Integrating the Perlego Library into Theology on the Web

Way back in 2001, when biblicalstudies.org.uk was launched, it was possible to get permission to digitise and host aticles from a wide range of theological journals. Since then, the vast majority of journals have disappeared behind paywalls. While it is still possible to locate an occasional journal that have been missed (King’s Theological Review was a notable recent example) most of the recent digitised material making its way onto the Theology on the Web sites has been older books from the public domain. Which much of this is still surprisingly useful, as a full-time Bible College librarian I recognise that students need access to more recent publications in order to fully prepare them for ministry. For that reason I was very pleased to become an affiliate of the online University library, Perlego.

Perlego is a subscription-based service that gives instant and unlimited online access to over one million College-level textbooks across a huge range of subjects. Within the field of theology it lists over 60,000 titles, including many of the latest biblical commentary series, as well as expensive monograph series that even most theological libraries would find it difficult to afford. They have recently added all of the publishers Wiley’s titles, including their world-class series of theology textbooks (see image above). Over the last year I have integrated Perlego links into the biblicalstudies.org.uk into order to provide access to the best of both open access and public domain material and the very latest books that will not be available for free within my life time. Integration into the other six website is ongoing.

The image below shows one of the pages from biblicalstudies.org.uk. The commentaries marked with a large “P” on the left are available on Perlego and those with a globe are available for free download.

As part of my affiliate program I am able to offer a 10% discount on a Perlego subscription to visitors using this link. Why not use it to take advantage of a free trial of the service? Theology on the Web receives a small payment for each subscription, so you would also be supporting its ministry. Do let me know if you find Perlego helpful to you in your studies.