International Association of Libraries and Museums of the Performing Arts

Société Internationale des Bibliothèques et des Musées des Arts du Spectacle

International Bibliography of Theatre (IBT)

SIBMAS Council 17th International Congress

Mannheim, West Germany

Irving Brown / Benito Ortolani

17. Internationaler SIBMAS-Kongreß / 17ème Congrès International de la SIBMAS / 17th International SIBMAS Congress, 1.-9. September 1988, Mannheim

Bericht / Actes / Documentation. Red.: Liselotte Homering. Mannheim : Städtisches Reiß-Museum, 1990. pp. 184-185

Dear Friends,

the purposes of this letter are:

1. to report briefly about the present condition of the International Bibliography of Theatre, of which SIBMAS is the international sponsor;
2. to ask for guidance about a desirable further internationalization of the editorial board and SIBMAS interests in the future of this fast-growing project;
3. to ask for SIBMAS action in two areas vital to the maturation of this project; that is, fostering in an organized fashion sales of the already-published volumes to the major libraries of all countries, and requesting from other governments financial help such as that already provided by the United States. For example, a SIBMAS committee might request funds for the IBT from the Council of Europe.

1. The facts about IBT are best illustrated through the publications themselves. The three volumes published so far are being followed by a fourth, greater volume. The IBT 1985 is in an advanced stage of preparation; it will contain about 5000 entries and will offer over 1000 pages packed with new references to worldwide publications on theatre. It is expected to be ready for the press at the end of 1988 and available for sale in early 1989.

The financial support for this thriving enterprise, unfortunately, has not kept pace with the rapid growth of our capacity to collect data and the consequently increasing expenses for the processing and publishing of the data. Sales income has grown steadily, but we foresee that within the next two to three years we should reach about 8000 entries per year; further increasing the expenses for processing and publishing. It will be necessary to publish two volumes per year of about 800 pages each, and the personnel/hours necessary for processing the data will have almost doubled from the level of the fourth volume.

A combination of problems must, therefore, be faced. Some have to do with the structure of the editorial work, and others with a combined effort to make possible the funding of the ongoing healthy growth. Both indicate the need of a further international sharing of editorial and financial responsibilities. The "baby" has grown to be a healthy adolescent and is facing the problems of a long and healthy adulthood.

2. We need, therefore, guidance in our desire to constitute an active, truly international Editorial Board which shares responsibilities with the Data Center in the choice of the national entries and their accuracy.

3. We are aware that organizations like SIBMAS, FIRT, and ASTR do not have at their disposal large budgets, and we do not expect substantial financial help directly from such organizations. Very important avenues of support are, however, available:

a) the first is to search for the support of organizations, such as the Council of Europe, or individual governments which do give sizable amounts of money in support of truly international cultural projects. Assistance in this effort to get a share of international support to international cultural enterprises is hereby requested;

b) very important is also a second form of help: ensuring the sale of the published volumes to all major libraries of the world;

c) the third is a symbolical help for money from SIBMAS, even a token amount, with the purpose of making a more convincing case when applying for bigger monies to new international sources of funding.

At the SIBMAS meeting in Mannheim, the Editor of IBT will be present and will be happy to give further information. We think, however, that it was our duty to submit this report to the new president and the SIBMAS Council before their meeting in Mannheim.

It is our hope that the Executive Committee will also give directives to the International Bibliography Commission in mapping out whatever can be done by our SIBMAS sponsor to ensure continuity and growth to the International Bibliography of Theatre.

Respectfully,

Irving Brown, Director
Theatre Research Data Center

Benito Ortolani, Editor
International Bibliography of Theatre

August 18, 1988

SIBMAS Home

HOME-BIENVENUE

Rules
Statuts

Executive Committee
Comité exécutif

Institutional Members
Membres institutionnels

Joining SIBMAS
Adhérer à la SIBMAS

International Directory
Répertoire international

Congresses
Congrès

National Collections
Collections nationales

Research Sites
Sites de recherche

Partner Organisations
Organisations soeurs

WHAT'S NEW
NOUVEAUTÉS

FORUM