Purpose:

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 inter-library 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.

Programme:

6 June Evening. Arrival

7 June Morning

• Welcome. Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, Principal, TTC

• Report on Library and archives resources in STM (Rev. Tan Jin Huat and Ms Christabel Wong)

• Report on Library and archives resources in MTS (Rev. Lee Ai Sing)

• Report on Library and archives resources in STS  (Dr Chung Song Mee)

7 June Afternoon

• Report on Library and archives resources in TTC (Mr Michael Mukunthan)

• Sharing on what’s happening in our region on documentation: ForATL, ATESEA, IAMS, and Documentation in Asia Pilot Project etc. (Ms Christabel Wong, Dr Michael Poon)

• Discussion on Library Management software, Library IT issues and opportunities

• TTC Library visit

8 June Morning

• Discussion on what needs to be done

• Discussion on what we can do together (1)

8 June Afternoon

• Discussion on what we can do together (2)

9 June Morning

• Visit to the Archives and History Library, the Methodist Church in Singapore

• Visit to the National Archives

9 June Lunch (finish by 2:00 pm)

Background:

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 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.

A Note on Documentation

In the Documentation in Asia Consultation held in TTC in October, Paul Stuehrenberg (Yale University Divinity School Librarian) helpfully defined “documentation” as referring to the following:

1. Secondary literature, including monographs and serials, scholarly and more popular.

2. “Official” publications of denominations and other ecclesial agencies, including, but not limited to, annual reports, directories, periodicals, and newsletters.

3. “Grey” literature, including printed material with limited distribution (e.g., literature sent out by denominations to congregations and clergy) and ephemeral material (e.g., brochures, flyers, pamphlets, etc.)

4. Archival material, including the archives of mission agencies, denominations, church-related agencies, ecumenical agencies, and congregations.

5. Personal papers of church leaders.

6. Oral histories.

7. Electronic resources, especially those that are “born digital.”

Contact:

Consultation coordinator (65) 6761 3627