Databases
Library Databases Overview
Wright Library purchases subscriptions to many electronic research resources, often called databases.
The Guide to Reference Resources below spotlights a few of them.
- Remote access to most databases is restricted to current Princeton Seminary faculty, staff, students and Visiting Scholars.* Authorized users will be prompted to log in.
- Most databases are available to everyone while in the library, regardless of affiliation. (Perlego is the main exception; only authorized users may use it, even on site.)
- Use the Databases (A-Z) List to search a single database.
- Use Summon to search across multiple sources. What is Summon Search?
- A small number of online resources are not available remotely (e.g. you must be on campus to access them).
*A number of open access resources, such as the Theological Commons, are also included in both the A-Z list and Summon.
Alumni may request access to a select number of databases purchased on their behalf.
Remote guests visiting the library online are encouraged to check out these open access resources.
Shared Access
Neighboring Princeton University Library has successfully negotiated shared access to the following databases for Princeton Theological Seminary.
Log in with your Princeton Seminary email and password.
- Humanities Source Ultimate
- Sociology Source Ultimate
- Twentieth Century Religious Thought: Volume II, Islam
- Brill Encyclopedia of Early Christianity Online
Wright Library thanks the Princeton University Library for its ongoing commitment to library collaboration and to shared access where possible.
Tips for searching
Search either Summon or the library catalog.
To search a single database, use the Databases A-Z List.
- All: Searches all the fields available
- Keyword: All Fields (the default)
- Title: Searches the title field
- Author: Searches the author field
- Abstract: Searches the abstract field
- Subject: Searches the subject field
- Narrow your search using AND to connect separate concepts.
Example: barth AND dogmatics - Broaden your search using OR to connect similar terms.
Example: muslim OR moslem - Narrow your search using NOT to eliminate separate terms.
Example: barth NOT karl
Using “quotation marks” around your search term may be effective in some searches.
For advanced searching, it is recommended that you use the “native interface” of a database.
Each database is unique and not all databases provide full-text.
Truncation: Use * to find all words that begin with the same root.
Example: theolog* finds theology, theologian, theological