Saturday, September 6, 2014

Church Library Online: Devotionals, Counseling, & Study Helps


Counseling, Reference Works, Lectionaries, Bible Studies, & Devotionals 


Evelyn E. Smith
M.S. in Library Science, University of North Texas (2012)

 
Finding the hyperlinks for the print journals that the Central Presbyterian Church of Waco, Texas, Library already has on its shelves inspired the production of the first Church Library Online Web page for the McGregor, Texas, McGinley Memorial Library Website. However, for a virtual church library to serve its virtual patrons' needs, it should provide links to many more online sources, including some of the sources that readily come to mind—Bible dictionaries, lectionaries, concordances,  maps of the ancient Middle East and the Roman Empire, special interest encyclopedias, and devotionals for all ages—as well as general reference information, counseling basics, and Hotline numbers. As is the case with most libraries, the online librarian can't necessarily vouch for or necessarily agree with all the information or advice provided.


General Reference &
Writing & Grammar Help

Please note that most teachers and university professors don't accept Wikipedia articles as a valid source of information, although readers can use the individual footnoted sources mentioned in Wikipedia as appropriate reference sources because no single editor validates the information submitted. The references below provide links to encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and other general reference information in addition to Purdue University's Online Writing Lab:
Virtual Counseling
Although DSM-V has superseded DSM-IV, this diagnostic manual was revised up through 2011. Please note that neither DSM-IV nor DSM-V is meant to be a self-diagnostic tool. Those with psychological problems should consult a mental health professional.
    Hotlines
If the user needs immediate help with a problem, the following Websites list telephone numbers that might provide some answers.  Moreover, anyone who suspects child abuse, elder abuse, or bullying but doesn't report it can be held legally accountable.

Psych Central furnishes telephone hotlines for help with the following conditions and problems: Child Abuse, Alcoholism,  Crisis and Suicide, Domestic Violence, Poison Control, Shoplifting, Eating Disorders, Pregnancy, Sexual Assault, Runaways, and Substance Abuse.

Click on each state link to find the local number to report elder abuse.


The Recovery World Website lists phone numbers for drug and alcohol treatment, panic disorder, abortion, post abortion, Al-Anon, child abuse, cocaine help, Ecstasy addiction, Gay and Lesbian issues, incest, learning disabilities, Lyme Disease, pet loss, self injury, and suicide. In other words, if the user needs to talk to a counselor about a problem, there's likely someone to help him or her.
Texas Protective Services link includes Texas Abuse//Neglect Hotline and Texas Youth & Runaway Hotline.
Teen Health  and Wellness directs users to telephone hotlines for dealing with the following social and psychological problems: AIDs and HIV, Alcohol and Drug, Bullying and Cyberbullying, Depression, Eating Disorders, Grief and Loss. Homelessness and Runaways, Mental Health, Rape, Sexual Violence and Domestic Violence, School Violence, Sexuality and Sexual Health, Stress and Anxiety, Suicide, Teen Parenting, and Teen Pregnancy.


Lectionaries--Daily Bible Readings
The Church Year: Pair daily Bible readings with the liturgical calendar.

The most commonly used lectionaries are the Roman Catholic Lectionary (USCCB) and the ecumenical Revised Common Lectionary.  However, readers may prefer the cafeteria approach to lectionaries, so the Church Library Online lists a host of lectionaries (pun intended).
Concordances & Bible Dictionaries
 
Concordances
Bible concordances help users look up Bible verses by topic:


Bible Hub. (n. d.). Retrieved from http://www.biblesuite.com/



The Bible Hub Web page has links to the following concordances:

  • Bible Tab Concordance
  • Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
  • Englishman's Greek Concordance
  • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance
  • NASB Exhaustive Concordance




Bible Dictionaries



Bible Study Tools Web page includes links to the following online Bible dictionaries:


  • Quick Reference Dictionary
  •  Baker's Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology
  • Easton's Bible Dictionary
  • Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
  • King James Bible Dictionary
  • Smith's Bible Dictionary

Bible Gateway Web page provides links to the following virtual Bible dictionaries:



  • Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
  •  All the Men of the Bible
  • All the Women of the Bible
  • Dictionary of Bible Themes
  • Easton's Bible Dictionary
  • Smith's Bible Names Dictionary


Special Interest Encyclopedias

Bible Study Tools Web page provides links to the following sources:

  • Condensed Biblical Encyclopedia
  •  International Standard Bible Encyclopedias 
  • Scripture Alphabet of Animals 

Bible Maps
   Bible Atlas Webpage includes links to the following atlases:

  • Shepherd Historical Atlas

  • ISV Bible Atlas
Online Devotions & Bible Study

Addendum (2015, March 15)

Blue Letter Bible (2015). Sowing Circle. Retrieved from http://www.blueletterbible.org/

The Blue Letter Bible provides extensive study helps when the user types in a keyword or a Bible verse, thus greatly enhancing traditional Bible Study methods. For example, should the user enter John 3:16, he or she can immediately access the Greek roots of the English words, correlating verses, commentaries, dictionaries, encyclopedias, related maps, and music based upon the verse.

Devotions, Bible Stories, &
Activities for Children













Devotions & Bible Studies
for Young Adults


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