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!

SUBSCRIBE TO CPI

Title Lists:

  • Current titles—Alphabetically
    (.doc or .pdf)
  • Current titles—By Subject
    (.doc or .pdf)
  • All titles—Alphabetically
    (.xls, .html or .pdf)
  • Full text titles (.html)
  • Peer-reviewed and scholarly titles (.pdf)

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...

Librarians

Many librarians serve as indexers for CPI. If you are interested in this type of professional contribution, please contact the CPI Team Coordinator.

Indexers

Publishers

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.

2023 – Beth Purtee

Beth Purtee

Beth started indexing for ACL’s Christian Periodical Index (CPI) in 2015. She currently indexes 5 publications and indexes a number of retrospective issues each year. In addtion to indexing, Beth also faithfully serves ACL as the Team Coordinator for the Christian Library Consortium (CLC). ACL appreciates and celebrates Beth’s faithful service to the Association!

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

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