50 years ago, on 26 September 1972, the ‘Conseil international des associations de bibliothèques de théologie’ was established in the Netherlands, an association of the theological library associations from six European countries. One year later, on 21 September 1973, the association formally obtained Dutch royal approval, which was at that time still required. It is to mark and celebrate this anniversary that this book is being published, containing thoughts, commentary, and reflections on the recent history of a number of theological libraries and associations. In 1999 the association changed its name to ‘Bibliothèques européennes de théologie’ (BETH).
Much has changed in these 50 years, not only in the association and among its members, but also in the context in which the association was and is active. In 1972, the Cold War still dominated relations in Europe. The Conseil was an entirely Western European activity; the countries behind the Iron Curtain did not participate. Now, the members and participants of the BETH conferences come from almost every country in Europe.
The 50 years of the Conseil/BETH were also 50 years of increasing secularisation, with both decreasing involvement in church organisations and willingness to contribute to their costs. Many theological faculties, seminaries and other church institutions were closed or merged with others, abbeys and monasteries were dissolved. And the cultural legacy of these institutions, including the libraries, was not always handled very carefully.
In 1972, library automation was still in its infancy; today, it has become indispensable. Library catalogues are also almost all accessible on the World Wide Web. In many other respects, too, the work of a librarian has become much more technical. Terms such as digitisation, metadata, data management and open science, which were previously unknown, have become commonplace among theological librarians.
In financial terms as well, much has changed. Libraries were and are regularly confronted with cutbacks. On the other hand, prices for academic books and journals, both paper and digital, have risen sharply.
All these developments had major consequences not only for libraries but also for library associations. Where libraries were closed down, associations lost members. But where borders were opened, new members came. Financial constraints stimulates cooperation and is also a stimulus for the Open Science movement. New techniques lead to new initiatives; the internet has made more cooperation possible.
In the contributions in this volume, various colleagues discuss the developments in their libraries and associations. As for BETH itself, it can be said that the developments outlined above have had a positive effect on the association. Its membership has more than doubled, it has developed from a rather informal consultative body to an active association whose conferences attract more visitors every year. The need to cooperate across borders became increasingly evident.
The first part of this jubilee volume contains scholarly contributions on the recent history of theological libraries all over Europe. It is not at all the intention – nor is it realistic – to offer an overall, more or less exhaustive overview of the European landscape of theological libraries. Rather, the various contributions provide a richly varied picture of libraries in a limited number of European countries with very diverse historical and socio-political backgrounds. The histories of different types of libraries described here are representative of the great diversity of the religious and ecclesiastical landscape in Europe over the past century. This part of the book also contains contributions covering libraries in Central and Eastern Europe, showing how much BETH has expanded and how diverse the history of its members is. We are particularly pleased that our overview also includes a contribution on a library from Ukraine, which gives an idea of the exceptional journey libraries in countries from the former Soviet sphere of influence went through. Our Ukrainian colleagues are not yet members of BETH, but we have had cordial relations for some time that hold out hope for the prospect of formal membership. The current crisis, caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, only makes us more determined to strengthen our cooperation in the future.
The second part of the book pays special attention to the wide context and new conditions within which theological libraries have had to operate for the last half a century. Of course, the ongoing computerisation and automation of library work has become crucial in a digital world that poses challenges but, more often, offers opportunities to realise the significant function of theological libraries in the 21st century. This is visible in a number of new or renewed tools made available to the user today. Moreover, the fundamental changes in theology and in church life have prompted European theological librarians to increase their cooperation and the exchange of experiences and knowledge. This has led to cross-border networks, in which librarians from all over Europe are increasingly working together.
Finally, the third section of this book contains short historical overviews of BETH and its members. The survey shows that our association is changing with time, but that it has also been expanded by the accession of library associations from Central Europe and Scandinavia. Due to this, BETH can look forward with confidence and enthusiasm to another 50 years working with theological libraries all over Europe.
I would like to conclude this introduction by thanking everyone who contributed to the creation of this book: the colleagues who wrote a contribution; the translators of various contributions and abstracts; the staff of Brill publishers; the editors and in particular the chief editor, without whom this book would never have come about.
Geert Harmanny
BETH President