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The essential resource for researchers from a Christian worldview!
The Christian Periodical Index® (CPI®) (ISSN 2572-1933) is the comprehensive electronic index to journal articles and book reviews from across the evangelical Christian perspective. CPI, first released in 1957, is updated quarterly by ACL volunteers and produced and distributed by EBSCO.
- Indexes more than 190 publications (including 100+ academic journals and 80 peer-reviewed titles)
- Includes over 500,000 articles and reviews from the mid-20th century to present
- Covers major doctrinal positions within evangelical Christianity
- Produced by the Association of Christian Librarians® (ACL), distributed by EBSCO, and updated quarterly
What is unique about CPI?
- New in 2022! Users can limit search results to linked full-text or peer-reviewed journals, and search by scripture citation
- Contains titles from a wide variety of disciplines that present a Christian viewpoint — education, history, literature, medicine, music, nursing, philosophy, science, and sociology
- 103 titles indexed in CPI are not found in other major religion databases and 70 titles are found ONLY in CPI
- Indexing done by ACL members
CLC members are eligible for a 15% discount on CPI available through EBSCO. Contact EBSCO to get a price quote or a trial version. Be sure to mention you are a CLC member to get the 15% savings!
CPI Team Members
Carrie Beth Lowe
Team Coordinator
Johnson University
Sarah Wessel
Managing Editor
Association of Christian Librarians
Steve Brown
Editor Emeritus
Retired
Douglas Butler
Articles Editor
Retired
Jule Kind
Indexer Training Coordinator
Retired
Laura Ladwig
Secretary/Proofreader
Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary
Jamey Wilkes
Reviews Editor
North Georgia Technical College
Lori Thornton
Retrospective Indexing Coordinator
Carson-Newman University
More about CPI for...
- CPI LibGuide
- CPI title lists
- Subscription questions for EBSCO?
- Request a free trial to CPI
- Report an error in CPI
Many librarians serve as indexers for CPI. If you are interested in this type of professional contribution, please contact the CPI Team Coordinator.
- Indexer Resources – CPI LibGuide
- If you have indexing-specific question please contact Jule Kind, Indexer Training Coordinator.
- CPI Indexing Manual
- Report an error in CPI
- Indexer of the Year Award
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We are always looking for new indexers, and many current and future librarians get started serving ACL and the profession by indexing. To get a sense of what we are looking for, we have some videos to introduce the process.
- Beginning Indexing for CPI–Part One, Getting Started
Description: Learn how to get started with CPI indexing. - Beginning Indexing for CPI–Part Two, General Indexing Guidelines
Description: Description of the indexing templates and content of fields.
- Beginning Indexing for CPI–Part One, Getting Started
The Christian Periodical Index (CPI) currently indexes more than 190 publications. New titles are considered for addition to the index based upon member, indexer, and publisher recommendations. The CPI Team evaluates titles throughout the year and bases its decisions on a written selection policy, copies of which are available on request from the CPI Team Coordinator.
CPI has grown steadily since its start and continues to achieve significant milestones:
1957 – The first issue of CPI was published with indexing back to 1956
1999 – Online and CD-ROM formats using the SilverPlatter platform were developed and hosted by BCR (Bibliographic Center for Research)
2009 – CPI became available via EBSCOhost
2012 – Record count surpasses 300,000
2012 – Last print index (volume 35)
2017 – Record count surpasses 400,000
If you would like to recommend a title to be a part of CPI’s future, please email the journal title and its publication information to the CPI Team Coordinator.
Barbara K. Nelson Indexer of the Year Award
Barbara K. Nelson Christian Periodical Indexer of the Year award shall be recommended (when appropriate) and awarded by the CPI Team with the approval of the Board of Directors. This award is presented at the ACL Annual Conference President’s Banquet to a deserving volunteer.
2024 – Mary Tatro
![tatro_mary](https://www.acl.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/tatro_mary.jpg)
Mary Tatro has been and ACL member for 10 years and also celebrating a decade of indexing for the Christian Periodical Index. As a Tech Services Librarian by day, she was a quick study and began volunteering to index seemingly any title she could get her hands on. She brought her cataloging expertise and attention to detail to the CPI Team while she served as Retrospective Indexing Coordinator from 2015 to 2020. Overall, she has indexed over 300 issues, including many from general audience magazines like Christianity Today that cover such diverse and emerging-news topics that make even our seasoned indexers shudder.
Barbara K. Nelson Christian Periodical Indexer of the Year Award
Barbara K. Nelson Christian Periodical Indexer of the Year award shall be recommended (when appropriate) and awarded by the CPI Team with the approval of the Board of Directors. This award is presented at the ACL Annual Conference President’s Banquet to a deserving volunteer.
This award was named in memory of Barbara K. Nelson for her impact on both the membership of the association and the growth of the Christian Periodical Index (CPI). Barbara began her membership in the Christian Librarians Fellowship (now ACL) in 1973 and immediately began building relationships and giving back to the Association. She reflected on her motivation for service in an article published in The Christian Librarian 49 (2) 2006 titled “ACL and God’s Call to Librarianship” and said ‘Because I learned so much in those early years, I was committed to giving back.’ Barbara was known for her welcoming smile, warm hugs, and remarkable memory for details about those she met and got to know. Her hospitable spirit and kind gestures are long remembered by those who knew her. She was actively involved in the Association until her death in 2006. She served in many capacities in ACL and encouraged and mentored her colleagues to do the same. The Indexer of the Year award was named after Barb shortly after her passing. Barb’s love for the mission and people of the Association, along with her years of service and great depth of knowledge of the history of ACL, are remembered in this award that now bears her name.
Past Indexer of the Year Recipients
2023 – Beth Purtee
2022 – Jamey Wilkes
2019 – Eve Grant
2018 – Georgianne Bordner
2017 – Robert Burgess
2016 – Joan Spanne
2015 – Craig Kubic
2014 – Sheila Carlblom
2013 – Hugh Rendle
2011 – Lynn Brock
2009 – Michael Van Huisen
2008 – Stanford Terhune
2007 – Flor Oamil
2006 – Ruth Butler
2006 – Barbara Nelson
2006 – Douglas Butler
2006 – Steven Brown
2005 – Clyde Root
2004 – Murl Winters