Masland Library Blog

Today, Wednesday 29, Philadelphia Biblical University held its annual boat raise. After creating their own devices for crossing the water – as I can I hardly deem them boats – a few brave individuals ventured across the pond. Unfortunately, a number of the boats failed to perform adequately enough to support their crew across the water. Thus, they subsequently sunk bellow the murky (to say the least) water. If, as I, you were reminded of the scene in the film Cast Away in which Tom Hanks’ character flees from his island prison on his self-constructed raft, and wish to watch this awesome film, it is available at the front desk of the PBU library along with many other classic titles.

Although the boat race was very funny, the individuals manning the sunken vessels could have easily prevented the occurrence if they would have simply spent some time investigating the physical properties of flotation on the databases available through the library. Listed on the PBU database web-page are numerous databases that relate not only to science but a multitude of other topics including everything from food to politics. For example, Victor L. Streeter, an engineering professor at the University of Michigan, wrote an article that explains how buoyancy works on the Access Science database from McGraw-Hill. If, however, you are looking for a more in-depth study of buoyancy to drastically increase the success of your own personal homemade boat, the Article First database offers large number of articles that pertain to the different highly complex aspects of buoyancy. Next time you are attempting to design a homemade boat, or even writing a research paper for a class, check out the databases available on the PBU Masland Library website.

~Matt Ostrow

There has been a lot of debate in the media about ebooks, ereaders and tablets. It has become a badge of honor to be in a certain camp for either digital or print media, kind of on par with the Twilight obsessed fans of Team Jacob or Edward (insert eye rolling here). Personally I find myself in both media camps. I cannot say one media source is better than another, in fact I will probably be working with both for the remainder of my life. Will I buy an ereader? I believe I may, but I will be waiting for a reader that accomplishes all of my goals and wishlist of services. Will I give up my print library? For certain books I believe I may, but will I give up my classics? The books that I wish my future friends and children to read? Not at all.

{Geekiness warning} Growing up I watched whatever my dad had on and my most vivid memories are of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Jean Luc Picard is in my opinion the most awesome of all Star Trek captains, he has a amazing voice, he was kind to children and his crew, and he appreciated the Arts. In his quarters he played classical music and even had physical books lying around, but when we saw him reading he was always on his "tablet" reader. To me as a child that was the epitome of cool (that and when I discovered that Jordy was that guy on Reading Rainbow). When I hold a Kindle or Nook, I feel like I am on Star Trek reading awesome Classic books with style, much like Cpt. Picard.

So now you are probably wondering why I have brought up this meandering midst of memories? As a student at Philadelphia Biblical University you have been blessed with receiving an education that takes an interest in you and your worldview. We want our students to succeed, all the faculty and staff are here to invest ourselves in your future., That is a gift that shouldn't be taken lightly. Part of that investment is the Library and its databases and its physical offerings. Regardless of whether you prefer print or digital media we have resources for you. With over 70 databases and more than a 100,000 physical items on our shelves, we have and continue to develop our offerings to meet the needs of our students and their programs of study. So if you want to immerse yourself in the print resources you may do so, or if you are busy commuter who prefers working online you can conduct your research from your favorite wireless location. Whichever way suites you best than we are here to accommodate you. If you need pointers or have suggestions on how we can improve our services we would love to hear from you. You can contact us through "Ask a Librarian" or you can also make suggestions about items to acquire.

~Laura Saloiye

I’ve been learning a lot recently... about learning. I wondered how I would like coming out of Bible and Israel and into a semester with no Bible classes whatsoever. Maybe for some people that idea seems relieving, but I was legitimately concerned that I wouldn’t like the rest of college.

I know it hasn’t been too far into the semester yet, but I’ve been thinking very intently about the purpose of learning and academics. Overall, it’s a bit confusing. ‘Cause I’ll go and read Paul saying things like, “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2, ESV) and then I have to go walk into a Psychology class or a Literature class and I feel like I’m getting a bit of whiplash. Do I have to know just Christ and Him crucified... or am I also allowed to know a little about the political structure of Ancient Egypt and how my mind perceives colour?

Granted, the extent of that question is rather absurd. If we literally scrubbed out our brains so that we were incapable of knowing anything but the crucifixion of Christ, we’d be non-functional as well as hermeneutically invalid.

But the question is simple: If I am to identify myself with Christ, how can I interact in an academic world?

Jesus is the point of the Bible. His incarnation as the Word of God explained not only Who God is but everything that He had revealed in His Scriptures (John 1; Hebrews 1:1-3). If we don’t study the Bible to see Jesus as greater than everything else we could ever imagine, then we might as well throw it away.

The same is true of the rest that we learn. You should study science differently knowing that Jesus is the one holding everything together (Colossians 1:17). You should study psychology differently knowing that the human mind was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). You should study literature and music and history and math differently in light of the fact that Jesus died, rose again, and is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19).

You’re all at PBU with different majors and different classes. The library is equipped with far more resources than you could ever use. A world of immense knowledge is at your disposal. Take advantage of that. Study hard. Learn much.

But, if you are not learning everything with Christ as centre, then you’re learning it all uselessly. And if the library is being used just to gather information or scrabble through classes, then it is functioning in vain and all those books in the LRC would be better off as kindling.

Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ...
Philippians 3:8

Made for More. . .
by Jonathan Eifert

PBU’s Masland Library is more than a place to read books. It’s more than fluorescent lights that give you headaches, more than mauve colored furniture, more than 100,000 books, more than the indefinite number of e-books and databases that students can access.

The Masland Library has a staff that bends over backwards to help students. The Reader Services staff, located behind the front desk, gives you advice on researching your latest project or paper. However, these two special ladies are made for more than research. Alice Pahktigian and Laura Saloiye give advice about life.

The Library is made for more than books. It is a place to discuss ideas with a skilled staff who care for the well-being of their patrons. Don’t just come to the Library to read and research. Come to pique the minds of the Reader Services staff. They are more than librarians; they are life coaches. They’ve become mine.