P r a g u e – The Prague library of the International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTS) has expanded and is now ready for the next 15 years. It rates as one of the largest English-language theological libraries on the European continent. It was started 1949 in Rüschlikon, Switzerland and moved to Prague along with IBTS in the mid-1990’s. Annually, the library grows by roughly 1.200 volumes. IBTS-Rector Keith Jones noticed a year ago that empty space was shrinking and that the library was reaching its limits. He consequently asked Linas Andronovas (Klaipeda), an IBTS graduate and General-Secretary of the Lithuanian Baptist Union, to work on expanding the library. A small celebration at IBTS recently marked the project’s completion. Andronovas reports that space is now available for more than 100.000 volumes. The project was financed by the USA’s Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF). Yet, according to Keith Jones, further funds are needed to completely cover the costs of the new bookshelves.

The IBTS-library is an "extraordinary member" of the European Theological Libraries Association (BETH). It is open to scholars from throughout the world for study and research. In March of this year, IBTS will serve as host for the second Conference of Theological Librarians. It will focus on the development of quality standards for theological libraries.