Unity Library and Archives provides many resources to help you with your online classes. Please visit our Web site at www.unityonline.org/library.

 

This will provide links to:

• Unity's Online Catalog of books and other materials through the Kansas City Library Consortium (KCLC). You will also find materials from other KCLC consortium libraries (over a million bibliographic records).
• Databases – see list below.
• Information about our services.

 

You will need a Unity library card and PIN to access the databases and to put holds on items you would like to borrow from the online catalog. Registered Unity Institute Online students who do not live in the Kansas City area may request a library card using the form on the library Web site:

 

Your library card information will be e-mailed to you when registration is verified. You will also be mailed the card itself. Your card will be active for distance learner privileges while you are enrolled in an online class. You may request items through the online catalog "hold" system. Unity items will be mailed to you. You will be responsible for the return postage and for returning the material undamaged and on time. CDs and DVDs are particularly vulnerable to damage in the mail; please retain the packaging material and carefully cushion and wrap the items before mailing them back to us. You may renew the materials online if no one else is waiting for the item. A renewal request must be made before the due date.

 

If you find a book in one of the database indexes that you would like, check the KCLC online catalog. Be sure to click on “ALL” libraries. Unity's material will be listed as well as material from other libraries that may loan us the item. Your library card number and PIN are required to place a hold on the item.

 

Interlibrary Loan is a service that obtains books and photocopies of journal articles from other libraries in the United States. Interlibrary Loan forms can be found on the library Web site: www.unityonline.org/library.

 

For items you can't find in the catalog, you may fill out the Interlibrary Loan request form (see library Web site), and we will make every attempt to obtain the material for you. Remember to start early, as it is likely to take at least two weeks for you to receive those items. Also a reminder, most libraries will not lend audiovisual materials through Interlibrary Loan.

 

Journals:

Many full-text journal articles and indexing may be found on our online databases, particularly in the ATLAS database.

 

The Unity Library receives over 175 print journal and magazine subscriptions and houses many bound journals. (See attached holdings list). We will mail, fax or e-mail articles to you. Please fill out the Interlibrary Loan periodical request form on our Web site and note “Unity Library Holdings List.”

 

If you cannot find what you need – full-text or on our journal list – we will try to obtain the article for you through Interlibrary Loan. (see form on the Web site). Be sure to include full information.

 

Remember your local libraries can also be wonderful resources for you when you need information quickly. Public libraries often have many general interest full-text databases available.

 

UMKC Courtesy Cards are available for students living in the Kansas City area. This allows you certain library privileges in many academic libraries throughout the city, including UMKC. Courtesy cards must be obtained at the circulation desk at Unity Library. See list of libraries.

 

If you have questions about services or need reference help, please contact us.

 

E-mail:
Library: librarycontact@unityonline.org
Archives: archivescontact@unityonline.org

 

Phone:
Library: 816-251-3503
Archives: 816-347-5539
Fax: 816-251-3512

 

Library Hours: (Central Time)
Monday: 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.
Tuesday–Thursday: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

 

ARCHIVES SERVICES:

The Archives is the most complete source of both published and unpublished Unity materials. All the materials are for reference use only and do not leave the building. We will photocopy up to 30 pages at a time, make copies of audiovisual materials (if Unity isn't currently marketing the item), and answer reference queries submitted by phone (816-347-5539), e-mail (archivescontact@unityonline.org), or in person. A reproduction order form is attached for all the services provided by the Archives. Many Unity books, pamphlets, magazines and audiovisual items are available for checkout in the Library. Please check the online catalog for those.

 

Archives Hours: (Central Time)
Monday–Thursday: 8 a.m.-11 a.m., Noon-4 p.m.

 

Databases:

ATLA Religion Database: The American Theological Library Association's ATLA Religion Database is the leading international database indexing citations in all scholarly fields of religion. It is a compilation of three printed indexes: Religion Index One, Periodicals; Religion Index Two, Multiple Author Works; and Index to Book Reviews in Religion. The database includes over one million records in more than 34 languages. It includes more than 350,000 article citations from 1,400 journals, more than 150,000 essay citations from 14,000 multiauthor works, and nearly 350,000 book review citations. With ATLA Serials it offers access to over 1.4 million bibliographic citations of articles in journals, essays in books, book reviews and D.Ministry theses.

 

ATLA Serials (ATLAS): Full-text version of ATLA, above. Includes over 50,000 articles (plus many more book reviews) and covers subjects in the following fields: archaeology, Bible, ecumenism, ethics, missions, pastoral ministry, philosophy, religion, society and theology.

 

WorldCat (OCLC): WorldCat is the world's most comprehensive bibliographic database. Updated at a rate of nearly one new record every 10 seconds, WorldCat contains well over 100 million bibliographic records and holdings information contributed by more than 8,600 libraries around the world. Items found in this database often may be found through the KCLC Online catalog or through Interlibrary Loan (see Unity Web site for Interlibrary Loan form).

 

Article1st (Index of articles from nearly 12,500 journals)

ECO (OCLC collection of scholarly journals in many fields, some full-text of articles included)

Proceedings (Index of conference publications)

PapersFirst (Index of papers presented at conferences)

WorldCatDissertations (Database of all dissertations and theses available in WorldCat)

 

Database Tips:
If you find a book in one of the database indexes that you would like, check the KCLC online catalog. Be sure to click on “ALL” libraries. Unity's material will be listed as well as material from other libraries that may loan us the item. Log on to the catalog with your library card number and PIN to place a hold on the item. When it arrives in the Unity Library, it will be mailed to you.

 

Other Web-based Resources:
http://www.atla.com/products/catalogs.html (see the Web site):
There are two free databases linked to this Web site.

 

Research in Ministry: Index to DMin and DMiss Project Reports and Theses (RIM®) online CDRI: Digital Resources for the Study of Religion

 

Religion Online
http://www.religion-online.org/
More than 6,000 articles and chapters. Topics include Old and New Testament, theology, ethics, history and sociology of religion, communication and cultural studies, pastoral care, counseling, homiletics, worship, missions and religious education.

 

ARDA: the Association of Religious Data Archives
http://www.thearda.com/
Provides free access to quality data on religion. The ARDA allows you to interactively explore the highest quality data on American and international religion using online features for generating national profiles, maps, church membership overviews, denominational heritage trees, tables, charts and other summary reports. Over 400 data files are available for online preview, and most can be downloaded for additional research.

 

Bible Gateway
www.biblegateway.com
A tool for reading and researching scripture online – all in the language or translation of your choice! It provides advanced searching capabilities, which allow readers to find and compare particular passages in scripture based on keywords, phrases or scripture reference.

 

Christianity Research Guide From Yale University
http://www.library.yale.edu/div/electext.htm

 

Wabash Center—Internet Guide to Religion
www.wabashcenter.wabash.edu/resources/guide_headings.aspx
A selective, annotated guide to a wide variety of electronic resources of interest to those who are involved in the study and practice of religion: syllabi, electronic texts, electronic journals, Web sites, bibliographies, liturgies, reference resources, software, etc. The purpose of the guide is to encourage and facilitate the incorporation of electronic resources into teaching.

 

Theological Journals Search
http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=018443097211386924752%3Aluwi5uy2qbe
Sally Shelton's Web site searches over 300 journal titles in the field of religious studies that are available full text on the Internet. Subject areas include scripture studies, systematic theology and practical ministry. No login or password needed.

 

Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life
http://pewforum.org
Special reports and news items (not journal articles) on current events. Many controversial topics are covered with both pro and con viewpoints.

 

Search Engines
http://www.google.com/
http://www.about.com/
http://www.altavista.com/
http://www.ask.com/?o=10182
http://www.alltheweb.com/ (Was FastSearch)
http://www.search.com/
http://www.metacrawler.com/
http://www.yahoo.com/

 

Research Help
http://www.library.yale.edu/div/electext.htm
http://www.library.yale.edu/div/forfree.html
http://infogateway.ku.edu/index.cfm?type=wrs&sid=106