Frequently Asked Questions

Table of Contents

  1. What are some ways I can use these pictures?
  2. Aren't some of these places not mentioned in the Bible?
  3. Why are there usually multiple pictures of a single place?
  4. Why are these pictures better than I can find elsewhere?
  5. What are the minimum system requirements to use the program?
  6. Do the CDs work on a Mac?
  7. I like the information on the website; is there also text on the CDs?
  8. How can I view the annotations if I don't have PowerPoint?
  9. How does the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands compare with the new Slide Set CD from Biblical Archaeology Society? Is there significant redundancy between the two collections?
  10. Can I use this if I teach with overhead transparencies?
  11. How do you install the program?
  12. How do you install the Pictorial Library on a network?
  13. How does one locate a specific photograph on its related CD and how would one copy it to one's hard drive or zip drive?
  14. What happened to the "Aerials of Judah and Jerusalem" CD?
  15. Can you offer me a better price if I buy the complete set?
  16. What are your future goals for the project?

 


What are some ways I can use these pictures?

There are countless ways.  Since the Pictorial Library provides thousands of images in jpg format, they can easily be adjusted and incorporated into nearly any type of project.  They are perfect for teaching with PowerPoint, using as backgrounds for Scripture texts or worship songs.  Other programs are designed to lead you by the hand; this library is designed to be a tool to be used in as many ways by as many different people as possible.  For more ways the pictures can be used, see Great Ideas.

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Aren't some of the pictures of places not mentioned in the Bible?

Absolutely.  The goal of this "library" is to include as many places as possible, whether they are mentioned in the Bible or other ancient sources.  Usually (but not always) modern locations are ignored, but anything with historical significance for studies of the world of the Bible are included.  For example, Tel Arad is apparently never mentioned in the Bible (assuming, as we do, that the Arad of the Book of Numbers is another site).  But there is much value in understanding both the Early Bronze city and the Iron Age fortress, including the syncretistic temple used by the Judeans stationed there.

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Why are there sometimes multiple pictures of a single subject?

Usually it's because there is something distinctive about each picture.  They might be from different angles or at different seasons.  Sometimes we just can't decide which one we like better and, space permitting, we keep them both.  We realize too that others may have more and different uses for the pictures than what we envision and so we want to include as many as possible. 

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Why are these pictures better than I can find elsewhere?

We've written a page to answer this question.

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What are the minimum system requirements to use the program?

You need a PC or a Mac with a CD-ROM and a video card and monitor that supports 16-bit color.  Nearly every computer made in the last 7 years will work with no problem.  You don't need any additional programs in order to view the pictures (several free viewers are included).  If you want to manipulate the photos in a graphics program like Adobe Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro, you'll need your own copies of those programs.

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Do the CDs work on a Mac?

Yes, but there are a few things to note.  If the computer has PowerPoint installed, all of those files will work normally.  The jpg images are also normal in every respect except that the long PC filename is abbreviated in some versions of the Mac OS (10.2+ reads the names correctly).  A few "extras" like the autorun html viewer do not work because of the long filename issue.  

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I like the information on the website; is there also text on the CDs?

Yes - the Pictorial Library includes extensive annotations about the sites and photographs in the PowerPoint files.  Altogether the amount of text is equivalent to a 700-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 included on each CD does not allow viewing of the notes.  In this case, you can download the free OpenOffice program.  This includes "Impress," a presentation program compatible with PowerPoint files.   After installation, open the "Impress" program, open a PowerPoint file, and go to View/Workspace/Notes View. You'll be able to see all the notes.

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How does the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands compare with the new 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 images are primarily sites and landscapes. The BAS CD fits on a single CD and includes 1200 images at a lower resolution for $180; the Pictorial Library includes 6,000 images at a high resolution, fills up 10 CDs and costs $189. The BAS CD has thorough explanations written by multiple experts; the Pictorial Library has limited explanations written by a single college professor (obviously not an expert on everything).

Kris Udd of Michigan Theological Seminary has written reviews on both products for the Journal of Biblical Studies (the review of Pictorial Library is here; the review of the Biblical Archaeology Slide Set is here).  Both products have 100% satisfaction guarantees so if you are unhappy with either, you can return them. Nobody returns the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands.

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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?

There is no program to install.  This is born out of a dislike for yet another program modifying the registry and stealthily stealing resources in the background.  Furthermore, these CDs are designed to be tools; the pictures are provided for you to use and manipulate in whatever program you like (PowerPoint, Photoshop, etc.)  Usually when pictures are packaged with an "engine," it makes it difficult if not impossible to use the pictures in another way (often this is by design).  The intent of these CDs is to provide pictures for use in countless ways.

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How do you install the Pictorial Library on a network?

Additional installation files and instructions are here.  You can also use these instructions to create a single DVD from the Pictorial Library CDs.

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How does one locate a specific photograph on its related CD and how would one copy it to one's hard drive or zip drive?

Each CD includes both an index of all the images on that CD as well as a complete index of all 10 volumes (in html and pdf formats).  You can search those files for a particular site or object.  The index identifies the location of the file by CD and by region (e.g., photographs of the Mount of Beatitudes would be found on vol 1 (Galilee), in the "Sea of Galilee, west side" folder).  You can then navigate to that folder and right-click the particular image(s) and copy it.  An alternative is to use the Windows Find command to search the CD for all files with a particular name in them; right-click the image(s) and copy it.  If you are building a PowerPoint file, it's easier if you open the appropriate PowerPoint file on CD and copy and paste the relevant slide(s) into your own presentation.

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What happened to the "Aerials of Judah and Jerusalem" CD?

The photographs from that collection have been incorporated into the latest edition of the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands, so that it is easier to find all of the images for any particular site in a single section on a single CD. 

In addition, it should be noted that there are other aerial photographs on the Galilee and Samaria CDs.

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Can you offer me a better price if I buy the complete set?

Yes.  The complete set of 10 CDs is available for $189.

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What are your future goals?

We are currently developing new volumes in the "Historic Views of the Holy Land" series, including a collection of early photographs illustrating biblical manners and customs.   We also are working on a new volume for the Pictorial Library on the Greek Islands (Cyprus, Crete, Samos, Patmos, Cos, Malta, etc.).  And more.

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Do you have a question that's not answered here?  Let us know!


Revised: January 04, 2008