How are these photos unique?
We've written a page to answer this question.
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Why should I buy these photos when I can find
free ones on
Google?
The availability of images on the internet today
is much greater than it was in 2000 when the first edition of the
Pictorial Library of Bible Lands was released. Today one can
search Google Images, Flickr, and similar sources for thousands of
free images. What does the Pictorial Library provide that
these sources do not?
First, we provide a
comprehensive collection
that is well-organized. Google can provide you with a variety of images,
but sorting through them all to find what you want can be daunting.
Our collection was designed so that you can find lots of images related to
the Bible and ancient history quickly and easily. Second, our images are
accurately identified and
described. We recently read a major
archaeology textbook that made an embarrassing identification error of
a photograph
based on an internet source. Third, our images are all in
high-resolution. Fourth, many of our images
have descriptive labels which
help you to understand what you're looking at.
Fifth, with the Pictorial Library you do
not need to identify copyright holders, determine what type of usage is
allowed, and write to request permission. The Pictorial
Library provides thousands of high-quality, accurately identified
photographs with generous permissions at a
reasonable price.
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What are the minimum system requirements
to use the program?
You need a computer, PC, Mac, or Linux, with a DVD drive.
The PowerPoint program is necessary in order to view the PowerPoint
presentations and annotations.
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Does the Pictorial Library work on a Mac?
Yes. The DVDs consist of three kinds of files: jpg
images, PowerPoint presentations, and html files with instructions. This format
allows for maximum compatibility with all computers and operating systems.
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I like the information on the website; is
there also text on the DVDs?
Yes. The Pictorial Library includes much, more
information than is available on the website. The PowerPoint presentations have extensive
annotations about the sites and photographs. Altogether the amount of text
is equivalent to a 2,000-page book. For more detail and samples of the
explanatory text, see this page.
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How can I view the annotations if I don't
have PowerPoint?
The free PowerPoint viewer does not allow viewing of the
annotations. The current edition of the free
OpenOffice has a confirmed bug
that does not properly display the annotations in PowerPoint files, but this may
be corrected in a future version of OpenOffice. The annotations can be read in
Keynote '09.
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How does the Pictorial Library of Bible
Lands compare with the Slide Set CD from Biblical Archaeology Society?
Is there significant redundancy between the two collections?
The
Biblical Archaeology
Slide Set CD focuses on artifacts while the Pictorial Library of Bible
Lands features primarily sites and landscapes. The BAS CD includes 1,200
images at a lower resolution for $180; the Pictorial Library includes
17,000 images
at a high resolution and costs $389. The BAS CD has thorough explanations written by multiple experts;
the Pictorial Library has limited explanations written by a single college
professor.
Kris Udd of Grace University has written reviews on both products for the Journal of
Biblical Studies (the review of the Pictorial Library is
here; the review of the Biblical Archaeology Slide Set is
here).
David Padfield has written a review
comparing the two sets.
Both products have 100% satisfaction guarantees so if you are unhappy with
either, you can return them.
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Can I use this if I teach with overhead transparencies?
Yes. One school district purchased multiple sets and printed hundreds
of the photographs as full-color transparencies. They look beautiful and
are being used with great impact in their classrooms.
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How do you install the program?
Since the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands is a
collection of jpg images and PowerPoint presentations, there is nothing to
"install" per se. There are some significant advantages to
copying the files to the computer's hard drive, such as speed and convenience,
and we recommend doing this.
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What is the BiblePlaces.com Image
Library in Logos 4 and 5?
A $20 product included in most base
packages of Logos 4 and Logos 5, the
“BiblePlaces.com Image Library” is a collection of 350 medium-resolution
(1024x768) images selected from the previous 10-volume edition of the Pictorial
Library of Bible Lands. One advantage of the Logos collection is its close
integration with biblical studies resources, including searchability by
Scripture reference. By contrast, the Pictorial Library is not searchable
by Scripture reference, but it contains 17,500
high-resolution images, pre-made PowerPoint presentations, relevant maps, two
indices, and extensive
annotations.
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Do you have a catalog of all of your products?
Yes. You may download our catalog
here
(pdf).
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Do you accept payment with PayPal?
Yes. We also accept Visa, Mastercard, American
Express, and Discover. Payment may be made in a variety of currencies,
including Euros, British Pounds, South African Rand, Australian Dollars, and
more.
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Can you offer me a better price if I buy the
complete set?
Yes. The complete set of 18 volumes of the Pictorial
Library of Bible Lands is available for
$389. This is a 35% discount off of purchasing the volumes individually. If
you own the previous edition of the Pictorial Library, you
qualify for
upgrade pricing.
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How can I get the photo collection
quickly?
Expedited shipping is available for $10 in the US and
products take approximately three days to arrive. International orders cost
more and take longer, though international postal practices
make estimating difficult. If you have placed an order and would like to
download part or all of the collection,
send us an email and we will make the images available for you within 24 hours. There is no
charge for this service.
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Can I upgrade from the previous edition?
Yes, and on this page we explain why upgrading is
recommended for previous purchasers. We also have a separate FAQ concerning
upgrades. To order resources at the upgrade pricing, go
here.
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Do you have a question that's not answered here? Let
us know!
Revised:
April 09, 2013
