Student Library Newsletter

In this issue:

Getting to Know: Commentaries

Commentaries are valuable aids to understanding Scripture. They offer explanations, backgrounds, and interpretations of the Bible, often focusing on individual books of the Bible and providing information on a verse-by-verse level. When read alongside your Bible, these will help you form a deeper understanding of the text.

Biblical commentaries come in a wide range of “flavors”. For example, they may be aimed at distinct types of readers, represent different theological perspectives, or focus on particular aspects, such as the historical, textual, social, etc. Because there is such variety, it is often best to consult several at a time when you are studying a book or passage. This mix of perspectives and types of information will better inform your own interpretation.

Here are a few particular types of commentaries you may encounter in your studies:

• Expository commentaries have a pastoral focus, primarily aimed at those who teach or preach the Bible. These may help guide you in overall meaning as well as in personal reflection.

• Exegetical commentaries are academic in nature: they aim to uncover the original meaning of the text, looking carefully at grammar, historical settings, and more.

• Cultural/Background commentaries provide a cultural background to the Bible, providing a historical, cultural, or even geographic context.

However, not all commentaries are easily categorized or clearly labeled! When in doubt, check the back cover/inside flaps for some explanation, or just dive right in and see what it offers for your passage. The library has thousands of commentaries in print and online, so you will almost certainly find what you need within a few tries.

To locate commentaries in the library’s print and online collections, you can search with keywords like “Genesis commentary” or “Jonah expository commentary” in the Henry online catalog or the Discovery search tool.

For more information on Biblical commentaries, see:

Fairchild, M. (2019). What is a commentary? Definition, types, and uses of a Bible commentary.

Collins, B. (2023). The Definitive Guide to Bible Commentaries: Types, Perspectives, and Use.

How Do You Find Peer-Reviewed Sources?

Recently the Association of College and Research Libraries celebrated Peer-Review Week and we figured it's a great time to share this infographic about the easy way it is to find peer-reviewed sources in our Discovery tool!

Buhl Library Fall Book Talk

Make sure you save the date to join us for our Fall Book Talk with Professor Shawn Ritenour discussing his recent book project.

Everyone's Favorite Time of Year Is Back This Week: Buhl Library Book Sale! 

Make sure you stop in the library classroom this week to browse through the selections. All books are $1 each and all proceeds go the Redbox Global Outreach Program.

Buhl Library Fall Break Hours

Wednesday, Oct 18, 7:30 am – 7 pm

Thursday, Oct 19, 8 am – 7 pm

Friday, Oct 20  8 am – 5 pm

Saturday, Oct 21, 8 am-Noon

Sunday, Oct 22, 5 pm – 1 am

Don't Forget The Library For Movie Night!

We heard perhaps not everyone knows that we lend DVDs, well here's your friendly reminder that we do. In fact, we have over 3500 movies you can borrow. Additionally, if you don't have access to a DVD player we lend those too. Want to browse our collection? All the titles can be found in our library catalog but many can also be found on the bookshelf at the front of the Learning Commons!

In the mood for a movie but not sure what to watch? Here are a few suggestions!

Collection of the Month: Chocolate

Take a look at some of the books in our collections that discuss chocolate as we head into candy season with all the upcoming holidays!

New Faculty Publications

Professor of Economics Shawn Ritenour wrote a chapter in the recently published The Emergence of a Tradition: essays in honor of Jesús Huerta de Soto Volume 1. The summary describes this as a collection of essays in which the authors "explore the impact of Jesús Huerta de Soto and his role in the modern revival of the Austrian School of Economics. The chapters focusing on monetary economics, business cycle theory, and entrepreneurship, combine established ideas with novel topics to explore the new directions forged by Huerta de Soto's ideas. This approach presents Huerta de Soto's influence on modern economics. It also outlines his current research paradigm." Ritenour's chapter is Dynamic Efficiency, economic development, and the Ethics of property.

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