Services

Our library is now a part of TAL, The Alberta Library consortium. The Alberta Library (TAL) is a province-wide consortium of academic, public, and special libraries. which allows TAL Patrons to borrow materials from our library at no charge. Our community patrons may also receive a TAL card from us to borrow materials from other libraries. There are some restrictions to the TAL program, see the librarian for clarification.

The library holds approximately 20 journal titles in print format. Journal holdings can be found in the periodical display shelving by the circulation desk. The library displays the most current issue of the journals on the display shelf with back issues of the current volume or year stored underneath the display shelves. Our bound journals and older printed back issues can be found in the library workroom. Library staff will access the issue/s you may need. Other journal holdings are in microfiche or microfilm format and are housed in the microfiche room across from the Fiction collection. Journals do not circulate. They must be used in the library or photocopied for further use.

We have access to hundreds of journals and thousands of full-text articles through EBSCO. You must use a login and password to utilize these services. Unfortunately our community users do not have remote access to EBSCO databases due to policy restrictions, but may use our EBSCO resources when in the physical library. See library staff for more information.

There are currently three student work stations located in the reference area of the library. A network printer/photocopier is located next to the stations. For those interested in printing, prepayment of copies/prints must be established with an account number & password from library staff. There is a charge of 10 cents per page for printed copies. These three terminals may be used for internet access, word processing, CD-ROM database searching, as well as accessing the library catalogue. Children are not allowed to use the library computer without parental supervision and only if computers are available. Access to pornographic material or inappropriate use of computer equipment will result in loss of library membership & access or student disciplinary action will be taken for CBTSC students.

A networked photocopier/printer/scanner is available near the main entrance of the library. The cost is 10 cents per page. Copies/printing accounts must be set up through library staff & pre-payment of copies must be made and added to your account once copies are used up. IOUs will not be permitted for copying/printing. Scanning documents is free of charge but must be either saved to a flash drive or emailed to an address. Please see staff for help in using the photocopier. Community patrons may use copier/printing but will need to see library staff for assistance.

The library currently holds a few journals in microfiche format. We also have some theses, books and other materials in microfiche or microfilm format. These materials are located in the file cabinet within the microfiche reading room and may be read on the reader/printer in the room. The microform printer may be used for $.10 per page. (See library staff for operating instructions)

We welcome community users to our CBT library and invite them to use the library resources under the same regulations that apply to CBTSC students. They may use our resources within the library at no charge. Community users are expected to pay an annual fee of $25.00 for use of library resources outside the library. They may sign up for this service at the circulation desk.

Information and reference service is available Monday through Friday during serviced library hours (See Hours). For in-depth reference service, please see the library director during daytime hours.

We currently subscribe to several databases through EBSCO. These include: 

q ATLA Religion Database with AtlaSerials PLUS:  combines the premier index to journal articles, book reviews, and collections of essays in all fields of religion with Atla’s largest collection of full text religion and theology journals. AtlasPLUS contains more than 580 full text titles, including all AtlaSerials® (Atlas®) titles. This database is produced by Atla, a membership association of collectors and connectors in religion and theology, but offered through EBSCO.

q Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection ONLINE:  provides access to thousands of articles in hundreds of journals both listed as full-text or provides citation for manually accessing the article. Access through EBSCO.

q Religion & Philosophy Collection ONLINE: covers topics such as world religions, major denominations, biblical studies, religious history, epistemology, political philosophy, philosophy of language, moral philosophy and the history of philosophy.

q Academic Search Elite:  Academic institutions worldwide depend on this database as their core resource of scholarly information. Academic Search Elite contains full text for more than 2,100 journals, Nearly 150 journals have PDF images dating back to 1985.

q Academic Search Complete:  Academic Search Complete is the world’s most valuable and comprehensive scholarly, multi-disciplinary full-text database, with more than 8,500 full-text periodicals, including more than 7,300 peer-reviewed journals. In addition to full text, this database offers indexing and abstracts for more than 12,500 journals and a total of more than 13,200 publications including monographs, reports, conference proceedings, etc. The database features PDF content going back as far as 1887, with the majority of full text titles in native (searchable) PDF format. Searchable cited references are provided for more than 1,400 journals.

q Old & New Testament  Abstracts: indispensable research and bibliographic aid for scholars, librarians, clergy and students of the Old and New Testaments and their historical milieu.

q Christian Periodical Index ONLINE  (primary focus are evangelical journals and are expanding to full-text) Access through EBSCO. (Index only)

Journal articles, books, dissertations on hundreds of topics are indexed in these databases. See library staff for assistance. These programs can be used at any of our student computer stations for our community and student patrons as well as remotely for our students.

A sign-in usage calendar is located on the outside of the door. Patrons are welcome to use the room when it is not booked. Please limit the amount of time to 2 consecutive hours. Please note that the Oversized Book Collection is also located in this room and patrons/staff may need to access the materials periodically.

From time to time there will be sales of duplicates and other books not needed by the library for a nominal charge. Announcement of any book sales will be made two weeks before the sale begins.  Books must be paid for at the time of purchase. IOUs will not be accepted. All money raised will be used to purchase additional library materials.

We have about 120 sound recordings catalogued on various subjects. Subjects include sermons, evangelism, parenting, social issues, Christian ethics, theology, Bible, history, literature and others. Single cds may be found in wooden storage unit next to the library entrance.  CDs in binders & audiobooks & sound recordings are located in the shelves behind the circulation desk. All audio materials are catalogued through the online library catalogue.  We have over 800 DVDs available for circulation. Our collection contains entertainment, family, children’s videos, music videos, topical issues, history, missions, lectures and courses by various professors and speakers.  DVD covers are displayed on shelves in front of the circulation desk and housed in the library workroom. Please ask library staff for assistance in locating the material. NOTE:  Regular DVDs circulate for one-week. There is a fine of $0.50 cents per item per day for overdue materials with a 7 day grace period.

The library currently uses two main e-book resources: 

1. Ebsco Religion Book Collection:  and other purchased religious ebook titles. EBSCO titles are catalogued in our library catalogue and links to these books can be access directly from the catalogue or through our main page of our library website. There is also a free EBSCO  app available to iOS devices as well as Android devices and Kindle & Nook devices. 

2. Perlego Ebook Collection: “Perlego is the first unlimited, subscription-based digital library that grants each user unrestricted access to over 1,000,000 books from leading academic and professional publishers. With over 950 topics and subtopics to explore, students can read widely beyond just their assigned reading lists. Built-in tools are provided to make studying even easier too, including one-click referencing, notes & highlights and the ability to search within books. Users can access Perlego from their computer, smartphone or tablet and can also download books for offline reading within our app.” 

Please Note: Community Members are unable to access our electronic books and journal holdings outside of the library proper due to policy restrictions with our electronic material provider.

Semester Library Hours 

Mon-Thurs: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm

Friday: 8:00 am – 4:00pm

Saturday: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Sunday: CLOSED

Children must be accompanied by parents and may only come in to pick up material.