Searching the ATLA Religion Database

Knox Theological Seminary

Darcy Gullacher, Reference Librarian

Goals of this brief tutorial

Introduce the ATLA Religion Database and the ATLA Serials Project

Show Basic Searching Techniques Using Boolean Operators

Show how to read the citation and access Full Text articles

What is the ATLA Religion Database? Comprehensive Index of Journal

Articles, Essays, and Book Reviews in Religion

Records go back to 1949 Currently Indexes over 600 journals in

over 36 languages Over 1.2 million records

What is the ATLA Serials Project? Project designed to give access to

scanned, full text copies of journal articles.

Currently there are about 90,000 articles available

Linked to the ATLA Database

Boolean Operators

When searching for information, Boolean Operators are used to broaden or narrow a search

The terms “and” and “or” are used to link search terms together

“And”

Will only give results where both the terms are in the record

I.e “Barth” and “Christology”

“Or”

Will give results when either one of the terms is in the record

I.e. “Barth” or “Christology”

Let’s Try an Example!

Let’s say you need to find articles on…

Luther and His Thought on Communion

Get into the ATLA Database

Go to the University of Alberta’s Website at www.library.ualberta.ca

Click on “Databases” Type “ATLA” in the search box

– Note: If you are off campus you will need your computing ID and password

Click on the ATLA link and… You should be in!

Blank Search Screen (in Basic Search Mode)

Entering Terms (Remember to think of other terms for communion, such as eucharist and Lord’s Supper)

Enter terms here

Results List

Narrow By Adding Luther, Martin (note: you get less results)

Narrow to Full Text Only(Note: Click on Search Options First)

Full Text Results

Full Citation Record

Click here for full text

Full Text

Where is More Information? “A Guide to the ATLA Religion

Database”http://www.ualberta.ca/~darcyg/atlaguide.pdf

PowerPoint Tutorialhttp://www.ualberta.ca/~darcyg/atlatutorial.ppt

Contact Information

Darcy Gullacher

Reference Librarian

Phone: (780)555-1234

E-mail: dgullacher@ktc.ca