Appendix A: Theological Library Resources at Anderson University

Library Basics

The Library Homepage
The Nicholson Library homepage can be visited worldwide at http://library.anderson.edu. The homepage provides access to the Library’s online catalog, WebCat, which indexes and gives location information for books, A-V materials, master’s theses, U.S. government publications, cataloged microforms, maps, music CD’s, etc. owned by Anderson University. No password or identification number is necessary. In addition over 50 general and subject specific electronic periodical indexes can be found through our homepage. Ask a reference librarian for details on off-campus use of these databases. The Encyclopaedia Britannica, several academic Internet sites, Internet search engines and directories, etc. can also be found through the homepage.

Library Hours
Nicholson Library hours for the regular school year are as follows:

Monday through Thursday: 7:45 am –12:00 midnight
Friday: 7:45 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Sunday: 2:30 pm – 12:00 midnight

Our annual academic year schedule, including abbreviated summer and holiday hours, is found on the Library's home page.

Library Resources

The Print Collection
The School of Theology book collection is integrated into the Nicholson Library undergraduate circulating and reference collections. Subject specialties include church history (particularly, Church Of God history), Christian education, ethics, missions, theology, psychology, worship, and women’s issues within the Church.

Indexes and Abstracts
The Nicholson Library subscribes to EBSCO’s electronic Religion Index and its full-text complement, ATLA’s Serials, sponsored by the American Theological Library Association.These databases are found on the Library’s homepage under the designation "Periodical Databases", can be accessed throughout campus and, with an Anderson University password, all over the world. Print counterparts to the electronic index, Religion Index One, which indexes periodicals, Religion Index Two, covering essays collected in books, and the Index to Book Reviews in Religion are found in the Commons Area of the Library. Three abstracting services, New Testament Abstracts, Old Testament Abstracts, and Religious and Theological Abstracts are located there as well. Other subject specific electronic indexes such as PsycInfo/PsycArticles and The Sociological Collection can be invaluable to students from the School of Theology.

Periodical Holdings
Periodical holdings are reflected in the on-line catalog, WebCat.Searching by title will give the record for each journal held by Nicholson Library as well as listing the most current issues received. Accessible from the Nicholson Library homepage is an alphabetical listing of the periodicals held by our library. This list is inclusive for volumes, dates, and format for each title. Also located on the homepage is a list of periodicals that are available through online subscription. Clicking on the periodical title will take the user to the online version of that journal. The Kardex, which is a manual check-in file for journals, is currently maintained, though this will be eliminated in the near future. This file is located near the current periodical display. The arrangement is alphabetical by title and indicates the same information as the online version.

Microforms
Most Nicholson Library microform holdings are in one of two formats: roll microfilm or 4 X 6 inch sheets called microfiche. The library has machines to read and print from both formats. Included in the microforms collection are backfiles of periodicals and newspapers, which are filed alphabetically in cabinets in the microforms area.

The library has microfiche materials relating to American church history and a series of theological and religious microfiche materials from the late 19^th and early 20^th century. The library also owns in microfilm a University Microfilms International Series, Religion in America.

Gospel Trumpet Digital Collection
Through a Lilly grant, all available copies of the Gospel Trumpet have been put in digital format. At this point editing of the scanned pages is not complete; however, keyword searches can be made on this title if needed. Please ask for assistance at the Periodicals Desk in Nicholson Library if you need to search text of the Gospel Trumpet.

Archival Materials The Archives, which contains Anderson University Archives and Church of God Archives, is located on the ground floor of the School of Theology building, contiguous with the entrance to Nicholson Library.

Church of God archival collections include books, magazines, curriculum materials, pamphlets, and tracts published by the Gospel Trumpet Company/Warner Press. They also include reports, minutes, and documents from Church of God general agencies and newsletters, limited congregational histories, photographs, and other materials from state organizations and local congregations.

The Archivist is available during the days and at the hours posted on the signboard outside the Archives door. It is wise to call ahead (765-641-4285) or send an email request for assistance, stating the specific nature of the research and the materials needed (archives@anderson.edu).

If the need is urgent and the Archivist is not available, a Reference or Periodicals librarian in Nicholson Library may be able to assist. Materials may not be removed from the Archives and all use of them must be supervised by the Archivist or a librarian.

Staff
A reference librarian is on duty in the Nicholson Library during most hours the library is open. University librarians assist patrons with one-on-one and classroom computer instruction, research questions, and Interlibrary Loan. Our web site offers e-mail addresses for all faculty and staff librarians. An icon on the Library’s Homepage, ASK A LIBRARIAN, offers e-mail reference assistance to all Anderson University faculty, students, and staff. Please allow 24 hours for a response.

The circulation and periodicals service desks will be staffed at all times, and persons on duty at these points will be able to offer assistance with charging materials, placing holds, obtaining reserve materials, and locating periodicals.

Library Services

“Hold” Requests
When a user needs an item that is currently checked out, he/she may put a hold on the item, so that when the item is returned the user will be notified. An item may also be recalled if it is needed sooner than the due date.

Holds may be placed by users at the online catalog, using the “request” button, or, if preferred, a Student Assistant at the Circulation Desk will place the hold.

Storage Lockers
Lockers, for the storage of personal belongings and checked out library materials, are distributed throughout the Ground Floor stacks. School of Theology students and Adult Education students are given first choice on these lockers.

For a locker assignment and key, see the Circulation Department Supervisor. Assignments are renewable each semester.

Interlibrary Loan
Materials not owned by The Nicholson Library can often be borrowed from other institutions. The user is asked to pay postage costs to return the borrowed item to the lending library, and also to pay any loan fees charged by the lender. For photocopies, which become the property of the requesting user, the user must pay the copying costs assessed by the provider.

Interlibrary loan channels have traditionally been used for book and periodical materials. Interlibrary loan has not as yet become an effective channel for obtaining audio-visual materials.

To obtain interlibrary loan or copy service a user should be able to provide a complete citation, both of the work to be located and of the source through which it was identified. This might be an entry in a bibliography, a citation from a printed index, or an online search citation. Interlibrary loan forms are located outside the ILL office door (Room 054) or can be transmitted online from the library’s homepage. Book request form. Article request form.

Materials are received by U.S. mail or a parcel delivery service. A request may be filled in as little as 3 days, but it is preferable to allow at least 2 weeks lead time in requesting materials through interlibrary loan.

Visits to Other Libraries
Members of the Anderson University community have access to the collections of Bracken Library at Ball State University on a reciprocal borrowing basis. Students must present a current Anderson University ID or valid Indiana driver’s license at the BSU Circulation Desk. The book collections of other state universities in Indiana, such as Indiana or Purdue Universities, can be used by state residents holding a current Indiana driver’s license and one other piece of ID showing a current Indiana address. Libraries which are part of PALNI, (Private Academic Library Network of Indiana), can be used by Anderson University students. Those institutions are:

• Ancilla College
• Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries
• Butler University
• Christian Theological Seminary
• Concordia Theological Seminary
• Depauw University
• Earlham College
• Franklin College
• Goshen College
• Grace College and Theological Seminary
• Hanover College
• Huntington University
• Indiana Wesleyan University
• Manchester College
• Marian College
• Oakland City University
• Saint Joseph’s College
• Saint Meinrad School of Theology
• Taylor University—Fort Wayne
• Taylor University—Upland
• Tri-State University
• University of Indianapolis
• University of Saint Francis
• Valparaiso University
• Wabash College

Please ask at the Circulation Desk for details.