Theology and religious studies resources and support

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Most material for theology and religious studies is found in the Arts and Social Sciences Library. Notable areas within the classification scheme include:

• BL: Religions
• BM: Judaism
• BP: Islam
• BQ: Buddhism
• BR: Christianity
• BS: Bible
• BT: Doctrinal theology
• BV: Practical theology
• BX: Christian denominations

Historical aspects may be classed at D, religion and gender at HQ, religion and ethics at BJ.

The Arts and Social Sciences Library classmark scheme shows how the books and journals are arranged. Use the Library catalogue to find the classmark for an item.

Course based materials

• Recommended textbooks may be found in the Short Loan Collection (SLC).
• Examination papers: sets of past examination papers (bound in years) can be found on the first floor of the Arts and Social Sciences Library, on the shelves next to the pamphlet collection.

Thesis collection

Theology and Religious Studies PhD, and MA theses of staff and students of the Department, are available in the thesis collection in the Arts and Social Sciences Library.

Special collections

The Arts and Social Sciences Library contains a special collection of rare books.

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• Quick search on the Library homepage
  search for books, journals, or articles and databases using our various search tools, plus Internet search using Google Scholar.
• The Subject resources section of these pages includes theology and religious online resources via MetaLib for searching for journal articles references, etc, quick reference tools, Internet links, and reviews and bibliographies.
• Our Library collections and eResources pages give full advice on finding all types of materials.
• The Inter-Library Loans (ILL) service can be used to obtain Items not held in print in the University's branch libraries or available online. See below for more details. Access to other university libraries and the British Library may be a useful alternative.

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The Inter-Library Loans (ILL) service can be used to obtain Items not held in print in the University's branch libraries or available online. There is a charge for this service, though it may be possible to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher to pay for this:

• Theology and Religious Studies academic staff should be able to obtain Inter-library loan vouchers from the School of Humanities.
• Theology and Religious Studies research postgraduates and taught postgraduates may be entitled to inter-library loan vouchers, though you should discuss the matter with their supervisor before requesting one. Inter-library loan vouchers can be obtained from the School of Humanities.
• Final year Theology and Religious Studies undergraduates may be entitled to vouchers for their dissertations but should discuss the matter with their supervisor before requesting one. Inter-library loan vouchers can be obtained from the School of Humanities.

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• Our Research support pages cover finding information, managing information, and exploiting your research, together with sources of further help and advice.
• Each academic department in the university has its own library representative, whose duties are detailed in these guidelines. The Library Representative for Theology and Religious Studies is Dr Carolyn Muessig.
• Book purchase recommendations and suggestions for new journals or databases can be made direct to the Subject Librarian, though in the latter case it is best to also discuss the matter with the departmental Library Representative.
• New academic staff are welcome to contact the Subject Librarian to arrange a session on how the Library can help you. You may want to discuss, for example, information literacy sessions for students which will improve their use of resources; or perhaps want some instruction yourself in using a particular database. Whatever your library needs - run them past us, and we'll see if we can help!

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MetaLib: your resource gateway provides access to a vast range of online resources, including databases, search engines, subject gateways, and selected Internet resources.

• Theology and religious online resources via MetaLib
  This link takes you to a list of databases and other information resources, with a cross-search option. For details of a particular resource click on the Info icon next to the resource name. Alternatively, theology and religious studies databases via MetaLib (list with brief details) lists the same databases, but with with brief details displayed against each. Click on the Info icon to display the full details.

A guide is available for the ATLA Religion database. This guide is available in two formats:

• ATLA Religion database guide (Word, 259 KB)
• ATLA Religion database guide (PDF, 99 KB)

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Please note: it is important that you are critical in judging the quality of the information that you find! Internet Detective is a 'teach yourself' tutorial covering this skill from the Virtual Training Suite.

MetaLib: your resource gateway provides access to a vast range of online resources. When you use MetaLib log in with your University of Bristol username and password, this means that you gain direct access to most of the resources it contains without any further restrictions. Additionally the following can act as a good starting point for discovering subject resources on the Internet (many of these are also found in MetaLib).

Gateways, portals and guides to theology and religious studies resources

• Intute: arts and humanities - religion and theology - provides access to the best religion and theology Web resources for education and research, selected and evaluated by a network of subject specialists.
• Intute (people index) - a searchable index of resources dedicated to notable people in many fields, including scholars (such as historians, philosophers, theologians and others).

Teaching and learning resources

• The Higher Education Academy : Subject Centre for Philosophical and Religious Studies (PRS) - one of 24 subject centres within the Higher Education Academy. Funded by the UK Funding Councils for Higher Education the centres aim to support best practice in teaching and learning.

Learned societies and professional organisations

• American Theological Library Association (ATLA) - a professional association of more than 800 individual, institutional and affiliate members providing programs, products and services in support of theological and religious studies libraries and librarians.
• Arts and Humanities Research Council - the AHRC funds research and postgraduate study within the UK's higher education institutions. In addition, on behalf of the Higher Education Funding Council for England, it provides funding for museums, galleries and collections that are based in, or attached to, higher education institutions in England.
• ABTAPL (Association of British Theological & Philosophical Libraries) - an organisation formed to help those working in libraries containing theological, philosophical and related materials by sharing information and experience.
• British Association for the Study of Religions (BASR) - an organisation that aims to promote the academic study of religions through the international collaboration of all scholars whose research has a bearing on the subject. The BASR pursues these aims within the United Kingdom through the arrangement of conferences and symposia, the publication of a Bulletin and an Annual General Meeting.
• The Churches Theological Research Trust - a body that exists to promote cooperation in research in theology, religious studies and related areas amongst academics, and between academics and the churches.
• Society for the Study of Theology - founded in 1952, the Society aims to organise regular conferences on theological themes.

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• In consultation with the Department of Theology and Religious Studies all new students receive an introduction to the Arts and Social Sciences Library, including a tour of the building and practical instruction on finding material in the library catalogue and retrieving it from the shelves. All new undergraduates are required to attend this induction session, students are able to sign up for a place at registration.
• Additional, and more in-depth training in finding and using information is provided for undergraduates embarking on final year dissertations.
• Internet for religious studies and theology is an interactive, online tutorial that will help to improve your Internet search skills and introduce you to useful sites along the way.
• A number of general 'Self-learning resources' are available below, including video tutorials, downloadable library guides, and web resources.
• Find out about referencing in your written work and EndNote referencing software in 'Referencing help'.

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• In consultation with the Department of Theology and Religious Studies all new postgraduate students receive an introduction to the Arts and Social Sciences Library, including a tour of the building and practical instruction on finding material in the library catalogue and retrieving it from the shelves. More in-depth training in finding and using electronic information is also provided.
• Internet for religious studies and theology is an interactive, online tutorial that will help to improve your Internet search skills and introduce you to useful sites along the way.
• A number of general 'Self-learning resources' are available below, including video tutorials, downloadable library guides, and web resources.
• Find out about referencing in your written work and EndNote referencing software in 'Referencing help'.

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• Video tutorials - topics include the Library Catalogue, understanding references on reading lists, using the MetaLib resource gateway, off-campus access to eResources, etc.
• Finding and using information pages - covering key aspects of information skills, including researching a topic, effective use of Google, evaluating your search results, avoiding plagiarism, etc. Also includes a Jargon-buster page.
• Library guides - downloadable guides to each branch library, our main search tools, special library services, etc.
• External resources for developing your information skills - including online tutorials and downloadable guides.
• Find out about referencing in your written work and EndNote referencing software in 'Referencing help'.

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Referencing

There is no single way of writing references. The two most common styles are the Harvard system and the Numeric system, details of which can be found in the guides mentioned below. You will need to use the style specified by your department or by the body or journal to which you are submitting your work. Much useful information and advice about writing and referencing, amongst other things, is provided by the department:

• Undergraduate handbook (PDF format 657 Kb)
• Research students handbook (PDF format 182 Kb)
• General referencing guidance
  includes Why reference? What is included in a reference? Referencing styles, How to reference, Links to useful sites on referencing, and brief details of EndNote and EndNote Web referencing software (see the EndNote referencing software section below for more details).

Journal title abbreviations

Literature references are often written with abbreviated terms. Probably the most troublesome are abbreviated journal titles which can make finding a journal difficult.

To help in your search for journal abbreviations you may find the following information sources useful:

• ISI Journals Abbreviations Index - covers all journal titles included in the Arts and Humanities Citation Index
• All that JAS: Journal Abbreviation Sources - a registry of web resources that list or provide access to the full title of journal abbreviations
• Periodical title abbreviations / compiled and edited by Leland G. Alkire - in the Arts and Social Sciences Library at Oversize Z6945.A2 PER
• See also this more general page on journal title abbreviations

If you are unable to find the title of an abbreviation you are looking for please ask a member of the Library staff for assistance. Alternatively, these online resources may help:

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EndNote is the University of Bristol's recommended bibliographical management software, which can be used to collect, store, organise and manage references, and to output them as reference lists or bibliographies. A particularly useful function is 'Cite While You Write', enabling you to format Word documents, producing bibliographies and adding references within the text.

• EndNote Basic (formerly EndNote Web) help, advice and training sessions
  This is the recommended version for all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students - it is available free to UoB students and staff.
• EndNote Desktop support
  Academics, researchers and research postgraduates can use the desktop version, which may be installed on their UoB PC. See the 'Help and support' page of EndNote Desktop support for details of self help training materials.

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