original’s date of publication, and use the abbreviation “repr.”.
| note | 1 Edward Payson, Sermons for Christian Families: On the Most Important Relative Duties (1832; repr., Birmingham, AL: Solid Ground Christian Books, 2009), 55. |
| bibliography | Payson, Edward. Sermons for Christian Families: On the Most Important Relative Duties. 1832. Reprint, Birmingham, AL: Solid Ground Christian Books, 2009. |
see Turabian §17.1.4 (pp. 171–172)
In a note, put the cited volume number immediately before the page number and separate them with a colon. In the bibliography entry, indicate the volume number that you cited in your notes.
| note | 1 Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1946), 2:257. |
| bibliography | Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology. Vol. 2. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1946. |
If you cited more than one volume in your notes, then you may cite the set as a whole in the bibliography by indicating the total number of volumes in the set.
| bibliography | Hodge, Charles. Systematic Theology. 3 vols. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1946. |
see Turabian §17.1.5 (pp. 172–173)
If a book is part of a formal series (such as a commentary series, or a series of published papers), the name of the series may be included in the citation. The series title should be presented in roman type (not italicized).
If the items within the series are numbered, the number of the work cited may optionally be included immediately after the series title with no intervening punctuation or designations such as “vol.” or “no.” (e.g., New Testament Studies 5). However, if the series uses multiple levels of enumeration (e.g., vol. 3, no. 1 or no. 37, pt. 2), then include the abbreviated designations and place a comma before each. Some series are so large that their numbering has been started over in later publications. In such cases give an appropriate designation such as “o.s.” (old series), “n.s.” (new series), “2nd ser.,” etc. between the series title and the item number with a comma on either side (e.g., Theological Studies, n.s., 24).
| note | 1 Stephen S. Smalley, 1, 2, 3 John, Word Biblical Commentary (Waco, TX: Word Books, 1984), 82. |
| 2 Michael Parsons, Luther and Calvin on Old Testament Narratives: Reformation Thought and Narrative Text, Texts and Studies in Religion 106 (Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 2004), 167. | |
| bibliography | Smalley, Stephen S. 1, 2, 3 John. Word Biblical Commentary. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1984. |
| Parsons, Michael. Luther and Calvin on Old Testament Narratives: Reformation Thought and Narrative Text. Texts and Studies in Religion 106. Lewiston, NY: Edwin Mellen Press, 2004. |
When citing a book that involves some combination of editors, translators, multiple volumes, multiple editions, a series title, etc., build the citation piece by piece in the following order using the guidance in the sections above to format each individual element.
| note | 2 Walther Zimmerli, Ezekiel: A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel, trans. Ronald E. Clements, ed. Frank Moore Cross and Klaus Baltzer with Leonard Jay Greenspoon, Hermeneia (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979–83), 1:142. |
| 3 G. V. Lechler and K. Gerok, Theological and Homiletical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles: Specially Designed and Adapted for the Use of Ministers and Students, ed. J. P. Lange, trans. Paton J. Gloag, 2nd ed., Clark's Foreign Theological Library (Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1869), 1:52. | |
| bibliography | Zimmerli, Walther. Ezekiel: A Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Ezekiel. Translated by Ronald E. Clements. Edited by Frank Moore Cross and Klaus Baltzer with Leonard Jay Greenspoon. 2 vols. Hermeneia. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1979–83. |
| Lechler, G. V., and K. Gerok. Theological and Homiletical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles: Specially Designed and Adapted for the Use of Ministers and Students. Edited by J. P. Lange. Translated by Paton J. Gloag. 2nd ed. 2 vols. Clark's Foreign Theological Library. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1869. |
see Turabian §17.1.8 (pp. 177–180)
| note | 1 C. John Collins, “What the Reader Wants and the Translator Can Give: 1 John as a Test Case,” in All for Jesus: A Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Covenant Theological Seminary, ed. Robert A. Peterson and Sean Michael Lucas (Fearn, Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor, 2006), 347. |
| bibliography | Collins, C. John. “What the Reader Wants and the Translator Can Give: 1 John as a Test Case.” In All for Jesus: A Celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Covenant Theological Seminary, edited by Robert A. Peterson and Sean Michael Lucas, 333–59. Fearn, Ross-shire, Great Britain: Mentor, 2006. |
Note: Be sure to include the full page range of the essay/article in the bibliography entry.
see Turabian §17.6.1 (pp. 194–195)
| note | 1 Mark L. Dalbey, “A Biblical, Historical, and Contemporary Look at the Regulative Principle of Worship” (D.Min. diss., Covenant Theological Seminary, 1999), 92. |
| bibliography | Dalbey, Mark L. “A Biblical, Historical, and Contemporary Look at the Regulative Principle of Worship.” D.Min. diss., Covenant Theological Seminary, 1999. |
Note: A dissertation is a requirement of a doctoral degree; a writing project for any other degree is a thesis. If you are citing a thesis, replace “diss.” (as in the above example) with “thesis”.
see Turabian §17.5.3 (pp. 191–192)
Standard, well-known reference works are usually cited in the notes only, and are excluded from the bibliography. Such works may be cited using standard abbreviations, such as those found in the SBL Handbook of Style; or by title alone, omitting the other publication details.
For works that are arranged alphabetically, you may use the relevant entry name preceded by “s.v.” (Latin, sub verbo, “under the word”; pl. s.vv.) in place of the volume and page numbers. However, when the entries are signed (i.e. the contributor who authored each entry is indicated), you should instead adapt the note format for citing an essay/article within a book (note 2 below).
| note | 1 BDAG, s.v. “εἴδωλον, ου, τό” |
| 2 Christopher J. H. Wright, “אֶרֶץ,” in NIDOTTE, 1:520. |
Lesser known reference works should be cited in full in both the notes and the bibliography.
| note | 10 John Christman, “Property Rights,” in Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics, ed. Ruth Chadwick (San Diego: Academic Press, 1998), 3:689. |
| bibliography | Christman, John. “Property Rights.” In Encyclopedia of Applied Ethics, edited by Ruth Chadwick, 3:683–692. San Diego: Academic Press, 1998. |
see Turabian §17.7.1 (p. 198)
When citing web sites, try to include as many of the following items as possible: author of the page cited (or else the name of the person or entity responsible for the web site as a whole), title of the page cited, name of the web site, URL of the page cited, and access date.
| note | 1 Daniel B. Wallace, “A Brief Word Study on Skuvbalon,” Bible.org, http://bible.org/page.php?page_id=5318 (accessed November 11, 2008). |
| bibliography | Wallace, Daniel B. “A Brief Word Study on Skuvbalon.” Bible.org. http://bible.org/page.php?page_id=5318 (accessed November 11, 2008). |
If a URL must be broken at the end of a line, the break should be made after a double slash (//) or a single slash (/); or before any other punctuation marks or symbols (period, hyphen, underline [_], question mark, equals sign, ampersand, number sign, percent symbol, tilde [~], comma, etc.).
see Turabian §17.7.2 (p. 199)
Follow the basic pattern for citing a web site and include that date that the entry was posted. Blog entries generally do not need to be included in your bibliography, unless an entry is of particular significance to your work and/or cited frequently.
| note | 1 Sean Lucas, “The Difference Between a Lecture and a Sermon,” Ref21 Blog, entry posted January 19, 2012, http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2012/01/the-difference-between-a-lectu.php (accessed April 11, 2013). |
If a URL must be broken at the end of a line, the break should be made after a double slash (//) or a single slash (/); or before any other punctuation marks or symbols (period, hyphen, underline [_], question mark, equals sign, ampersand, number sign, percent symbol, tilde [~], comma, etc.).
see Turabian §17.2.7 (p. 185)
Follow the form for an article in print, and then add the URL for the article and the date on which you accessed it.
| note | 1 Greg Smith, “Global Systems and Religious Diversity in the Inner City: Migrants in the East End of London,” International Journal on Multicultural Societies 2, no. 1 (2000): 28, http://www.unesco.org/shs/ijms/vol2/issue1/art2 (accessed July 17, 2008). |
| bibliography | Smith, Greg. “Global Systems and Religious Diversity in the Inner City: Migrants in the East End of London.” International Journal on Multicultural Societies 2, no. 1 (2000): 16–39. http://www.unesco.org/shs/ijms/vol2/issue1/art2 (accessed July 17, 2008). |
If a page number is not available for the note, include a descriptive locator such as the heading under which the quote can be found.
| note | 1 Greg Smith, “Global Systems and Religious Diversity in the Inner City: Migrants in the East End of London,” International Journal on Multicultural Societies 2, no. 1 (2000), under “7. Impact of the Global Missions Movement,” http://www.unesco.org/shs/ijms/vol2/issue1/art2 (accessed July 17, 2008). |
If a URL must be broken at the end of a line, the break should be made after a double slash (//) or a single slash (/); or before any other punctuation marks or symbols (period, hyphen, underline [_], question mark, equals sign, ampersand, number sign, percent symbol, tilde [~], comma, etc.).
see Turabian §17.1.10 (p. 181)
Follow the form for a book in print, and then add the URL for the item and the date on which you accessed it.
| note | 1 John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. Henry Beveridge (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1989), 53, http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.iii.vi.html (accessed September 29, 2008). |
| bibliography | Calvin, John. Institutes of the Christian Religion. Translated by Henry Beveridge. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1989. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html (accessed September 29, 2008). |
If a page number is not available for the note, include a descriptive locator such as the heading under which the quote can be found.
| note | 1 John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, trans. Henry Beveridge (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1989), under “4,” http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.iii.vi.html (accessed September 29, 2008). |
If a URL must be broken at the end of a line, the break should be made after a double slash (//) or a single slash (/); or before any other punctuation marks or symbols (period, hyphen, underline [_], question mark, equals sign, ampersand, number sign, percent symbol, tilde [~], comma, etc.).
see Turabian §17.8.4 (pp. 202–203)
Include as much information as possible about the recording, including the names of the performers, the name of the production company, any identifying numbers (catalog number, etc.), and the media format (CD, audiocassette, etc.).
| note | 1 Jerram Barrs, The God of Grace and Glory, L'Abri Audio Library (Chesterton, IN: Sound Word Associates, 2003), CD. |
| 2 N. T. Wright, The Redemption of Creation, RGCD2900B1, disc 3 of Kingdom, Spirit & the People of God: Eschatology and the Church's Task and Role in Pauline Theology (Vancouver, BC: Regent College, 1999), CD. | |
| bibliography | Barrs, Jerram. The God of Grace and Glory. L'Abri Audio Library. Chesterton, IN: Sound Word Associates, 2003. CD. |
| Wright, N. T. Kingdom, Spirit & the People of God: Eschatology and the Church's Task and Role in Pauline Theology. Vancouver, BC: Regent College, 1999. 6 CDs. |
see Turabian §17.8.5 (p. 203)
Generally, follow the pattern for books and then indicate the media format (DVD, VHS, etc.).
| note | 1 Susan Heitler, The Angry Couple: Conflict-focused Treatment (Hicksville, NY: Newbridge Communications, 1995), VHS. |
| bibliography | Heitler, Susan. The Angry Couple: Conflict-focused Treatment. Hicksville, NY: Newbridge Communications, 1995. VHS. |
see Turabian §17.6.2 (p. 195)
| note | 1 David Calhoun, “Ancient and Medieval Church History,” (Lecture, Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO, November 14, 2002). |
| bibliography | Calhoun, David. “Ancient and Medieval Church History.” Lecture, Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis, MO, November 14, 2002. |
see Turabian §16.4 (pp. 154 ff.)
If you are citing the same source multiple times in a row, you may use “Ibid.” (Latin, ibidem, “in the same place”) followed by the page number (if different). (See Turabian §16.4.2.)
15 V. Philips Long, The Art of Biblical History (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994), 123.
16 Ibid.
17 Ibid., 126.
If there are intervening citations to other works, you can use shortened citations after the first full citation.
20 Long, 95.
or
20 Long, Art of Biblical History, 95.
Including the title of the book or article is only required if necessary for clarity, such as when you cite multiple works by the same author. Likewise, when citing works by different authors with the same last name, you should include each author's first name in the shortened citations. (See Turabian §16.4.1.)
see Turabian §17.10 (p. 215)
If you find a useful quote from another source in the one that you are reading, you should try to find the original source of the quote so that you can examine it in context. However, if you cannot track down the original, you may use the following form.
| note | 1 David C. Steinmetz, “The Protestant Minister and the Teaching Office of the Church,” Theological Education 19 (1983): 57, quoted in D. A. Carson, Exegetical Fallacies (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996), 92. |
| bibliography | Steinmetz, David C. “The Protestant Minister and the Teaching Office of the Church.” Theological Education 19 (1983): 45–64. Quoted in D. A. Carson, Exegetical Fallacies. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 1996. |
Search for historical documents, personal papers and family histories held in archives throughout the world. ArchiveGrid includes nearly a million detailed descriptions of archival collections held by thousands of libraries, museums, historical societies, and archives worldwide.
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Be sure to check out Journal of Reformed Theology 4, no. 1 (2010) for some good book reviews. One is of Calvin, Participation, and the …
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Prior to his arrival at Covenant in 1991, Jim had, since 1974, directed the Biblical Theological Seminary Library. His three graduate degrees are from Philadelphia area schools. In 1975 he was ordained and married Denise Marchand. Their son, Kent, now married, was born in 1979. Since 1975, Jim has been involved part time in chaplaincy, first with the military, then with the police. He also has served on several library association boards. Milestones of his time at Covenant include worldwide library integration, tripling the building's size, and fast access to vast digital and physical resources. Library Staff members are paramount to the Library's success, and Jim's gratitude for them is keen!
Steve (MDiv ‘04) began working in the library after graduating from Covenant. As an alumnus, he draws upon his Covenant experience to help current students with their own research, whether through individualized assistance or in-class tutorials. In addition, as a trained librarian, he manages electronic materials and works to ensure the quality of the library’s services. Steve brings to Covenant a passion for applying technology to research and education. When he’s not working, you can often find him walking his neighborhood with his wife, Dorothy, and black lab, Luke.
Chris began working at Covenant in 2010. He spends most of his time at the front desk of the Library assisting students, the Covenant community, and the general public with the various tools and services that the Library offers. Chris uses his professional training to help students at the beginning, middle, and end of their research. When he is away from the Library front desk, Chris is often playing board games or spending time with his wife.
Denise came to Covenant in 1991, having previously been a seminary cataloger in Pennsylvania. She is responsible for the records in the online library catalog and oversees serials, acquisitions, and interlibrary loan. She is passionate about collaboration. When Denise creates a new record, she inputs it into a worldwide database. She actively collaborates with MOBIUS catalogers, seminary catalogers through ATLA, and various Library of Congress initiatives. Denise graduated from Cornell University, majoring in anthropology, and studied at Biblical Seminary. She enjoys crossword puzzles and reading mysteries and history. Denise and her husband, Jim, have a married son, Kent.
Brady (MATS ’04) focuses her library energies on providing students with resources, both in the acquisition of new materials and interlibrary loan services. In addition, she serves as director of the Scribe Writing Center, which offers writing tutorials and instruction to student writers. Brady enjoys reading widely and crafting, and invites you to stop by the Library for a book recommendation and to cuddle her crocheted X-Wing.
Below are listed a selection of commentary series that are generally recommended by the Library based on their overall quality. The quality of individual volumes within a particular series may vary significantly. All volume counts are as of April 2009 and are subject to change as new volumes are published.