Digital Libraries: Global Theological Library launched in Geneva

On September 23, 2011, Geneva, the World Council of Churches (WCC) launched the first online digital library covering theology and ecumenism called Global Theological Library, or GlobeTheoLib.

Organizers hope that such kind of a library made accessible online will make the religious literature more available and will further wider use of religious knowledge and resources, escaping national, cultural and religious barriers.

The Board of the Global Theological Library was established last year and included representatives of different religions and theological traditions. Orthodox Church in the project is represented by Dr. Pantelis Kalaitzitis, Director of Volos Academy for Theological Studies (Greece), Prof. Ivan Dimitrov, Director of Bibliotheca Biblica, Theological Faculty of the Sophia University, executive member of the World Conference of Association of Theological Institutions (Bulgaria).

Part of the library can be already accessed on “Globethics.net” resource. In the near future it will add over 200 000 new digital editions. Later on the library will gradually include more religious publications issued in different countries of the world. Digitization of religious literature for the library is already underway in Greece.