Located on the lower level of the two-story building on the main campus, the library’s professional staff in the Reference Department are trained to assist patrons in locating information and materials needed for classes or other interests, both in printed and electronic resources. The Reference Department contains dictionaries and encyclopedias, Bible dictionaries and commentaries, as well as other basic research books on Biblical and religious studies, seminary and graduate school catalogs, a Reserve Book area, and books in the Chinese and Korean languages. The Card Catalog, indexes to journals and periodicals, popular reading materials and a New Book area are also located in this area. The Library uses the Library of Congress classification system and participates in nationwide interlibrary loan activities.
Access to the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) and the library's academic online databases is available in the Reference area on a computer network. The Internet and academic databases can also be accessed from the additional computers located in the campus Computer Lab in Wycliffe Hall. The Library also provides Bible Study software for the Computer lab. These include BibleWorks, Logos Bible software, Gaebelein’s Expositor’s Bible Commentaries and access to other online Biblical/religious sites found on the Internet for additional study and consultation.
The academic databases are specifically evaluated and selected to support all subject areas of the university curriculum, especially for the graduate degree programs in Education and Business Administration, and the distance learning programs.
The Blumenthal Library has several special collections, including a Rare Books Collection, the Chinese language business management collection, the Reavis Reading Center of Phi Delta Kappa Educational Foundation materials, the Teaching Credential and Christian Education curriculum areas, and anticipates building the Rosen Judaica Study Collection in 2003.
The Reference staff promotes materials in its collection for research and encourages students to explore and utilize the many excellent resources of the numerous academic and special library collections in the Bay Area to provide a rich academic experience while at Patten.