Some Important Findings from the Present Directory
Cahyana E. Purnama
Workshop ForATL, Bangkok February,16-22, 2003
Introduction
Though a great of hope has been expressed for the
best function of Asian Theological Libraries in each
of their working area, let us examine further about
their real performance in order to enhance greater
and greater role of spiritual formation as well as
the ever growing of contextual theology.
Scope
of the Survey
Asian Theological Libraries include
A wide area of Japan in the north up to Australia
in the south, as well as covering to Pakistan in the
west up to furthest tip of West Guinea of Indonesia
in the east. But a great hollow exists in the center
of crossing lines, namely of the mainland China, though
there are certainly a number of theological libraries
Profile of the oldest library of the CISRS in Sri
Lanka (1823) to the youngest one of the Hanil University
in South Korea (1993)
Among a total of 66 libraries and study centers, there
are 28 (18.48%) of them had sent again the form of
renewal and only 11 (16,7%) are new entries
With a means of holdings of 31,044 there is the smallest
one of the Ecumenical Institute in Sri Lanka (2,000)
and the greatest of the Chung Chi College Library
in Hong Kong (179,791)
More
Specific Condition
Among the 28 libraries of new entries at the DATL,
with average collection of 40,713 this survey finds:
Only nine (9) of them have collections above the average
Theological libraries in area of Hong Kong & Taiwan
have the highest figure (91,110) for their average
of collections
For the smallest average of collections, the area
of India, Pakistan & Bangladesh holds it with
figure of 26,883
The highest users served per week belongs to the Chung
Chi College Library in Hong Kong with a figure of
8,647 while the smallest belongs to the CISRS Library
with only 35
Out
of the First Edition
The average collections of books has reached 31,044
out of 35 theological libraries
There are 5 (14,3%) libraries that hold collection
of books above the average
For the smallest collections in average, the Philippines
holds it with a figure of 13,075
For the highest collections in average, theological
libraries in Korea and Japan hold it with the figure
of 30,500
Concerning to the bound periodicals, the highest figure
belongs to theological libraries in Thailand, Malaysia
and Singapore
In
Use of Multi-media
Related to the age of global information and technology,
theological libraries in Asia have developed a quite
distinctive progress, because:
There are 45 (68,2%) libraries that have installed
the technology of advanced communication. Among them
there are only 14 (31.1%) libraries that have managed
the audio appliances only.
Internet facilities for e-mails have been installed
by 34 (51,5%) of the whole theological libraries
Web-site (home-pages) have been developed by 18 (27.3%)
of those libraries
Classification
Systems in Use
It is interesting that most of theological libraries
in Asia (47 or 71,2%) prefers to adopt the DDC, though
with certain modification or combinational application.
Other systems in use are:
LC (10 or 15,2%)
Union (3 or 4,5%)
Bliss – modified (2 or 3%)
Own System (3%)
No info. (3%)
The
Oldest Five of Theological Libraries
These are those who was established in the nineteenth
century:
CISRS Sri Lanka (1823)
Karnataka Theological College (1847)
Hewitson Library of Knox College (1876)
Taiwan Theological College (1882)
Bishop’s College Library & Archives, Calcutta
(1883)
On
Hours Open of the Libraries
The longest service to users of the library belongs
to the Hewitson Library in New Zealand with 98 hours,
including Saturday and Sunday. Meanwhile the shortest
one belongs to the CISRS in Sri Lanka with only 35
hours per week.
Theological
Library & Woman
Though it is difficult to say that woman leaders in
the library have significant influence for a better
performance, it is interesting to note that:
There are 32 (48.5%) women hold the position of library
head
Among those leaders there are 12 (37.5%) of them have
the degrees of MLS or equivalent
Theological Libraries in the Philippines has become
the leading country in order to hold the library head
Special
Collections of the Library
Asian resources that rich in cultural heritages &
missionary related activities has enhanced theological
libraries to collect for:
Church History (28 or 42.4%)
Indigenous writings (19 or 28.8%)
Christian Education (16 or 18.2%)
Pastoral writings (16 or 18.2%)
Religious books (14 or 21.2%)
General literatures (13 or 19.7%)
Educational collection (12 or 18.2%)
Other
Kind of Collections
In order to ignite the church for their creative presence,
following collections are questionable:
Musical literatures & songs (8 or 12%)
Evangelization & Church Growth (5 or 7.6%)
Women Studies, Communication Studies & Conselling
/ Psychology (4 or 6% of each)
Other things - including Ecumenical Studies (less
than 2%)
ForATL
Who’s Who
Among 30 participants of this forum there are:
India, Philippines and Indonesia there are each represented
by 7 persons
Some other countries have only one representative
such as South Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia.
There are 21 (70%) of them have developed the internet
communication.
Only about 5 (16,67%) of them has developed the home-page.
Visionary
Insight of Asian Theological Librarians
Among those who has worked in the library of Theological
School in Asia seems to be insignificant, because
they only expressed about:
Privilege Calling to be librarians in theological
schools
Responsibility to serve the best for highly respected
of educational tasks
Opportunity to grow together with theologians from
all over the world through their writings
Present
Satisfactory Feelings
Generally Asian librarians rely on the fundamentals
of library services
They own their subject of service is a distinctive
job.
They feel positive about their task.
They expressed their happiness to the users about
the value of their resourceful position.
What
Can We Learn?
Theological Libraries in Asia have grown up in the
conditions as follows:
Establishment of missionary linkages have become the
predominant factor.
Most of them has settled themselves in the most basic
services.
Most of their collections has come from their theological
counterparts of the west and so their systems of services.
Still need much effort to enhance a growth of contextual
theology.
Several
Symptoms of Institutional Paradox
Theological Libraries in Asia have also embraced:
Intensively spiritual heritages but have to live in
scarcity of written contextual thoughts of theology.
In order to enhance fruitful living theology there
are so many systems of foreign educational frame of
work.
So many of sun set theological issues that still become
core courses in their schools and churches
Technologically dependant to high prerequisite of
development path
Feeling of underdog position in their own society
that so dominant with other faiths.
Dreams
of Ahead
Theological Libraries in Asia need to look at the
followings:
Any possible distinctive position to ignite creative
theological thoughts of the people where they serve.
Use much of their cultural heritages to uncover their
own contextual theology.
Express their role of resourcefulness clearly and
concisely.
Look for a possible net-working for a better condition
of service.
Be ready for archival task in relation to history
of Christian / church presence in their society.
Further
Home works:
Strive for continuous improvement:
Measure the success of present actions
Identify the strengths as well as areas to improve.
Decide how Asian Theological Libraries will improve
in the next decades