Latest News #273
February 7, 2003

THE SCRIPTURE LIBRARIES IN NEW YORK AND CAMBRIDGE: YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO A UNIQUE RESOURCE

This paper is being issued to accompany the 2003 Scripture Language Report, the annual update about the number of Scripture translations that have been registered by the United Bible Societies (UBS) at the Scripture libraries in New York and Cambridge. UBS is committed to safeguarding all Scripture translations, and these libraries make every effort to obtain for their historic collections every Scripture publication of any Bible Society or translation agency in every language or dialect. In order to maintain complete and up-to-date collections, organisations engaged in Scripture translation and publication are requested to send copies of all their Scripture publications to the libraries as soon as they are published.

Some of you will already be familiar with the work of the libraries and will have a good understanding of your responsibilities in supporting their work. Others have expressed a need for guidance on what is required of them. With some changed directions to be aware of, this paper provides important information for all those involved in the supply of Scripture to the libraries.

The Scripture libraries are based on the historical collections of the American Bible Society at its office in New York and of the British and Foreign Bible Society at Cambridge University Library. Products of Scripture translation should be sent directly to the two libraries for the following purposes:

a) the registration of each Scripture translation as part of the maintenance of a current and historical record of Scripture translation progress;

b) the provision of a reference collection of all Scripture translation for use by academics, translators and other interested people;

c) the safeguarding of each Scripture translation so that, in the event of a disaster, whether natural or man-made, the products of lengthy and expensive translation work can be made available to enable reprinting and a fresh supply of Scriptures in that translation.

One copy should be sent to each library of:

• every new Scripture translation, whether a Bible, New Testament, Portion or Selection;
• every new translation in audio format that has not appeared in print;
• every new translation in sign language;
• every revised translation of Scripture;
• new or revised editions of a Scripture translation (i.e. a different use of the translation - e.g. a Study Bible);
• significant editions of a Scripture translation product (i.e. a special use of the translation - e.g. anniversaries, new publishers, etc.);
• unusual or interesting editions, including special-interest Selections and Portions (e.g. major campaigns, momentous events, special illustrations, etc.).

The Scripture libraries do not want to receive from you:

• more than one copy of each product;
• reprints of products that have already been sent (N.B. if the original printing was not sent, then the reprint should be sent);
• diaries, calendars, gift booklets and similar items;
• general-interest Selections and Portions (e.g. happiness, loneliness, prisons, hospitals, Christmas, Easter, etc.) that use a translation that has already been sent.

The postal addresses of the two libraries are:

American Bible Society Library
1865 Broadway
New York, NY 10023
United States

Bible Society Library
Cambridge University Library
West Road
Cambridge, CB3 9DR
England

Please send samples of your publications directly to the Bible Society Library in Cambridge, not to the British and Foreign Bible Society in Swindon. Please change your mailing lists accordingly.

You can contact the library staff at the above addresses or using these contact details:

Bible Society Library, New York
Contact person: Dr Liana Lupas
E-mail: llupas@americanbible.org
website: www.americanbible.org/library/
Telephone: +1-212-408-1204
Fax: +1-212-582-7245

Bible Society Library, Cambridge
Contact person: Mrs Rosemary Mathew
E-mail: bslib@lib.cam.ac.uk
website: www.lib.cam.ac.uk/readershandbook/D1.html#library
Telephone: +44-1223-333075
Fax: +44-1223-333160

If you are unsure whether the libraries have received copies of all your translations, please send a complete list and they will inform you what they have not yet received. We very much appreciate your co-operation in the work of the Scripture libraries and look forward to receiving products of your work for many years to come.