New Alumni Resources: Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary & Commentaries!

Pitts Theology Library strives to support not only its current students, faculty, and staff, but also Candler and Emory alumni as they enter into ministry, non-profit work, higher education, and more. This includes providing access to resources beyond the library shelves, including over 40 research databases! Pitts is thrilled to announce two new additions to this collection critical for biblical studies: the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary and the Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries.

Usually a first stop for students on the Pitts Ready Reference shelves, the Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary is a six-volume state-of-the-art dictionary of the Bible offering the most up-to-date and comprehensive treatment of biblical subjects and topics. Edited by David Noel Freedman, this extensive resource includes more than 6,000 entries, 7,000,000 words, and features nearly 1,000 contributors. The online version of ABD allows users to search by Person, Place, or Diety, browse A-Z entries, and even view endpaper maps of the Near Eastern world keyed to text for quick location of archaeological and biblical sites.

But the resources don’t stop there! Pitts has also licensed alumni access to the Anchor Yale Bible Commentaries, one of the most trusted and long-running scholarly commentaries series for Biblical Studies scholars. This prestigious commentary series, which spans over 86 volumes, represents the pinnacle of biblical scholarship. The series draws from the wisdom and resources of Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish scholars from around the world.It also includes a book-by-book translation and exegesis of the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Apocrypha to make available all the significant historical and linguistic knowledge which bears on the interpretation of the Bible.

Acquisitions, Serials, and Assessment Librarian Caitlin Soma, who led the effort to add these electronic resources, says “We’re excited to be able to provide our students, faculty, staff, and alumni with access to these valuable resources in a new, more accessible format. Our hope is that by making these resources available for both current students and alumni, we can help the Candler community continue their outstanding research and ministry in and out of the classroom.”

To obtain access to these resources, you need only to register online with the Emory Alumni Association. View step-by-step instructions and a video on alumni resources at pitts.emory.edu/alums.

Questions? Reference librarians are on call and ready to help! Email or chat with an expert at pitts.emory.edu/ask.

Accessing Alumni Library Resources

If you graduated from Candler School of Theology last spring, you might notice that resources you once used online at Pitts are no longer available via your old student NetID. But no worries! Emory alums can still count on Emory Libraries for research support and free resources as you embark on future degree programs and career opportunities.

Emory alums retain select library privileges licensed by Emory libraries, which can be accessed through the Emory Alumni Association. Get started by registering online with the Emory Alumni Association. Your Emory alumni account will be a gateway to premium information resources through EBSCOhost®, offering the latest full-text information in many areas of academic, business, and health-related fields to meet virtually any research need. Of particular interest to theology graduates are the Oxford Biblical Studies Online, the ATLA Database Access for Alumni, The Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception, and the Hermeneia Biblical Commentary Series. Find step-by-step instructions for registering and accessing these databases at pitts.emory.edu/alums. Learn about other resources, including borrowing privileges, special events, and more in the library’s on demand Alumni Access at Pitts Theology Library video!

 

Love Data Week 2021 @ Pitts

February 8th through the 12th is International Love Data Week, which carries the theme “Data: Delivering a Better Future” for 2021. When Covid-19 limited access to physical resources in the building, staff at Pitts Theology Library jumped into action to support remote research and learning across the university. Reserves Specialist Liz Miller, Interlibrary Loan and Circulation Specialist Kailyn Middleton, and Acquisitions Librarian Caitlin Soma went above and beyond to secure resources for Emory faculty, students, and staff since last March, and their data illustrates the results of their hard work (see infographic above). Find stats from other Emory libraries on the Woodruff Blog, and learn more about #LoveData21 at ICPSR’s website

New Pitts Social Media Series: Digital Resources & Thurman Meditations

As Emory students and faculty transition to remote learning, Pitts introduces two new mini-series on social media to keep you updated on library resources.

First, every weekday Pitts will highlight a Daily Digital Resource to support online research for current Emory students, faculty, and staff! Follow the library on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to learn about new electronic acquisitions to the collection for current Emory students, faculty, and staff. You can also find these posts by searching for #dailydigitalresources

The second series comes from the Howard Thurman Digital Archive, which highlights materials in Pitts related to Thurman’s life, particularly audio recordings of Thurman’s sermons, speeches, lectures, and interviews. The audio available on this site has been transcribed so that listeners can follow along as Thurman speaks and jump ahead to specific sections of the audio.

During the present time of turmoil, Pitts Theology Library is providing a daily meditation by the late Howard Thurman, originally broadcast in the 1950s and 60s from the archive. Check in each day to see a new message from the past that resonates with our present.

Don’t miss these great opportunities to take advantage of library resources wherever you might be! 

Pitts Theology Library COVID-19 Updates and Resources

Pitts Theology Library continues to monitor the fluid COVID-19 outbreak and adjust its policies and services in line with recommendations from Emory University and health professionals. See below for updates and changes beginning Monday, March 23, 2020.

Electronic Document Delivery
Beginning Monday, March 23, Pitts Theology Library is limiting service to scanning and delivery for sections of books in the physical collections for all Emory patrons. During the period of remote learning, Pitts will be operating with limited staffing. While we are working hard, in person and remotely, to support our patrons, at times the demand on our services will be greater than our capacity. Therefore, when submitting scan requests, we ask you to have patience and that you provide as much information as possible about your requests. We will do our best to get back to you as soon as possible.

For more information about this service, visit pitts.emory.edu/edd.

 Online Materials
Please check the Pitts Library LibGuides for a general introduction to online resources. Pitts encourages Candler students, faculty, and staff to use the many online resources available to them.

Video Tutorial: Using Online Reference Materials
Video Tutorial: Finding eBooks
Video Tutorial: Finding Articles

Reference Help
Reference help is available M-F, 8:30am – 5:00pm. Visit pitts.emory.edu/ask to email or chat with a librarian. For more in-depth research consultations, visit our appointments website. A librarian will contact you before your meeting by email, phone, or through Zoom.

Building Access
In an effort to maintain social distancing, the Rita Anne Rollins and Pitts Theology Library buildings are now closed to the public.

Circulation
Physical materials are no longer available for circulation. Effective immediately, all due dates for materials currently on loan from any Emory library will be extended through May 11, 2020.  Patrons are asked to keep any items now in their possession until further notice. All fines and late fees incurred between March 11th and May 11th will be waived.

Course Reserves
Physical Course Reserves materials are currently out of circulation. Please contact theologyref@emory.edu for more information. Many textbook publishers are offering free online access to selected required textbooks through Vital Source Helps. Sign up at get.VitalSource.com/vitalsource-helps and select “Bookshelf Login” to find textbooks from participating publishers. Be sure to use your emory.edu email.

Special Collections
The Special Collections department will remain closed for research visits, but patrons may request reproductions (scans or photographs) of rare books and archival materials. Please email Debra Madera (dmadera@emory.edu) for more information about reproductions.

IT Support
IT support for the Emory community can be found at http://help.emory.edu/ or by calling the University Service desk at 404-727-7777.

Questions? Email theologyref@emory.edu. We appreciate your patience during these times of transition regarding the library’s role in remote learning.