On Library Books (In-Print and Electronic)

Thirty years ago my wife and I embarked on a journey of missionary service. From 1976-1994, we made many trips back and forth. I have shipped items from here to there, and back several times (we took an extended furlough in the mid-1980s). My library is probably my most prized possession, and took top priority in our inter-continental moves. Since returning to the U.S. in 1994, however, the composition of my personal library has changed radically. Though I have added a number of "in-print" books, my library has increased substantially by adding electronic resources.

My laptop computer weighs about six pounds, but has over 1,000 full-text, searchable books on the hard drive. I love the in-print books in my library, but were I to move 8-10 thousand miles away, I might be persuaded to leave some of them back home, and use my electronic library. In the past I have literally spent hundreds of dollars transporting my library (my tools) around the world. I have carried my laptop around the world with me as carry-on luggage.

Not only do I have a laptop computer, loaded with books, but I also use a handheld computer. I currently have a Dell Axim x50v, loaded with quite a few resources. On my Pocket PC, I have 8 English Bibles, 3 Spanish Bibles, various devotional books, notes from 2 study Bibles, the Greek New Testament, an exhaustive concordance and Greek and Hebrew lexicons. One of my English Bibles is the NET Bible, which in its print edition has over 2,500 pages with over 60,000 translation notes. Anymore, when I go to church (or to chapel), my Pocket PC is the only Bible I usually carry.

I would encourage each and every student to consider adding electronic books to their personal library. Though the 1,000+ books on my laptop are spread out across several Bible study software packages, my favorite package these days (both because of what is currently available and because of what is projected for the future) is the Libronix Series X Library System from Logos Bible Software. I am really excited about some of the original language products that will be available for Libronix in the near future, including:

• Two new databases for the Greek New Testament, capable of clause-level syntactical analysis (OpenText.org Syntactically Annotated Greek New Testament, and the Lexham Syntactic Greek New Testament)
• A database for analysis of the Hebrew Old Testament (Anderson-Forbes Phrase Marker Analysis of the Hebrew Bible)
• The ESV English-Greek Reverse Interlinear New Testament
  

OCC students will have an opportunity to purchase Libronix software at a 40% discount for a two-week long period beginning February 27. No interest payment plans can be spread out over a 6-month period (there is a $5/month service fee). This is a great opportunity to acquire books at a price much below the cost of their in-print cost. Students will be receiving information soon in their mailbox.

There are some free or nearly free Bible software packages available, that may be worth mentioning. BiblePro for Windows has a free downloadable version, or will send a CD for a nominal charge. E-Sword is freely downloadable, and has versions for both Windows and for Pocket PC. A problem with free software packages is that the selection of books is generally composed of texts that are in the public domain. Many of them are excellent, but newer works are not available. One more free option is worth mentioning. A company called E4 puts periodically makes a CD full of resources for a nominal handling fee. I have purchased several of them

I use electronic Bible study resources every day. If I can help you in a similar quest, please don't hesitate to give me a call.

Links:

Logos Bible Software: http://www.logos.com/

Laridian Bible Software (Handheld): http://www.laridian.com/

Olive Tree Bible Software (Handheld): http://www.olivetree.com/

BiblePro for Windows: http://www.bibleocean.com/

E-Sword: http://www.e-sword.net/

Free Bible Study Software: http://www.freebiblesoftware.com/