USING THE ATLA RELIGION DATABASE 
 

Locate scholarly journal articles, essays, book reviews and books in religion and theology, from 1946 to the present, with selected records going back to 1818.  This database has over 1,200,000 records with some full-text articles from selected publications. 

OPEN THE PROGRAM:

Select ATLA Religion Database from the Regent University Library "Databases by Title" page.

DO A SEARCH:

1.  Click inside each "Search for:" box and type in your search terms.  The database is not case sensitive.  You can click on the down arrow to select other indexes besides "Keyword."

2.  Select and, or, or, not using the down arrow option in front of the second or third line to combine, include, or exclude terms in your search.

3.  If results have too many records, limit your search by filling in one or more of the Limit to: boxes:

      A.  Limit to: Year by typing in a single year or a range of years  such as, "1990-2009," or "1990- ."

      B.  Limit to:  Language by clicking on the down arrow and selecting, "English" or "Non-English."

      C.  Limit to:  Document Type by clicking on the down arrow and selecting, "Article," "Book," "Essay,"
            "Review," or "Serial."                         

4.  Limit only to full text material by clicking inside the small white box beside, "Limit to: ... Full text"

5.  Click on the down arrow beside, "Rank by:" to choose whether you wish your search results displayed by frequency of search terms entered in your search or by date, starting with the latest first. 

6. Click on the gray Search button at the top left or bottom and a list of citations displays containing your term.  The total number of records found displays at the top right, in the dark gray menu bar near the top.

7. Mark records by checking inside the selection boxes to the left of each citation record or at the top of a detailed record to the right of the "Next" button.

VIEW FULL-TEXT ARTICLES:

If full-text is available you will see, "View Full Text in PDF format (ATLA)" or "View Full Text in GIF format (ATLA)" at the bottom of the citation in a list of records or at the top of a detailed record.

      A.  Articles in PDF format will display the entire page range, ready to print.
      B.  Use the print function on the Adobe record, not your Web browser.
      C.  The PDF or GIF files available can be saved but cannot be edited.

FROM THE DETAILED RECORD:

      A. Use the hyperlinks on the detailed record to expand your search by author or subject.
      B. Use the "Full Text Journal Finder" on the library homepage to confirm non-availability online.
      C. Use the ILLIAD hyperlink to request full-text articles not available online. 
      D. See a list of libraries that own the item by clicking on, "Libraries worldwide that own the item:"