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Encyclopedias, Handbooks, and Reference Resources (Community Patrons): General Resources

The Wiggin Library is here to support the study of liberal religion in general and Unitarian Universalism in particular. In addition to extensive print and database access, our librarians can connect you with many other digital and print resources. This page provides an overview of our most used digital reference resources available to alums and community patrons. If you are a current graduate student, click here to access the more extensive resource available to you.

A-Z Resources List

A-Z logoIf you are looking for more specialized databases and resources, check out our A-Z Resources List. We have over 400 databases and other digital resources available in the A-Z Resources List, most of which are accessible to alumni and community users. 

Biblical Studies

Explore the fascinating origins of the Bible and its eventful history. On Bible Odyssey, the world’s leading scholars share the latest historical and literary research on key people, places, and passages of the Bible.

SBL Central is a research platform to support participants in the entire interdisciplinary ecosystem of biblical, religious, and theological studies, including scholars, students, publishers, publishing associations, and libraries and their institutions. While material found on SBL Central cannot be accessed directly from the SBL search, Wiggin Library most likely can provide access to through our library collection and digital resources. 

Bible Gateway is a searchable online Bible in more than 200 versions and 70 languages that you can freely read, research, and reference anywhere. 

Bible Odyssey Website includes the complete text of three Bibles: the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV), the Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures, and the King James Version (KJV). 

Bible Study Tools Interlinear Bible provides Interlinear translations for both the King James and New American Standard Bible using Strong’s Concordance. 

 

Bible Hub Online provides search and study tools including parallel texts, cross references, and commentaries. This site provides quick access to topical studies, interlinears, sermons, Strong's and many more resources.

The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary  is a complete, up-to-date, and accessible guide for the study of the Bible available today. Perfect for church Bible study groups, home schools, high schools, colleges, or personal study, this edition contains all the important names, places, and subjects that make Bible study come to life, including the patriarchs, judges, kings, and prophets, and the world of the New Testament and the early church. Other significant topics include the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Nag Hammadi Library, the archaeology of the biblical world, and the history of the English Bible. The condensed HarperCollins Bible Dictionary includes over 3,000 lively, informative, and easy-to-use entries, a helpful pronunciation guide , maps, informative charts, graphs, timelines, photos and illustrations. (Description from publisher)

Dictionary of Nature Imagery in the Bible is targeted at biblical scholars and students of Bible world wide. The Dictionary further gives professionals in the various fields of life & natural sciences and ecology in general access to the use of nature imagery in the literary texts of the Bible. The corpus for DNI Bible is mainly the Hebrew Bible, although Second Temple literature and the New Testament are also addressed.

Bible Study Tools Concordances provides access to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance (which includes Greek and Hebrew dictionaries) in addition to Naves Topical and Torreys Topical 

 

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy logoThe Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (SEP) organizes the work of scholars from around the world in philosophy and related disciplines to create and maintain an up-to-date reference work. Each individual entry is created and maintained by scholars in the field. While not explicitly about theology, many theologians and theological concepts are addressed in the SEP. 

Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA)

ARDA logoThe Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) provides quantitative data about religious practice. It also includes specific features for educators, journalists, religious congregations, and researchers to understand this data. Data included in the ARDA are submitted by the foremost religion scholars and research centers in the world.

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If you have any questions about the Meadville Lombard Library, just ask!

We can help with...

  • Checking out books
  • Finding articles
  • Requesting interlibrary loans
  • Using digital resources
  • Answering research and reference questions
  • Citing your work

Looking for more resources?

The resources described on this page are among our most used general resources. If you are looking for more specialized databases and resources, check out the link below. We have over 400 databases and other digital resources available.  

Meadville Lombard Wiggin Library
180 N. Wabash Ave.
Suite 625 
Chicago, IL 60601


Library and Archives Phone: 312-546-6488        Library Email: library@meadville.edu        Archives Email: archives@meadville.edu