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OC Library Catalog (books in the OC Library)

1. Go to library's Web site (www.oc.edu/library)
2. Select: OC Catalog

1. Go to the library's Web site (www.oc.edu/library)
2. Select: NetLibrary

1. Go to the library's Web site (www.oc.edu/library)
2. Select: WorldCat

NOTE: If you find a book in WorldCat that is not in the OC Library, you can request it on interlibrary loan by clicking on the "ILL" button.

1. Go to the library's Web site (www.oc.edu/library)
2. Select: Other Library Catalogs
3. Select the desired library

Databases

• To access all databases containing articles:

1. Go to the library's Web site (www.oc.edu/library)
2. Select: Find Articles
3. Select: Subject area OR database title (e.g., Religion or Academic Search)

• Databases that contain religious materials:



1. ATLA Religion Database (under Religion)

Indexes articles from scholarly journals in the religious field worldwide, essays in books, and book reviews. Some of the entries are full text, most are just citations. Allows you to limit your search to articles in journals that are in the Beam Library. Also allows you to place an ILL request without leaving ATLA.



2. Academic Search

Online database that covers all disciplines including religion. Some (but not all!) of the entries are full text. Allows you to place an ILL request without leaving Academic Search.



3. ArticleFirst

Online database that covers all disciplines including religion. Entries are citations. Allows you to limit your search to articles in journals that are in the Beam Library. Also allows you to place an ILL request without leaving ArticleFirst.

4. Restoration Serials Index (under Religion)

A subject and author index to religious periodicals associated with the churches of Christ. Citations only.

• Searching Tips
  
  
  1. Boolean operators
     • AND - will retrieve articles that have both terms. Example: If you search on "cat AND dog," you'll get articles about both cats and dogs.
     • OR - will retrieve articles that have either term. (Be sure to put parentheses around words connected by OR.) Example: If you search on "cat OR dog," you'll get articles about cats, about dogs, and about cats and dogs.
     
     
  2. Truncation
     • Truncation allows you to search for different versions of the same word. Basically, you substitute an asterisk (*) for one or more letters. This is a quick and easy way to include plurals, tense variations and alternate spellings. Example: "religio*" will find religious, religion, religions, etc.
     • Be careful when using truncation; "cat*" will find cat, cats, catastrophe, catalog, catapult, etc.

Print Indexes

1. Religion Index One 1949- (Third floor index table)

A subject index to periodical literature including an author/editor and a scripture index. Included in ATLA Religion Database.

 

2. Religious & Theological Abstracts 1967- (Third floor index table)

Summarizes journal articles. Arranged by broad topics. Has a separate subject, author, and scripture index in the last issue of each volume.

 

3. Restoration Serials Index (RSI) 1975- (Third floor index table)

The printed version of the electronic database.

 

4. Old Testament Abstracts 1978- (Third floor index table)

Summarizes journal articles. Arranged by broad topics. The last issue of each volume provides indexes by author, scripture, and words in Hebrew and other ancient languages.

 

5. New Testament Abstracts 1956- (Third floor index table)

Summarizes journal articles. Arranged by broad topics. The last issue of each volume provides indexes by author and scripture.

• After finding a citation to an article, use the E-Journals List (available on the library's Web site) to see if the journal is available online. If not, search the OC Catalog to determine:
  
  
  1. Is the journal in the OC Library? (If not, consider requesting it through interlibrary loan; articles requested through interlibrary loan usually arrive within two weeks.)
     
     
  2. Is the journal on paper, fiche, or film?
     
     
  3. Does the OC Library have the year you need?
  
  

• Look at the links about Religion listed on the library's Web site.
  1. Go to the library's Web site (www.oc.edu/library)
  2. Select: Find Web Sites
  3. Select: Religion
  
  
• Do a search in WorldCat that is limited to "Internet Resources."
  
  
• Search the Web for sites that provide information on your topic, but remember that many Web sites are not reliable and may provide false or misleading information. Some good search engines are:
  1. Google (a search engine that emphasizes academic sites)
  2. Alltheweb
  3. Altavista
  4. Yahoo!
  
  
• More search engines are listed on the Library's Web site -- click on Find Internet Resources, then on Internet Search Services and Tools.

• Interlibrary loan is a service provided to current OC students, faculty and staff to obtain materials NOT held in the OC Library within copyright limitations.
  
  
• Interlibrary loan requests can be made in three ways:
  1. By filling out the online form on the library's Web page
  2. By filling out the paper forms available at the front desk
  3. By clicking on the ILL button available in many of the research databases
  
  
• To fill out the online form:
  1. Go to library's Web site (www.oc.edu/library)
  2. Select: Interlibrary loan (under Request It Online)
  3. Type in the information about the book or article you'd like to request
  4. Press the Send button.
  
  
• When the material arrives, you will be notified by email that the item is available at the front desk.

Please send comments or suggestions to library@oc.edu