# Scriptum

*Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.*

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> Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: William P. Collins, Scriptum, bahai-library.com.
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> 
> Scriptum 1
> 
> SCRIPTUM:
> 
> Newsletter for Bahá'í Librarians &
> Information Professionals
> No. 1 (April 1995 = Jalál 152)
> 
> Call for Association among Bahá'í Information Professionals
> During the past decade there have been several attempts to bring Bahá'í librarians, archivists and
> other information professionals together in an association. In the latter half of the 1980s, the Bahá'í
> World Centre Library built a loose network of interested individuals. This network created a mailing
> list, initiated some correspondence relating to needs of the World Centre Library, and brought some
> professional librarians in the Faith into contact with one another. As it was difficult to maintain
> active coordination from the World Centre, a number of Bahá'í librarians in the United States began
> to hold meetings during conferences of the American Library Association and other professional
> organizations. Ralph Wagner was one of the coordinators of that short effort. Although a draft
> constitution was submitted to the Bahá'í National Center for approval, the effort did not reach
> fruition. Recently, I was asked to assist the Bosch Bahá'í School Library to train its library staff. The
> trainees echoed a refrain that has been repeated many times: "How can the World Centre Library's
> database, subject headings and library expertise be shared with the rest of the Bahá'í libraries?" As
> former director of the World Centre Library, I knew that such assistance is currently constrained by
> the workload of the World Centre, and by its limited staff resources. The Universal House of Justice
> has communicated to me, through its secretariat, the following (letter dated 31 January 1995):
> 
> "Prior to the establishment of closer links between the World Centre Library and those
> outside the World Centre, a pool of professional Bahá'í Librarians needs to be
> identified and organized into some sort of association in order that the necessary
> human resources are in place to support such a development. The House of
> Justice...feels that you are well placed to initiate such an association...."
> 
> This is clear guidance that networking and resource-sharing by the Bahá'í World Centre Library
> (and by other World Centre information agencies such as the Archives) depend upon the creation
> and strengthening of ties among Bahá'í librarians, archivists and other information workers. The
> Universal House of Justice's suggestion implies that coordination of such an effort could best be
> undertaken by someone in a position to foster the association's development, free of the
> constraints of the World Centre's workload.
> 
> I have volunteered to make a beginning at establishing this network and association of librarians,
> Page 1
> Scriptum 1
> 
> I have volunteered to make a beginning at establishing this network and association of librarians,
> archivists and related professionals. At the moment, there is no formal constitution or structure. The
> present newsletter, entitled Scriptum, will (God willing) appear every three months during a pilot
> period of one year. The pages of Scriptum are intended for news, articles on information science
> topics, descriptions of Bahá'í classifications, case studies, sample cataloging for new publications
> received at the Bahá'í World Centre Library, and any other features that may prove useful. Please
> send me:
> 
> 1. Your comments on the content of this newsletter, and contributions for consideration for
> publication;
> 
> 2. Thoughts on what this organization should be called and how it should be organized.
> 
> 3. Volunteers to assist in the future as the network develops.
> 
> Please contact the editor at the address, phone or E-mail listed at the end of the newsletter. Also
> feel free to inform other librarians, archivists and information professionals in the Faith about this
> effort.
> 
> For this project to continue beyond the one-year pilot, we will need to develop an association
> structure and spread the workload. The legal office at the Bahá'í National Center has provided me
> with some model constitutions. I will share these in the next newsletter. In the meantime,
> expressions of support and offers of assistance will be appreciated and gladly accepted.
> 
> The Bahá'í Faith in the Dewey Classification
> More than a century ago, Melvil Dewey - father of modern librarianship - developed a classification
> intended to cover the universe of knowledge. The Dewey Decimal Classification has become,
> during that century, the most widely used library classification system in the world. What originally
> began as a fixed classification biased toward North America has become an ever more flexible and
> responsive tool for detailing the world of knowledge, and is standard classification in many of the
> world's public libraries.
> 
> As the Bahá'í Faith grew, the inadequacy of its treatment in library classifications became a cause
> of concern to Bahá'ís and scholars who sought Bahá'í publications. Before the 15th edition of the
> Dewey Decimal Classification (1952), there was no location for the Bahá'í Faith in the
> classification. In 1952 the 15th edition showed the following:
> 
> 297 MOHAMMEDANISM
> .8 Bahaism
> 
> The inclusion of the Faith, while a step forward, essentially called it a sect of Islam. With edition 16
> in 1958, other changes reflected adoption of proper names for Islam and the Bahá'í Faith, and
> formatting conventions indicated that the Bahá'í Faith is separate from Islam, even though the
> classification number appeared to include it as a sect:
> 
> 297 Islam
> .8 Sects
> 
> Page 2
> Scriptum 1
> .8 Sects
> .89 Bahai faith
> 
> For Bahá'ís this still remained inadequate, essentially filing Bahá'í publications with those on
> Sunni, Shi'ah, Ahmadiyya, Black Muslims, and the like. With editions 17 (1965) through 19 (1979)
> there was obviously a greater understanding of the Bahá'í Faith as a "religion derived from Islam":
> 
> 297 Islam and Religions Derived from It
> .8 Islamic sects and other religions derived from Islam
> 297.87-297.89 Religions derived from Islam
> .88 Babism
> .89 Bahai faith
> 
> However, the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths were still within a portion of the classification that associated
> them with Islam and its sects. With edition 20 in 1989, a significant reassessment had been made,
> in which the Bahá'í Faith was removed from immediate association with sects of Islam:
> 
> 297 Islam and religions originating in it
> .8 Islamic sects and reform movements
> .9 Religions originating in Islam
> .92 Babism
> .93 Bahai faith
> 
> The only headings for "religions originating in Islam" under 297.9 were the Bábí and Bahá'í Faiths,
> thus at least giving tacit recognition to their fundamentally different character from that of the
> various Islamic sects. The 21st edition of the Dewey Decimal Classification will be released in
> 1996. While the numbers at 297.92 and 297.93 remain the same, there will be a change of
> headings in the classification itself that tacitly recognizes the Faith's independent character, and its
> equality as a revelation with that of Muhammad:
> 
> 297 Islam, Babism, Bahai faith
> .8 Islamic sects and reform movements
> .9 Babism, Bahai faith
> .92 Babism
> .93 Bahai faith
> 
> In essence, the Faith is now assigned all numbers within 297.9, and is shown in the formatting as
> equal to Islam. This is an extremely important achievement for the Faith for several reasons: (1) it
> clearly separates the Faith from Islamic sects; (2) it shows the Faith's independence by assigning
> an entire decimal to the Faith; (3) the heading for 297 now includes Bábí and Bahá'í revelations as
> equal to Islam; (4) it opens the way for future growth of Bahá'í topics; (5) and it ultimately makes
> possible the complete movement of the Bahá'í Faith to a separate number outside of 297, which
> growth of the Faith is destined to make necessary.
> 
> Over a period of more than a decade, the Bahá'í World Centre Library has cultivated a working
> relationship with the major library classification agencies. The work with the Dewey Decimal
> Classification has been very cordial, particularly because the Bahá'í professionals who have
> conducted the relationship understand the difficulty of fitting all knowledge into a numbering
> system based upon divisions of ten (thus the "decimal" classification). The Universal House of
> Justice has assigned to the Bahá'í World Centre Library the responsibility for dealing with library
> classification agencies, and this remains one of its most important areas of endeavor.
> 
> Page 3
> Scriptum 1
> 
> -- William Collins
> 
> Bosch Bahá'í School Library
> The Bosch Bahá'í School in Santa Cruz, California, is located in a beautiful redwood grove in the
> mountains above the Pacific. Four volunteers have been assisting the school in developing its
> library.
> 
> For several years, the school has used a classification developed by a volunteer. Recently, the
> school decided it wanted to investigate the possibility of using the Bahá'í World Centre Library's
> classification for Bahá'í materials, which is based on the Library of Congress classification. In
> December 1994, I had the distinct privilege of spending a long weekend training the volunteers in
> the use of the World Centre's system.
> 
> The Bosch Library is undoubtedly going to develop into a rich resource for study. Already, the
> school has received donations of the libraries of David Hofman (retired member of the Universal
> House of Justice) and Marzieh Gail (translator and author).
> 
> The school's library is undergoing renovation to create a more secure environment for the
> collections, and to facilitate the provision of reference service to the school's attendees.
> 
> Among other projects, the volunteers at the School are researching possible PC-based computer
> systems for cataloging, with the intent of choosing an inexpensive but flexible program that can
> serve the current needs of the school.
> 
> -- William Collins
> 
> Library-of-Congress Based Bahá'í Classification
> The Library of Congress Classification system was inadequate for the Bahá'í World Centre to use
> in its current form. Its classification numbers were as follows:
> 
> BP300     PERIODICALS
> 
> BP310     SOCIETIES
> 
> COLLECTIONS. COLLECTED WORKS
> 
> BP320     Several authors
> 
> BP325     Individual authors
> 
> BP327     DICTIONARIES. ENCYCLOPEDIAS
> 
> HISTORY
> 
> BP330     General works
> Page 4
> Scriptum 1
> BP330      General works
> 
> BP340      Babism
> 
> HISTORY By region or country
> 
> BP350      United States
> 
> BP352      By state, A-W
> 
> BP355      Other regions or countries, A-Z
> 
> BP360      WRITINGS OF THE BAB, BAHA'U'LLAH AND 'ABDU'L-BAHA
> 
> BP365      GENERAL WORKS
> 
> BP370      GENERAL SPECIAL
> 
> BP375      ADDRESSES, ESSAYS, LECTURES
> 
> BP377      MISCELLANEOUS
> 
> BP380      DEVOTIONS. DIRECTIONS, etc.
> 
> BIOGRAPHY
> 
> BP390      Collective
> 
> Individual
> 
> BP391      The Báb
> 
> BP392      Bahá'u'lláh
> 
> BP393      'Abdu'l-Bahá
> 
> BP395      Other individual, A-Z
> 
> Because of the inadequacy of the Library of Congress's existing classification,the World Centre
> undertook a revision of the Bahá'í section to make it more palatable in a Bahá'í library.
> 
> Following is a summary of the main classification numbers of the World Centre's classification,
> based upon the Library of Congress Classification. Users of the classification should obtain the full
> schedule.
> 
> BP300      PERIODICALS
> 
> BP302      STATISTICS
> 
> BP303      PROGRAMS
> Collections of Bahá'í programs to be used in Bahá'í feasts, holy
> days, commemorations, etc.
> 
> BP304      CONGRESSES, CONVENTIONS, REGIONAL MEETINGS
> 
> BP305      DIRECTORIES
> Page 5
> Scriptum 1
> BP305    DIRECTORIES
> 
> BP306    EXHIBITIONS
> 
> BP309    BIBLIOGRAPHY
> 
> BP310    SOCIETIES, CLUBS, ASSOCIATIONS, ETC.
> 
> BP320    COLLECTIONS: Several authors
> 
> BP325    COLLECTIONS: Individual authors
> 
> BP327    DICTIONARIES, ENCYCLOPEDIAS, YEARBOOKS, THESAURI
> 
> BP329    CHRONOLOGIES, READY REFERENCES, REFERENCE COMPILATIONS
> 
> BP330    HISTORY
> 
> BP356    TRAVELOGUES
> 
> BP358    PILGRIMS' NOTES
> 
> BP360     HOLY TEXTS AND INTERPRETATION
> Compilations from works by Bahá'u'lláh, the Báb, 'Abdu'l-Bahá,
> Shoghi Effendi; class compilations on specific topics with those
> topics.
> 
> BP361    Writings of the Báb
> 
> BP362    Writings of Bahá'u'lláh
> 
> BP363    Writings of 'Abdu'l-Bahá
> 
> BP364    Letters and works by Shoghi Effendi
> 
> BP365    GENERAL WORKS
> 
> BP366    DOCTRINES, THEOLOGY
> 
> BP367    BAHA'I LAW
> 
> BP368    Laws of personal status
> 
> BP369    Devotional practices; worship
> 
> BP370    SPECIAL SUBJECTS
> 
> BP371    BAHA'I EDUCATION
> 
> BP372    BAHA'I FAITH AND OTHER RELIGIONS
> 
> BP373    TEACHING-PROPAGATING THE BAHA'I FAITH
> 
> BP374    SOCIAL TEACHINGS
> 
> BP375    ADDRESSES, ESSAYS, LECTURES
> 
> Page 6
> Scriptum 1
> 
> BP376   SPECIFIC CLASSES OF PEOPLE
> 
> BP377   JUVENILE (CHILDREN'S) LITERATURE
> 
> BP378   FOLKLORE, LEGENDS, MYTHOLOGY, ORAL TRADITION
> 
> BP380   ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER; GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHA'I FAITH
> 
> BP381   Guardianship
> 
> BP382   Rulers
> 
> BP383   Learned
> 
> BP384   Other institutions
> 
> BP385   MEDITATIONS
> 
> BP386   INSPIRATIONAL WORKS
> 
> BP387   MUSIC
> 
> BP388   ART AND ARTISTS (VISUAL ARTS)
> 
> BP389   ARCHITECTURE
> 
> BP390   BIOGRAPHY
> 
> BP391   The Báb
> 
> BP392   Bahá'u'lláh
> 
> BP393   'Abdu'l-Bahá
> 
> BP394   Shoghi Effendi
> 
> BP395   Other individuals
> 
> BP397   MISCELLANEA
> 
> BP398   OPPOSITION, DEFENSE
> 
> BP399   COVENANT-BREAKER WORKS
> 
> Sample Catalog Records from the Bahá'í World Centre
> It is my hope to include, on a regular basis, sample cataloging prepared by the World Centre
> Library for recent publications.
> 
> Bahá'u'lláh, 1817-1892.
> [Kitáb-i-aqdas. English]
> The Kitáb-i-aqdas = The Most Holy Book / Bahá'u'lláh. -- Haifa : Baha'i World Centre, c1992 (Ann
> Page 7
> Scriptum 1
> The Kitáb-i-aqdas = The Most Holy Book / Bahá'u'lláh. -- Haifa : Baha'i World Centre, c1992 (Ann
> Arbor, Mich. : Edward Brothers).
> viii, 296 p. ; 23 cm.
> I. Title. II. Title: The Most Holy Book. III. Title: A Synopsis and codification of the laws and
> ordinances of the Kitáb-i-aqdas. V. Bahá'u'lláh, 1817-1892. / [Su'ál va javáb. English]
> BP 362 .K6 A2 ENG 1992
> 
> Nelson, Lee, 1955-.
> A Concordance to the Kitáb-i-aqdas / compiled by Lee Nelson. -- Golden, Colo. : Diversity Press,
> c1993.
> [6], 250 p. ; 28 cm.
> 1. BAHA'U'LLAH, 1817-1892. / KITAB-I-AQDAS -- CONCORDANCES 2. BAHAI FAITH --
> SCRIPTURES -- CONCORDANCES. I. Title.
> BP 362 .K64 N55 1993
> 
> Hatcher, John S.
> The Arc of ascent : the purpose of physical reality II / by John S. Hatcher. -- Oxford : George
> Ronald, c1994.
> xiii, [1] 385 p. ; 22 cm.
> 1. THEODICY. 2. BAHAI FAITH -- DOCTRINE -- JUSTICE. 3. BAHAI FAITH -- DOCTRINE --
> CREATION. 4. BAHAI FAITH -- DOCTRINE -- NATURE. 5. COSMOLOGY. 6. BAHAI FAITH --
> DOCTRINE -- LIFE AFTER DEATH. 7. BAHAI FAITH -- DOCTRINE -- GOOD AND EVIL. I. Title. II.
> Title: The Purpose of physical reality II.
> BP 366.4 .H381 1994
> 
> Publications of interest
> 1. The Bahá'í World Centre Library. -- Haifa: Bahá'í World Centre Library, 1989.
> 
> Introductory brochure explaining collections and policies of the library, available from
> the World Centre.
> 
> 2. A Classification for the Bahá'í Faith. -- Haifa: Bahá'í World Centre Library, 1988.
> 
> Early version of the World Centre Library's Bahá'í classification based upon the
> Library of Congress system; copies of the most recent version are available from the
> editor.
> 
> 3. "The Bahá'í World Centre Library," Journal of Religious and Theological Information, v.1 no.2
> (1993), pp. 77-89.
> 
> Introduction to the World Centre's library, intended for an audience of theological
> librarians.
> 
> 4. "Classification for Materials on the Bahá'í Religion: A B200' Schedule Based on the Dewey
> Decimal Classification - Part 1," Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, v.16 no.4 (1993), pp. 103-
> 121; "Classification for Materials on the Bahá'í Religion: A B200' Schedule Based on the Dewey
> Decimal Classification - Part 2," Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, v.18 no.2 (1993), pp. 71-86.
> Page 8
> Scriptum 1
> Decimal Classification - Part 2," Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, v.18 no.2 (1993), pp. 71-86.
> 
> Sample classification for the Faith based upon Dewey Decimal Classification.
> 
> 5. "Effects of Computerization Requirements on the Bahá'í Classification Scheme in Use at the
> Bahá'í World Centre," Cataloging & Classification Quarterly, v.11 no.2 (1990), pp. 69-83.
> 
> Study of the relationship between automation and subject classification.
> 
> 6. Guidelines for Bahá'í Archives. -- Wilmette, Ill.: National Bahá'í Archives, Bahá'í National Center,
> 1983.
> 
> Excellent introduction to the management of archival collections, especially geared to
> non-professionals in local communities.
> 
> Editorial Contact
> William Collins
> 6819 Stoneybrooke Lane
> Alexandria, VA 22306 USA
> 
> The editor has been a Bahá'í for 26 years. He has an M.S.L.S. from Syracuse University, and an
> M.S.Sc. from Syracuse University. He has worked at the Middlebury College Library (1973-1976),
> the State Historical Society of Wisconsin (1976-1977), the Bahá'í World Centre Library (1977-
> 1990), and the Library of Congress (1991-present). He is the author of a bibliography of works on
> the Faith covering 1844-1985.
> 
> Telephone:
> 1-703-765-9115 (home)
> 1-202-707-8044 (work)
> 
> Email:
> wpc09@hotmail.com
> 
> ©William P. Collins, 1995
> 
> Permission is granted to reprint or excerpt, provided that proper credit is given.
> 
> HTML Version Created 30 June 1996
> 
> Page 9
>
> — *Scriptum (Used by permission of the curator)*