Welcome to the
Virtual Resource Center
This will be your starting point for information resources, research, writing, and so much more.
Be sure to click on the FAQ and Free Online Resources links below. All students can make use of the ProQuest Library link below.
NCBC Librarian
Meet Lydia Neeley the librarian@ncbc.net. As the librarian, she provides tools and advice for becoming information literate and helps students look critically at the quality and trustworthiness of sources.
Proquest Ebook Library >
Proquest Ebook Central is an extensive library collection of reference books and commentaries, including 20,000 available online titles.
Free Online Resources >
Here you will find a curated list of freely available resources that are suited to the needs of undergraduate Bible college students. This list has some free resources more suited to graduate students.
Accordance Bible Software
Accordance provides students with an extensive library, dynamic search, and Bible study tools. It is an owned library you can take with you after graduation, and continually add to via ebook purchases.
Bay Area Libraries
Bay Area Libraries with agreements with NCBC. Western Seminary in Milpitas, and Saint Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park can be accessed for an annual fee.
Virtual Resource Center
Getting Started
The best place to go to begin to understand the VRC and the role of the NCBC librarian is the FAQ page. You can access it here.
For graduate students, here is a PDF for a description of some graduate-level resources.
Library FAQs >
Free Online Resources >
Research and Writing Help >
Paper writing is such a huge part of your undergraduate and graduate student life. This page is full of helpful tips and information to help you smooth out the wrinkles in this time consuming (yet fulfilling) endeavor.
Can I Trust this? >
Information Literacy. You may not know what this term means, but it is something you must master during your college and ministry career. As Christians we are to be bearers of truth and light, and having the tools to evaluate information for truth and accuracy is crucial. This page will help equip you to do just that.
Tips & Helps
The Northern California Bible College Virtual Resource Center exists to cultivate in every NCBC student, faculty, and staff member a lifelong love of learning steeped in Biblical truth.
About the VRC
Student Resources Blog >
Coming Soon…
Tutorial Videos
Discover
Resources Overview
NCBC does not have a physical library. However, we do have a collection of online and electronic resources that will continue to grow. These resources can be anything from journals and articles, to Bible study tools, to writing and research help. Since NCBC students cannot physically “go” to the library, we have created a virtual space for students to visit that will help meet their information needs. Hence the name, Virtual Resource Center.
In lieu of subscriptions to online databases of knowledge, it is important for students to purchase a robust Bible study software, such as Accordance or Logos, which will provide the student with an extensive library and dynamic search and study tools. With this in mind, the purchase of either Accordance or Logos is in fact required of those wishing to graduate with an undergraduate degree from NCBC and is highly encouraged for audit and non-degree students.
In addition to purchased Bible study software, the NCBC Student Resources Blog has been created as a space to assist with writing and research, computer literacy, information literacy, and offers lists of free online resources students may peruse and reference at their own discretion. The blog can be accessed via the Virtual Resource Center homepage, along with some helpful instructional videos.
The NCBC Librarian
The librarian will provide tools and advice for becoming information literate and will help students look critically at the quality and trustworthiness of the information they have gathered, which is a crucial step in the creation of college level papers and presentations.
Library Facilities
NCBC has agreements with two local post-secondary institutions for the on-site use of their research libraries. Western Seminary in Milpitas, and Saint Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park have agreed to allow NCBC students access to their facilities for a small annual fee. Students seeking either the Associate or Bachelors’ degree are required to purchase the Accordance Advanced suite of Bible study materials and will be able to view a training video produced by our distance librarian.
Resources FAQs
What is Accordance Bible Software?
Accordance Bible Software has commentaries, word studies, Bible translations, devotional Bible studies, and computerized study tools.
In lieu of subscriptions to online databases of knowledge, it is important for students to purchase a robust Bible study software, such as Accordance or Logos, which will provide the student with an extensive library and dynamic search and study tools. With this in mind, the purchase of either Accordance or Logos is in fact required of those wishing to graduate with an undergraduate degree from NCBC and is highly encouraged for audit and non-degree students.
Students seeking either the Associate or Bachelors’ degree are required to purchase the Accordance Advanced suite of Bible study materials and can reach out to the librarian for guidance and training.
Can I access a physical seminary library in the Bay Area?
NCBC has agreements with two local post-secondary institutions for the on-site use of their research libraries. Western Seminary in Milpitas, and Saint Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park have agreed to allow NCBC students access to their facilities for a small annual fee.
Who is the Librarian and how do I contact her?
Lydia can be contacted directly by email at librarian@ncbc.net. She can set up appointments with students (these will primarily be on Sunday afternoons), and will be able to help you start finding research resources.
The librarian will provide tools and advice for becoming information literate and will help students look critically at the quality and trustworthiness of the information they have gathered, which is a crucial step in the creation of college level papers and presentations.
Does NCBC have a physical library?
NCBC has many locations through the Bay Area and students online. In an effort to provide equal access to all campus locations, NCBC uses only online resources. One such example is Proquest Ebook Central, which is a paid subscription library that NCBC uses to provide thousands of book titles to students.
NCBC does not have a physical library. However, we do have a collection of free online and electronic resources that will continue to grow. These resources can be anything from journals and articles, to Bible study tools, to writing and research help. Since NCBC students cannot physically “go” to the library, we have created a virtual space for students to visit that will help meet their information needs. Hence the name, Virtual Resource Center.
Where is the best source to find a modern commentary?
Many of the articles and commentaries online are either not written by scholars or are outdated. A modern commentary will take into account current research and archeology (the Dead Sea Scroll find was groundbreaking and updated many of our Bible translations and clarified understanding of that era of Greek writing and lexicon.)
Most free commentaries online will be in the public domain and quite dated. The best source for commentaries is via our subscription database, Proquest Ebook Central. Accordance Bible Software has many free commentaries (many of which are historic) but newer commentaries can be purchased as add-ons.