A Joint Consultation between Methodist Theological Seminary (Sibu), Sabah Theological Seminary (Kota Kinabalu), Seminari Theologi Malaysia (Seremban), and the Centre for the Study of Christianity in Asia, Trinity Theological College (Singapore)
The purpose of the Consultation is to share information on the library and archives collection in each seminary libraries, identify areas that need attention, and discuss ways that the libraries can share resources and cooperate in strengthening each other’s holdings on documentation of denominational churches in Malaysia and Singapore.
Some desired outcome:
1. to agree on terms for document exchange and interlibrary loan arrangement between the seminaries.
2. to produce a consolidated list of documentation holdings of the seminaries.
3. to inform each other of new publications and literature produced by local churches and to make standing order for purchase or collection.
From July 2004 CSCA began an "Archival Project". Michael Poon since then worked closely with the College Library to define the Project and made concrete plans for upgrading the Library resources to become a hub for research on Christianity in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
Several significant steps were taken:
1. 31 July – 7 August 2004. Michael Poon participated in the Documentation, Archives and Bibliography Study Group in the International Association for Mission Studies held in Port Dickson. The concept of a South-east Asian Church Archives Project was proposed: http://www.missionstudies.org/conference/1papers/michael_nai-Chiu_Poon.htm
2. November 2004. Established the Singapore-Malaysia Church History Resource Centre Initiative, in partnership with Singapore denominational churches. See http://www.ttc.edu.sg/csca/arch-pres/Initiative.htm
3. 8-11 March 2005. Martha Smalley, Yale University Divinity School Library, came as Consultant to advise the Centre and the denominational churches on documentation (under sponsorship by OMSC, New haven and the United Board for Higher Education in Asia).
4. 14-18 March 2005. Jean Paul Wiest led a one-week workshop on Oral History for TTC postgraduate students and Singapore and Malaysia (Methodist) church representatives (under sponsorship by OMSC, New haven and the United Board for Higher Education in Asia).
5. April 2005. CSCA website (http://www.ttc.edu.sg/csca.htm) revamped, upon Martha Smalley’s recommendation, to be a documentation gateway for the region.
6. July 2005. Michael Poon was invited to be the Convenor of the Documentation Study Group (DABOH) of the International Association for Mission Studies.
7. 5-23 September 2005. Michael Poon went to OMSC for archives workshop and to Yale University Divinity School Library to collect historical documents for TTC Library.
8. September 2005. DABOH Study Group agreed that the documentation of Christianity in the non-western world to be a top priority in the coming five years leading to Edinburgh 2010.
9. 5-7 October 2005. TTC hosted the Documentation in Asia Consultation between Hong Kong Baptist University Library, McGilvrary Faculty of Theology (Payap), Yale University Divinity School Library, and Trinity Theological College. The four institutions drafted a proposal for cooperation and submitted a joint grant proposal to the United Board for Higher Education. TTC takes responsibility to coordinate documentation work in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
10. 10-11 October 2005. Michael Poon visited Seminari Theologi Malaysia. Colleagues proposed to hold a consultation on documentation, and explore ways for collaboration.
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Time |
7 June (Wed) |
8 June (Thu) |
9 June (Fri) |
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8.00 am |
Breakfast TTC Dining Hall Block D Level 1 |
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9:00 am |
Session (1) Welcome by Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian. Report on Library and Archives Resources In Seminari Theoloji Malaysia. Tutorial Room 1 Block C Level 2 |
Session (5) Discussion on what needs to be done (1). Tutorial Room 1 Block C Level 2 |
Visit to the Archives & History Library, The Methodist Church in Singapore |
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10:30 am |
Morning Tea Outside Tutorial Room 1 Block C Level 2 |
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11:00 am |
Session (2) Report on Library and Archives Resources In Methodist Theological Seminary In Sabah Theological Seminary. Tutorial Room 1 Block C Level 2 |
Session (6) Discussion on what needs to be done (2). Tutorial Room 1 Block C Level 2 |
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12:30 pm |
Lunch TTC Function Room Block C Level 1 |
Lunch TTC Function Room Block C Level 1 |
Lunch (12:00 nn) |
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2:00 pm |
Session (3) Report on Library and Archives Resources In Trinity Theological College. Sharing on what’s happening in our region On Documentation: ForATL, ATESEA, IAMS, And Documentation in Asia Pilot Project, etc. Tutorial Room 1 Block C Level 2 |
Session (7) Discussion on what we can do together (1) Tutorial Room 1 Block C Level 2 |
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3:30 pm |
Afternoon Tea Outside Tutorial Room 1 Block C Level 2 |
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4:00 pm |
Session (4) Discussion on Library Management software, Library IT issues and opportunities. TTC Library visit. Tutorial Room 1 Block C Level 2 |
Session (8) Discussion on what we can do together (2) Tutorial Room 1 Block C Level 2 |
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5:30 pm |
End of sessions for the day |
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6:30 pm |
Dinner |
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Institution |
Name |
Designation |
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1 |
Methodist Theological Seminary |
Rev Lee Ai Sing |
Dean of Library |
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2 |
Sabah Theological Seminary |
Dr Chung Song Mee |
Dean of Studies |
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3 |
Seminari Theoloji Malaysia |
Rev Tan Jin Huat |
Dean of Studies |
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4 |
Seminari Theoloji Malaysia |
Ms Christabel Wong |
Librarian |
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5 |
Trinity Theological College |
Dr Michael Poon |
CSCA Director and Documentation and History Coordinator |
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6 |
Trinity Theological College |
Mrs Kimhong Hazra |
CSCA Mission Practice Coordinator |
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7 |
Trinity Theological College |
Mr Michael Mukunthan |
Librarian |
The four institutions agreed to work together and with the Documentation of Christianity in Asia Consortium and ForATL on the following:
A Survey and collectC. Fill in gaps of holdings
D. Identify missionary holdings for purchase
Target Dates:
A. Fill in the gaps
B. Survey instrument and collection arrangement (June 2007)
C. Periodical indexing (ForATL)
D. Thesis bibliography (ForATL)
E. Collecting oral history
By Tang, Sui Tung
Head Librarian, Lutheran Theological Seminary, Hong Kong
1. Need for the Project Asian theologies are gradually achieving greater significance in the field of theology. However, currently available theological journal indexes (e.g. Religion Index One, ATLA Religion Database, New Testament Abstracts etc.) largely neglect journals published in Asia or in Asian languages. As such, there is a lack of comprehensive index tools for Asian theological journals, which are important for both Asian and non-Asian theological studies and development. If members of the Forum of Asian Theological Librarians (ForATL) could cooperatively develop an Internet Database for Asia Theological Journals, it would help fill the huge gap in research information. This information infrastructure will surely benefit researchers, seminarians and ministers within and outside Asia.
2. Process to Develop Such a Database
ForATL presently has members from Malaysia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, Australia and New Zealand, and membership is expanding to include other Asian countries. The proposal is to assign various theological libraries in the ForATL network the task of indexing 5-10 selected key theological journals in each country. The selected journals selected should be academic in nature, preferably in the local language or with both English and local language articles. The assigned libraries will input article citations of the selected journals in their holdings into the Internet database, and providing abstracts in English, as well as English translations for citations in the local language.3. Advantages of the Project 3.1 Comprehensive and Asian By assigning theological libraries to index 5-10 of the most important theological journals in each country, the database will comprehensively cover 50-100 important Asian theological journals, most of which will not be covered by currently available indexes. As such, this database will be unique and of great use to Asian theologians for constructing Asian theologies. Non-Asian theologians may also use the database to keep informed of Asian theological resources. 3.2 Readily Accessible As the proposed database will provide English translations of article citations and English abstracts, it can overcome the problem of language diversity in Asia and provides a common language link to journals in different Asian local languages. Furthermore, the database will be on Internet, making it easy to access and update. This database will also enable researchers to identify journal holdings of the various participating theological libraries and facilitate resource sharing. 3.3 Inexpensive and Easy With the present advances in technology, it will not be too difficult nor expensive to develop a Internet database platform for indexing purposes. The greatest challenge lies in the task of indexing, abstracting and translating. If the task is too heavy for a single library in each country, 2 or 3 libraries may be assigned to share the workload, with each indexing about 4-5 journals. Assuming each selected journal publishes twice a year with an average of 8 articles per issue, each library only has to index and abstract about 64-80 articles per year. This is not too heavy a load to bear. Hence, the keyword here is cooperation! May God give us vision and faith to build an essential information infrastructure for Asian theological study!
Malaysian and Singaporean delegates at the 4th Consultation met and agreed in principle to the following: 1. Resource sharing - Cataloguing help via email - Document supply - Circulate listing of extra periodicals, books, etc. for sale or exchange - Occasional meetings for mutual discussion and training - Identifying location of resources (but not inter-library loan) 2. Theses holdings - Compile listing of theses for private circulation, beginning with 2005 and working retrospectively - Preliminary preparation for ForATL theses database project 3. Periodicals holdings - Compile listing of periodicals holdings for private circulation - This will aid document supply - Preliminary preparation for ForATL indexing project