Remote Access Restored and System Dashboard for Troubleshooting Launched

 

Remote access to the library’s EBSCOHost databases and ebook collections was restored as of 10:22 pm last night (09/22/20) 😊.

I’m also happy to share exciting changes we’ve made to improve your library experiences.

Disruptions in Access to EBSCOHost Databases and eBook Collections

Dear LPTS community,

EBSCO Customer Service has informed us that they are experiencing slow responses and timeouts. This means that none of our EBSCOHost databases – e.g. ATLA Religion, Academic Search, Family and Society Studies, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, etc. plus ebook Collection, ebook Academic Collection, ebook Religion Collection - are accessible in any way. No on campus access, no remote access, not via the workaround sent earlier. EBSCO engineering teams are currently investigating the issue.  

Non EBSCO databases you can still access are Digital Library of Classic Protestant Texts,  Ministry Matters, Oxford Biblical Studies Online and there’s more. Just ask a librarian – library@lpts.edu.

I’ll keep you updated about EBSCO access. Thanks. 

Sincerely,

Anita

Remote Access is Restored, Action Item, On Campus Access Lost, and an Adventure with Mosquitoes and Bikes

Dear LPTS community,

Thanks to Jill Sherman, I am delighted to share that remote access to the library’s databases, ebook collections, and resources is back. She has faithfully worked and pored over the logs and patron files to find and correct errors in years-old manual entries of user barcodes and passwords, literally one by one.  She’s already been reaching out to those when these corrections are made. 😊 

Welcome to Jill Sherman, Remote Access and More

Hello friends,

Here’s more good news today. I believe God works all things together for good. Even the last bit of news at the end. 😊 

On Tuesday, 09/07, we welcomed Jill Sherman as Technical Services Librarian 09/07 and made this quick ~1 min video:  https://youtu.be/BH6N7JMjn6s

Workaround For Remote Access to Library Databases and Ebook Collections

 

Happy Wednesday LPTS students and colleagues.

Library staff continue to try to reach out to OCLC our remote access EZProxy hosted product provider on restoring remote access to the library’s electronic resources.

In the meantime, please refer to your email for a workaround to remote access. 

Fall Course and Textbook Reserves

Course Reserves for Fall

Course reserve readings will be made available in CAMS. There will be no print course reserves, only electronic. Out of an abundance of caution and care, faculty have been asked to submit all course reserves requests for the entire semester before Aug. 14th, 2020.

Textbook Reserves for Fall

The 2-hour in-building reserve of textbooks is a service that the Library will not be able to offer in the Fall. The quarantine period required for books is 4 days between users. Electronic textbook reserves are being explored using the Fall Book List that was submitted by Aug. 14, 2020.

Remote Access Workaround to ATLA Religion Database

Thanks to the students who emailed us about your remote access login problems. Please be aware that it is not your individual remote access credentials. The system is inaccessible.

I am sorry for the incredibly bad timing.

Here's a quick little video showing a different way to remote access into ATLA Religion Database.

Credentials were in email sent to all students.

Continue to contact library@lpts.edu as needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

The library building closed March 20, but staff and student librarians have continued to work from home. We have been serving you and continue to be here to help your successful learning! Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions (FAQ) since the building and campus closed. We hope the FAQ is useful. If you don't see an answer to a question you have, let us know. 

Q. How do I get access to the library's electronic resources? 

A. Check out Remote Access to Electronic Resources in the Library (2 min video) by Ken Schuck, MDiv 2023. 

[Note: We unveiled this lptslove.org aka With Much Love your portal to digital library resources and services, essentially your very own E.M. White Library at home, at the end of March. This is your starting place for library research during COVID19 or #HealthyAtHome, as we call it. We created this new portal because students told me the regular library website was difficult to use and there were a lot of links that did not work. We're making sure that's not the case here, so let us know if something doesn't work or a resource you want cannot be found here. You can also use the regular library website.] 

Q.  My barcode and password does not work. 

A. If your barcode and password does not work, contact the Help Desk. 

Q. I want to return my library books. 

A. Library books can be returned via the Book Drop that is located outside the library.  Fines accrued during this period will be waived.

Q. I want to keep my books? Will I be charged fines because they are now overdue? 

A.  We highly recommend that all books that are due be returned to the library. This is especially important if you are graduating or going to be leaving for the summer. Return books via the Book Drop box outside the library. Fines accrued during the period of campus closure will be waived. If you are continuing at LPTS and need the books, please contact the Help Desk.

Q. How do I find Ebooks in the library? 

A. Consult the Remote Ebook Access Pictorial Guide by Rachel Lemke, MDiv 202. See also other resources listed below.

Q.  What online resources are available to help me write my final papers?

A. The library is rich in online resources! Some critical new ones are listed below.
The Digital Resources Guide provides an entry into our subscription databases. Use this to find ebooks, full-text scholarly journal articles, citation tools, and more. 
The Open Access Resources Guide provides an entry to openly available resources and is arranged by programs MDiv, MAMFT, MAR.

Additional resources exist for exegesis and other papers and assignments. They include:
Remote Access and Use of Ebook Commentaries from the ATLA Religion Database for Exegesis 
Remote Access and Use of Commentaries and ATLA Religion Database for Exegesis of Exodus: A Pictorial Guide 
PC(USA) Ordination Examinations Guide
How to Use Google Scholar by Donna Phillips, MDiv 2015, MAMFT 2020. 

Q. How do I log into Morgan Discovery, the library catalog? 

A. Check Ken Schuck's How to Log into Morgan Discovery (Library Catalog) -  (3.37 min video). Remember, you only need to login in to check your library a/c, save searches, results, etc.  You do not need to log in to search the catalog.

Q. Are there other videos that can help me with electronic access? 

A.  Ken Schuck, MDiv 2023,  has made a number of videos to help with Redshelf (free digital textbooks for students), Kindle, and more.  The full Playlist is available here:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZmXx_jI5wqDr0zlojcqMYJKYBo8Q6kQy
Q. I need help with my research paper. 

A. In addition to the Digital Resources Guide and the Open Access Guide described above, you can consult the Information Research Toolbox which was created for the students in the SM 1003 Research Methods and Practices course (prof. Garrett and Prof. Coleman). We also highly recommend the Information Literacy Research Companion, an online learning tool (it is also listed in the Toolbox). You must create a free a/c to this trial learning as it does not use the Seminary barcode and password. There is an explanation about this tool, including a link to create a personal account, on this page here.

Q. How do I cite or prepare a bibliography? 

A. Use one of the Seminary standards as shown below:
Chicago Manual of Style 
The Chicago Manual of Style Online is used in the MDiv and MAR programs. Guide to style, usage, and grammar.
APA Style and Grammar Guidelines--From the American Psychological Association website, "The style and grammar guidelines pages present information about APA Style as described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition." APA Citation Information from the Online Writing Lab at Purdue University.  This covers all the important aspects of writing and citing from the current APA Style Guide.

Q. What other ordination exam prep materials are available online?

A.  Collection of exams from Aug. 2007 - Winter 2015 - 360 pages -  available at this link below: https://lpts.edu/assets/documents/library/allordexams.pdf

Q. I have another question that is not answered here. Who can help me?

A. Remember, if you're comfortable using the regular library webpage, you can always consult that: http://lpts.edu/library. Our library has so much more than we can include here.

If you need personal help, contact the Help Desk. A librarian will respond within 24 hours.

Important Note:  This - lptslove.org - is your digital library, your very own E.M. White Library at home. Your starting place for library research. We created the digital library cum blog because students found the regular library website difficult and to document the library’s online services during COVID19.  Here is a video tour of this blog, just in time for Research and Study Week.