Christian Periodical Index
1979 to the present

CPI indexes over 120 publications from a broad spectrum of knowledge including science, literature, medicine, music, philosophy, history, sociology, nursing, and education. The periodicals selected represent the major doctrinal positions within evangelical Christianity; a significant number are not indexed in the ATLA Religion Database.

CPI includes citations to articles but does not include full-text articles. Periodicals not owned by the Seminary may be requested through interlibrary loan.

The Association of Christian Librarians first began the print version of CPI in 1956 with 20 titles; the online version, updated quarterly, includes most titles from 1979 to the present and will eventually include the early years.

Accessing CPI is available on designated computers in the library. Click on the CPI icon on the desktop. After the page opens, check the box beside the name of the database and then click on Open Selected Databases located at the top right. In the computer lab, follow the link from the library’s home page. WTS students, faculty, and staff: for access from home ask for passwords at the circulation or reference desk.

Searching The search techniques below will get you started; you will discover several more ways to search as you explore CPI.

Type your search term or phrase in the Find box, choosing words anywhere or limiting your search to title, author, or subject.

If you are using more than one term, use Boolean operators between terms as appropriate.

When you look at your search results, click on any hyperlink author, source title, or subject heading (also called a descriptor or DE) to expand or focus your search.

You may also limit your search in several ways by clicking on the Limit button. Remember, though, to clear all limits once you no longer want them—they do not automatically go away.

If your search finds no records, use the Index in the right-hand menu to view the exact terms CPI uses. Type one word and select the appropriate index (general, author, title, descriptors).

Notice as you do any of the above searches and return to the initial screen, a search history is accumulating below. You may then combine several searches by clicking on the boxes. Beginning a search with and automatically combines it with your previous search.

When you look at your search results, click on any hyperlink author, source title, or subject heading (also called a descriptor or DE) to expand or focus your search.

Finding an author Type an author’s last name and first initial followed by an asterisk* (trueman c*), using words anywhere. If your results include several authors, click on your author’s hyperlink to focus the list. Or use the Index if needed.

Finding Scripture references Type genesis iii or john xvii (note roman numerals for chapter numbers), using words anywhere. This will include genesis i-iii and john xiii-xvii. Or, go to the Index, type bible-ot-genesis-iii or bible-nt-john-xvii (using hyphens). You will see the range of descriptors used for that specific chapter. Click on the boxes of all descriptors of interest and continue your search.
Printing, emailing, and saving records Mark the records you want to print, email, or save to a disc by clicking the small box to the left of each relevant record. Then click the appropriate button at the top right of the screen and follow the instructions.

Online help is available, but ask a staff member for help anytime. Or contact
Reference Librarian Diane Fisher for a consultation: dfisher@wts.edu or (215) 935–3892

Montgomery Library
Westminster Theological Seminary
www.wts.edu
(215) 572–3821