The Periodicals Puzzle

Our Library is fortunate enough to have active subscriptions to more than 950 scholarly journals in the area of religious studies; a typical seminary library will have about 600. The ones we receive on paper are displayed in the Current Periodicals area, but people are often a little confused by the way they are shelved.

The journals are ordered alphabetically by title. The most recent issue faces you on the shelf. If you pull up the shelf, there is a space inside where the other issues of the current volume are kept. As soon as that volume is complete, the issues are collected, and then either sent to the bindery or moved directly downstairs to the Periodicals stacks area on Lower Level East. Down there, all of the back issues of these journals are shelved by call number, just like the bookstacks.

We also have more than 250 full-text electronic journals in biblical studies, theology and related areas. Some of these are available to you through the ATLA Religion Database and other resources on our Online Databases page, and another set can be reached through our Electronic Journals page. In addition, many titles outside the religious studies disciplines may be found through FirstSearch or MetaLib. Come and ask the Reference Librarian for more information!

Paula