TORONTO, Canada, June 6, 2002 — The Bible has come a long, long way; from hand-written scrolls and parchments to the literally thousands of versions and translations available today. And members of the United Bible Societies around the world, (who translate, publish, distribute and encourage the use of the Scriptures), have helped to get it there.
Now one of those members, the Canadian Bible Society, is using technology to take the Word of God even further. They've just launched a new Web site into cyberspace -- whose task it is to make Bibles more obtainable for Canadians. They developed the site, www.biblescanada.com, for the purpose of making Scriptures available to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to purchase them.
Presenting the widest possible array of products to the greatest number of Canadians
"Not everybody in this country has access to the Scriptures through traditional retail outlets," said David Duncan, Distribution Manager for the Canadian Bible Society. "We felt it was important to take advantage of some of the current technologies in order to present the widest possible array of our products to the greatest number of Canadians.
In moving beyond conventional distribution channels, we are providing an easy, cost-effective way for all Canadians, even people in remote areas, to access our products."
The Bibles Canada Web site is well thought out. It features easy navigation, secure, uncomplicated ordering and a unique product line for adults, youth, children and novice readers. The site also includes many different versions of Scriptures and bilingual Scriptures in modern Japanese/English and Chinese/English.
Stocking the digital shelves
(Photo: Robert Simpson, CBS)
Vanaja Williams, Executive Assistant to the Distribution Manager, up-dates the site with new product listings on a weekly basis.
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The Canadian Bible Society has plans to expand the Bibles Canada site in the near future. Soon scholarly publications, Scriptures in over 100 foreign languages and almost two dozen Canadian aboriginal languages will be available. A French language version is in development, and plans are to deploy this site some time this summer.
Vanaja Williams, Executive Assistant to the Distribution Manager, up-dates the site with new product listings on a weekly basis. The site currently has over 1,000 pages and continues to grow monthly.
Cliff Eastall handles every order with kid gloves
(Photo: Robert Simpson, CBS)
21-year veteran of the Canadian Bible Society, Customer Service Representative, Cliff Eastall handles every on-line order with kid gloves.
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Presently, all Internet orders speed through the Web directly to the desk of a 21-year veteran of the Canadian Bible Society, Customer Service Representative, Cliff Eastall. Eastall handles every order with kid gloves. He confirms each ordered item is in stock, then processes the order and sends it to the warehouse to be filled. He says he views each online order as a time sensitive one, and is generally able to maintain a turn around time of 24 hours.
Eastall is enthusiastic about what the Bibles Canada Web site offers his customers. "It's all accessibility and convenience. If somebody is living 50 miles from a Bible centre and they want to order a Bible -- why not do it that way? The freight charges are low enough to make it worthwhile, they'll have it in hand in a couple of days and they don't have to do anything other than click a few times," he said.
Source: Patricia L. Paddey, Bible Network News
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