Research Help

Sophi Search is a research tool that helps the Austin Seminary community access the resources at the Wright Learning and Information Center. It is an all-inclusive search of the library’s print and electronic materials. This means that instead of searching for materials in EITHER the library catalog, OR a library database (Atla, Credo, etc.), OR the EBSCO eBook Collection OR in an electronic journal, you can search ALL of these separate resources with ONE search!

Sophi Search help page

A guide to all things Sophi Search including what it is, how to search it, and how to access what you find.

Sophi Search Handout (PDF)

Introduces Sophi Search, the library’s main search interface for finding books, journal articles, e-books and other sources for learning in seminary.

Finding Journal Articles (PDF)

Provides guidance on deciphering journal article citations and using this information to track down the full text of an article.

Learn more about the library catalog and its many helpful features on the Meet the Library Catalog page.

E-book Help Page

The library at Austin Seminary provides access to over 500,000 e-books to our researchers. This page on the library's website offers an overview of the process of finding, using, and downloading e-books from the library.

E-books Handout: Regarding E-books (PDF)

Discusses some of the features (and challenges) of e-books and offers an overview of the process of finding, using, and downloading e-books from the library.

E-books Overview (MP4)

Discusses some of the features (and challenges) of e-books and offers an overview of the process of finding, using, and downloading e-books from the library.

Quick guide to downloading and using EBSCO e-books (PDF)

Quick guide to downloading and using e-books on the EBSCO platform (the majority of our e-book collection).

Want to find a print book to read? Look at the instructions for finding print books (both at Austin Seminary and the Seminary of the Southwest) in our library catalog or using Sophi Search.

Here is what the call number will look like in your result list in the library catalog:

And in Sophi Search:

Items that are available for check-out will say "Items available for loan" next to Availability in your result list on the library catalog and will have a green check box and the word "Available" under Status on the Sophi Search result.

Need to know where your newly found book lives in the library? If you click the title in the library catalog you will go to a detailed view that includes the shelving location. On the Sophi Search result, the location is to the left of the call number.

Books in the general collection are shelved in call number order with call numbers that start with “B” on the third floor and continuing down through call numbers starting with “Z” on the first floor. The call numbers for the books in a range of shelving are found on labels at the ends of the shelves.

Usually the shelving location will the open book stacks, indicated by floor. Other locations in the library include: 

• Reading Room – see the historic reading room on the first floor
• Library Services Desk - ask at the Library Services Desk on the first floor
• Storage – ask at the Library Services Desk on the first floor
• Austin Seminary Archives – on the Third Floor, available by appointment

Note that books located at the Wright Center will be at Austin Seminary and books located at the Harrison Library will be at the Seminary of the Southwest. You can also check out our library building maps.

Want to learn more about how call numbers work? We use the Library of Congress system, which uses letters as the first element of the call number. The call number tells you where the book is located on the shelf, and it will be displayed vertically on the spine of the book:

Sometimes call numbers have prefixes. Common prefixes are:

• REF – indicates a reference book in the Reading Room
• PER – indicates that the item is a periodical shelved in the stacks at the call number given after the prefix
• q – indicates an oversized book.  These are shelved in the first floor stacks in the Quarto (oversize) section.

Please check at the circulation desk if you have questions about a call number.

Questions about how many books you can check out and how long you can keep them? You'll want to look at the Policies for borrowing and renewing books on our Using the Library page.

Live outside of Austin and want to see if a print book is available in your area? Try searching on WorldCat.org

• Using the Library

This page includes library policies, hours and location, floor plans, and information on borrowing and renewing books.

• Research Tools

Click here to find links to specific databases, newspapers, magazines, and specialty search tools.

• Research Help

The Research Help page has information on how to use our search tools, databases, and other reference sources. It also includes sections with information on Biblical Studies and Exegesis as well as Research, Writing, and Citations Help.

• Online Resources

This page provides curated links to online resources arranged by topic: Bible, Theology, Preaching and Worship, Church History, Pastoral Care, and Ethics and Social Concerns.

• Theological Writing Resources

Find resources for personalized one-on-one help from our staff as well as information on writing specific types of papers, citations, proofreading, general writing help, and more.

• Austin Seminary Archives

Learn about how to use and access the archives (and take a look at selected digitized materials!), which include documentation of the history of Austin Seminary as well as material that documents Presbyterianism in Texas and the Southwest.

• Alumni Resources

Information on how to continue accessing selected library resources as an alum, as well as a curated list of links to free online resources relating to religion and theology.

Want to learn more? This handout offers a guided tour of the library’s website, highlighting parts of the website that can save students’ time: Library Website Tour (PDF)

If you click on a subscription resource that is limited to current students, faculty, or staff of Austin Seminary, you will be prompted to log in with your seminary credentials.

For more information and troubleshooting tips, see our Off-campus Access to Library Resources page.

Accordance Bible software (available on select computers on campus) draws together a panoply of texts and sophisticated tools necessary for in-depth study of Biblical texts, both original language texts and translations, in a clean, intuitive interface. 

• Accordance User Guide
• Brief Introduction to Accordance Bible Software: Old Testament (PDF)
• Brief Introduction to Accordance Bible Software: New Testament (PDF)
• Properly Citing Accordance Bible software (PDF)

Atla Religion Database with AtlaSerials PLUS 

The Atla Religion Database is the premier resource for journal articles, book reviews, and collections of essays in all fields of religion with the largest collection of full text religion and theology journals. This database is produced by Atla, a membership association of collectors and connectors in religion and theology.

• Atla Overview Handout (PDF)
• Atla Scripture Search Handout (PDF)
• Three Methods to Search for Scripture Citations in Atla (MP4)

Credo Reference Online

Credo Reference provides access to several good academic reference works in a single search interface and is thus an excellent place to begin one’s research.

• Credo Reference Handout (PDF)

Encyclopedia of the Bible and its Reception Online

A comprehensive reference work on the Bible, its development, and its reception by Jewish, Christian, and other faith communities and in societies and cultures, including depictions of and allusions to the Bible in literature and media.

• Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception Online Handout (PDF)
• Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception Online Overview (MP4)

Ministry Matters

Ministry Matters provides online access to essential Bible reference works such as The New Interpreter's Bible and The New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, as well as the Bicentennial edition of Wesley's Works and resources for preaching and church ministry.

• Ministry Matters Handout (PDF)
• Ministry Matters Overview (MP4)

Thesaurus linguae Graecae: a digital library of Greek literature

PDF Guides

1. Register and create a TLG account
2. Canon Search
   • Canon Tags and Work Classifications (short)
   • Canon Tags (from B&S Canon) (long)
3. Browse
   • Browse One Text
   • Parallel Browsing
4. Text Search
   • Simple Search
   • Proximity Search
5. Lexica
6. Intertextual Phrase Matching (N-Grams)
7. Statistics
8. Vocabulary Tools
9. Saved Searches

Video Tutorials

A series of short video tutorials are available here, to help you explore the new online TLG.

Blue Letter Bible

Blue Letter Bible (BLB), created and maintained by a non-profit ministry grounded in conservative, historical Christian faith, provides a free online Bible study tool that includes a robust search interface integrated with several older, public domain dictionaries, lexicons and encyclopedias.

• Blue Letter Bible: Old Testament Handout (PDF)
• Blue Letter Bible: New Testament Handout (PDF)

Lumina NET Bible Study Suite

Lumina, produced by the Biblical Studies Foundation, is an online study program that includes the NET Bible and its thousands of notes, along with the ESV, HCSB, KJV, ISV, Message, and NASB. It also provides the NET Greek NT (based on Westcott and Hort) with parsing information, word definitions drawn from Thayer's lexicon, and a word search function based on Strong's numbers.

• Lumina NET Bible Study Suite: New Testament - Handout (PDF)

STEP Bible

STEP Bible is a free, online Bible study tool created and maintained by Tyndale House, Cambridge with “features to help people study the Bible text, from reading and comparing different versions of the Bible to grappling with original language words.”

• STEP Bible: Old Testament Handout (PDF)
• STEP Bible: New Testament Handout (PDF)

Building Blocks of Exegesis (PPT)

Building Blocks of Exegesis (MP4)

• Hebrew Bible Reference Tools Guide
• How to Use a Concordance (OT)
• Online Exegesis Resources: Old Testament (PDF)

• How to Use a Concordance (NT)
• Library Resources for Introduction to the New Testament
• New Testament Reference Tools Guide

• English Grammar Crash Course (PPT)

Hebrew

• Building Blocks of Hebrew Grammar (PDF)
• Hebrew Prepositions Cartoon
• What in the World is a Preposition? (Hebrew)

Greek

• Building Blocks of Greek Grammar (PDF)
• Greek Alpha Beta and Prepositions Cartoon (PDF)
• Greek Sentence Diagramming
• What in the World is a Preposition? (Greek)

Old Testament

• Exegesis Resources for PCUSA Ordination Exam: Exodus (PDF) 
• Exegesis Resources for PCUSA Ordination Exam: Leviticus (PDF)
• Exegesis Resources for PCUSA Ordination Exam: Judges (PDF)
• Exegesis Resources for PCUSA Ordination Exam: Numbers (PDF)
• Exegesis Resources for PCUSA Ordination Exam: Esther (PDF)
• Exegesis Resources for PCUSA Ordination Exam: Proverbs (PDF)

New Testament

• Exegesis Resources for PCUSA Ordination Exam: Matthew (PDF)
• Exegesis Resources for PCUSA Ordination Exam: John (PDF)
• Using Accordance for New Testament Exegesis: John (PDF)
• Exegesis Resources for PCUSA Ordination Exam: 1 Corinthians (PDF)
• Exegesis Resources for PCUSA Ordination Exam: 2 Corinthians (PDF)
• Exegesis Resources for PCUSA Ordination Exam: Titus (PDF)

Bible Content Exam (BCE)

BCE Preparation Resources (PDF)

Preparing for Exams: Bible Content Exam (PPT)

Citations are a very important part of academic writing, and the library is here to support you in your citation journey! You can find extensive help on citations, sample citations (including hot topics like how to cite the Bible or the Book of Common Worship!), and a link to the Chicago Manual of Style Online on our Citations Help page:

www.austinseminary.edu/citations

Helpful style guide links:

• Chicago Manual of Style Online
• Kutsko, John F., Bob Buller, and Billie Jean Collins. The SBL Handbook of Style. 2nd ed. Atlanta, GA: SBL Press, 2014.

If you wish to discuss writing or other academic matters, please make an appointment with Alan Constant, the Seminary's Learning Specialist. He is located in the library staff offices on the first floor of the Wright Center and is also available online. You can visit the Writing and Academic Resources Course on MyLearning to:

• Book an in-person or Zoom appointment with Alan.
• Access a variety of beneficial study resources.
• Explore additional academic support tools.

Alan can assist you with things like:

• Getting started on a paper using pre-writing techniques.
• Developing your thesis and effective research methods.
• Working through writing or test anxiety.
• Prioritizing tasks, balancing work and social life, and managing time.
• Enhancing note-taking, reading, and test preparation skills.

For additional help with writing for Seminary classes, see the Theological Writing Resources page and explore the handouts below.

• The Elephant in the (Reference) Room (PPT)
• English Grammar Crash Course (PPT)
• Research 101 (PDF)
• The Research Quest: Thesis (PDF) (or PowerPoint)
• Sources: Formats (PPT)
• Sources: Types (PPT)

Access our "Link Updater" tool to format links to library resources for off-campus access.

• Copyright and Fair Use (PDF)
• Finding and Accessing Austin Seminary DMin Projects (PDF)
• FullText@AustinSeminary: Linking your Google Scholar account to Stitt Library (PDF)
• Finding free-to-use images for presentations and papers (PDF)
• Finding articles in newspapers and popular magazines (PDF)
• Finding Sermons in the Stitt collections (PDF)
• Orientation to Online Resources (PDF)