Religion Commons^™

Struggling Libraries Survey, The Tcl Editorial Team

The Christian Librarian

In January of 2016, the editorial team of The Christian Librarian (TCL)asked ACL members to participate in a survey entitled, “Survey on Struggling Libraries.” The intention of this survey was twofold: first, to provide an opportunity for members to share wisdom and insight with their colleagues regarding how they have made it through the challenges, and secondly, to know how we can pray for our colleagues.

Librarian Hacks: Introducing The Virtual Theological Library Project, Seth Allen

The Christian Librarian

Acquiring a low-cost library catalog is problematic, but there are a number of tools to ‘hack’ a library catalog. While no free product rivals the usability and searching sophistication of proprietary ILS systems, I believe that the Virtual Theological Library Project presents a solution is that is affordable and easy to implement. Using tools freely available on the web, librarians in churches and small academic libraries can created a cloud-based library catalog that is searchable to the public and supplement their local holdings with millions of theological texts on the web. Using Google Site and Google Sheets to create a …

Teaching Library History: Engaging The Academic Community, Ben Brick

The Christian Librarian

The author provides an overview of an upper-level undergraduate course on library history he has created and taught at a small Bible college. He reviews the lessons learned from the experience as well as the opportunities this course provided for information literacy instruction.

Is Authority Always Constructed And Contextual? A Classical Challenge To The Framework For Information Literacy, Nathan Rinne

The Christian Librarian

The 2015 Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education (or Framework) is the latest effort of academic librarians to provide relevant guidance for the teaching of information literacy. One claim made within this “living document,” in line with current academic trends of constructivism and social constructivism, is that “Authority is Constructed and Contextual.” Questions are raised concerning authority’s relationship to the idea of truth, and an effort is made, largely through a Socratic method of inquiry, to delve into the meaning of the Framework’s statement on authority using the further explanations provided concerning this particular “frame,” as well as the …

Religious Accommodations For Sabbatarian Observance Among Library Staff, Paul A. Hartog

The Christian Librarian

Over the last twenty-five years, litigation related to religious discrimination in the workplace has been on the rise. One of the tension points has been the religious practice of Sabbath keeping, leading to employment scheduling conflicts. Title VII and its subsequent amendments require that employers seek “reasonable accommodations” for Sabbatarian observance. Such adjustments should not cause “undue hardship” to the employer, who is required to make a “good faith effort” at accommodation. This article discusses creative alternatives that managers of public libraries and nonsectarian academic libraries may implement when accommodating Seventh-Day Adventist and similar Sabbatarian staff members.

Acl News & Notes

The Christian Librarian

This section of The Christian Librarian includes updates to the membership, announcements from members, and reports from various committees and groups around the Association of Christian Librarians.

Reiss's "The 16 Strivings For God: The New Psychology Of Religious Experiences" (Book Review), Lisa Fuller

The Christian Librarian

A review of Reiss, S. (2015). The 16 strivings for God: The new psychology of religious experiences. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press. 174 pp. $25.00. ISBN 9780881465570

Vacario's "100 Illustrated Bible Verses: Inspiring Words. Beautiful Art" (Book Review), Cynorra Jackson

The Christian Librarian

A review of Vicario, J. (2015). 100 illustrated Bible verses: Inspiring words. Beautiful art. New York: Workman Publishing. 206 pp. ISBN 9780761185666

Stevens' "Aging Matters: Finding Your Calling For The Rest Of Your Life" (Book Review), Tami Robinson

The Christian Librarian

A review of Stevens, R. P. (2016). Aging matters: Finding your calling for the rest of your life. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans. 160 pp. ISBN 9780802872333

Brackney's "Baptists In Early North America: Swansea, Massachusetts (Vol. 1)" (Book Review), Mark Hanson

The Christian Librarian

A review of Brackney, W.I. (Ed.). (2013) Baptists in early North America: Swansea, Massachusetts (Vol. 1). Macon, GA: Mercer University Press. 415 pp. $60.00. ISBN 9780881464399

Jeffrey And Evans' "The Bible And The University" (Book Review), Armand T. Ternak

The Christian Librarian

A review of Jeffrey, D. L., & Evans, C. S. (Eds.) (2007). The Bible and the university. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan. 328 pp. ISBN 9780310234180

Curtis's "The Bloomsbury Reader On Islam In The West" (Book Review), Carrie Beth Lowe

The Christian Librarian

A review of Curtis, E. E. (Ed.). (2015). The Bloomsbury reader on Islam in the west. London: Bloomsbury Academic. 280 pp. $34.95. ISBN 9781474245371

Kbusingye And Bone's "Born Anonymous: One Story Of Hope And Love In Rwanda" (Book Review), Lindsay Van Sicklen

The Christian Librarian

A review of Kbusingye, A., & Bone, L. (2015). Born anonymous: One story of hope and love in Rwanda. Fort Smith, AR: Bone Publishing Group. 183 pp. $12.95. ISBN 9780991300266

Joeckel's "The C. S. Lewis Phenomenon: Christianity And The Public Sphere" (Book Review), Mark Hanson

The Christian Librarian

A review of Joeckel, S. (2013). The C. S. Lewis phenomenon: Christianity and the public sphere. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press. 427 pp. $30.00. ISBN 978881464375

Blumell And Wayment's "Christian Oxyrhynchus: Texts, Documents, And Sources" (Book Review), Joseph Baumstarck Jr.

The Christian Librarian

A review of Blumell, L.H., & Wayment, T.A. (Eds.). (2015). Christian Oxyrhynchus: Texts, documents, and sources. Waco, TX: Baylor University Press. 756 pp. $89.95. ISBN 9781602585393

Bradley And Muller's " Church History: An Introduction To Research Methods And Resources, Second Edition" (Book Review), Rebecca A. Givens

The Christian Librarian

A review of Bradley, J. A., & Muller, R.A. (2016). Church history: An introduction to research methods and resources, second edition. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing. 214 pp. $30.00. ISBN 9780802874054

Bautch And Knoppers' "Covenant In The Persian Period: From Genesis To Chronicles" (Book Review), Lisa Cutforth-Anderson

The Christian Librarian

A review of Bautch, R.J., & Knoppers, G.N. (Eds.). (2015). Covenant in the Persian period: From Genesis to Chronicles. Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns. 452 pp. $58.05. ISBN 9781575063560

Keel And Schroer's " Creation; Biblical Theologies In The Context Of The Ancient Near East" (Book Review), Paul B. Drake

The Christian Librarian

A review of Keel, O., & Schroer, S. (2015). Creation; Biblical theologies in the context of the ancient Near East (Peter T. Daniels, Trans.). Winona Lake, IN: Eisenbrauns, 244 pp. $44.99. ISBN 9781575060934

Cook's "Crucifixion In The Mediterranean World" (Book Review), Jill Botticelli

The Christian Librarian

A review of Cook, J.G. (2014). Crucifixion in the Mediterranean world. Mohr Siebeck. 522 pp. $76.60. ISBN 9783161537646

Adams' "The Earliest Christian Meetings Places: Almost Exclusively Houses?" (Book Review), Paul Hartog

The Christian Librarian

A review of Adams, E. (2016). The earliest Christian meetings places: Almost exclusively houses? London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark. 263 pp. $29.95. ISBN 9780567663146

Anglim's "Encyclopedia Of Religion And The Law In America, 2nd Ed." (Book Review), John D. Laing

The Christian Librarian

A review of Anglim, C.T. (2009). Encyclopedia of religion and the law in America, 2nd ed. Amenia, NY: Grey House Publishing. 847 pp. $165.00. ISBN 9781592372980

Kennedy's "The First American Evangelical: A Short Life Of Cotton Mather" (Book Review), Robert W. Caldwell Iii

The Christian Librarian

A review of Kennedy, R. (2015). The first American Evangelical: A short life of Cotton Mather. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans. 162 pp. $17.00. ISBN 9780802872111

Fritz's "Freedom: Battle Strategies For Conquering Temptation" (Book Review), Gary R. Averill

The Christian Librarian

A review of Fritz, E. (2015). Freedom: Battle strategies for conquering temptation. San Francisco, CA: Ignatious Press. 203 pp. $ 14.95. ISBN 9781621640691

James' "The Glory Of The Cross: Exploring The Meaning Of The Death Of Christ" (Book Review), Tami E. Robinson

The Christian Librarian

A review of James. P. (2008). The glory of the cross: Exploring the meaning of the death of Christ. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers. ISBN 9781619707580

Stott's "The Grace Of Giving" And Wright's "The Gift Of Accountability" (Book Review), Paul Roberts

The Christian Librarian

A review of Stott, J. (2016). The grace of giving: 10 principles of Christian giving. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers. 33 pp. ISBN 9781598568738

and

Wright, C. J. H. (2016). The gift of accountability: A short guide to financial accountability. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers. 39 pp. ISBN: 9781619707641

Joustra And Wilkinson's "How To Survive The Apocalypse; Zombies, Cylons, Faith And Politics At The End Of The World" (Book Review), Cynthia Hammell

The Christian Librarian

A review of Joustra, R., & Wilkinson, A. (2016). How to survive the Apocalypse; Zombies, cylons, faith and politics at the end of the world. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company. 198 pp. $16.00 ISBN 9780802872715.

Dean And Hearlson's "How Youth Ministry Can Change Theological Education – If We Let It" (Book Review), Terry L. Christian

The Christian Librarian

A review of Dean, K.C., & Hearlson, C.L. (Eds.). (2016). How youth ministry can change theological education – If we let it. Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing. 331 pp. $30.00. ISBN 9780802871930

Quarles' "Illustrated Life Of Paul" (Book Review), Paul Roberts

The Christian Librarian

A review of Quarles, C. L. (2014). Illustrated life of Paul. Nashville, TN: B & H Publishing Group. 300 pp. $29.99 ISBN: 9780805494532

Crear's "In The Zone" (Book Review), Amy C. Rice

The Christian Librarian

A review of Crear, M. (2014). In the zone. Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press. 128 pp. $16.99. ISBN 9781426772023

Ytreeide's "Ishtar’S Odyssey: A Family Story For Advent" (Book Review), Lisa Fuller

The Christian Librarian

A review of Ytreeide, A. (2015). Ishtar’s odyssey: A family story for advent. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications. 176 pp. $15.99. ISBN 9780825443930