Modest talent put out collection of books (3,9)
I believe the answer is:
old testament
'collection of books' is the definition.
(part of the Bible along with the New Testament)
'modest talent put out' is the wordplay.
'put out' is an anagram indicator.
'modest'+'talent'='modesttalent'
'modesttalent' anagrammed gives 'OLD TESTAMENT'.
(Other definitions for old testament that I've seen before include "Books" , "religious work" , "Job, for example, to be found here" , "Modest talent (anag.)" , "First part of the Bible" .)