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How to use the ATLA Database

ATLA is an index for researching journal articles, essays, and book reviews within the field of theology. Please note: The Trinity Library has available an online version of ATLA, accessible over the web at the Journals & Databases page. This discussion is for people who wish to use the ATLA CD-ROM on one of the library's computers.

Use the following procedures to access ATLA on the CD-ROM:

  1. Ask the library staff at the circulation desk for the ATLA CD-ROM. The blue card with the date, your name and the time, will be completed at the circulation desk. The disk is for in-library use only.
  2. Take the ATLA disk to a computer in the computer lab if you want to print out bibliographic information or to one of the OPAC computers located near the card catalog, but note that you will not be able to print from these OPAC computers.
  3. Place the ATLA disk into the CD-ROM drive. Click on the ATLA Religion Database icon or select it from the list of programs on the start menu.
  4. A gray screen will appear with the following tabs located on the left side.

Field Search

This is the default setting. You can search by Keyword, Title, Author/Editor, Subjects, Scripture reference, Journal title or citation, Language, Record type or Year.

For example, suppose you wanted to search for articles on Angels.

  1. In the Keyword box, type the word "angels" and click on the search button.
  2. A list of articles will appear.
  3. To obtain the bibliographic information on an article, click on its title.
  4. Pressing the print icon at the top of the gray screen will print out this information.

Scripture Search

This search allows the user to search for articles on a specific Scripture passage.

For example, suppose you wanted to search for articles on John 3:16.

  1. Click on the New Testament folder
  2. Click on the Canonical books folder
  3. Click on the John folder
  4. A list of Scripture references will appear
  5. Click on "Jn 3:16"
  6. The first article’s bibliographic information will appear in the right-hand box.
  7. Pressing the print icon at the top of the gray screen will print out this information.

Journal Search

This allows you to search a specific journal for an article.

For example, suppose you wanted to see which articles the Scottish Journal of Theology published in the year 2000.

  1. Click on the "P-Z Titles" tab.
  2. Click on the letter "S."
  3. Scroll down the list to find the title.
  4. Click on the Scottish Journal of Theology folder.
  5. Click on the year 2000.
  6. The bibliographic information for the first article published will appear in the right hand box
  7. Pressing the print icon at the top of the gray screen will print out this information.

Anything printed from the computer lab computers can be picked up at the front desk

ATLA provides only bibliographic information. So to locate an article, first check to see if Trinity carries the journal. A list of periodicals is available at the front desk for this purpose. If Trinity has the journal, current issues are on the shelves located in front of the Circulation desk. Back issues are upstairs in the Periodicals room arranged alphabetically.

If Trinity does not carry the journal, ask the circulation desk worker for an Interlibrary Loan form. Fill out the form completely and give it to any library staff. We will send out a request for the article and let you know when it comes in (usually within a couple of weeks). If you're willing to drive into Pittsburgh, you may be able to get the article the same day by checking to see whether one of the other local seminaries (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary) has it.

Please see a library staff person if you have any questions or need assistance with using ATLA.