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Dear Information Specialist or Librarian:

You are receiving this agenda of ISC discussion topics either because you indicated interest in the information Specialist Consultation prior to the ICCM conference in Abilene OR you are listed on this GMII conference.

A beginning list of discussion topics are listed below. Virginia Kinman (MAP International) and Kathy Purks (SBC Foreign Mission Board) served on the Steering Committee with me. Please read and comment on the topics, suggest additions and changes.

Each week for the next four weeks, I plan to highlight the "ISC Topic(s) of the Week." For some of the topics, I will give background information obtained from the e-mail survey we conducted. Your comments will help us as we prepare for the consultation. I will especially appreciate reactions from those unable to attend the consultation.

Thanks in advance for your valuable insights. May the Lord give special direction to our thoughts and ideas.

Sincerely in Christ,
Ferne L. Weimer, Billy Graham Center Library

Discussion Topics for the Information Specialist Consultation:

1. NEED FOR A GLOBAL MISSIONS INFORMATION NETWORK (GMIN).
Could the missions research community more actively support world evangelization by organizing its human, library, and database resources into a cooperative network of organizations and researchers?

2. BENEFITS FOR THE CHURCH/MISSIONS COMMUNITY WORLDWIDE.
How would the church, its leaders, and particularly strategic planners in evangelism, benefit from greater awareness and sharing of research information and published sources held by/in agencies, libraries, databases, etc.?

3. MISSION/PURPOSES OF THIS INFORMATION NETWORK.
If a Global Missions Information Network (GMIN) was established, what would be its stated purposes and overall mission?

4. ORGANIZING THE NETWORK(S).
Is there a need for one network of individuals and organizations, or two related networks, one for individuals and the other for organizations? How much structure and of what type do we need? Formal vs. informal; voluntary steering committee(s) vs. officers; membership qualifications; interest groups; etc.

5. COMMUNICATING WITH ONE ANOTHER.
Shall we request a conference through CrossConnect (XC.org) to begin immediate communication among interested participants? What other ways (low cost/low maintenance) should we use to communicate with one another?

6. SHARING INFORMATION AMONG INTERESTED MEMBERS.
What are the easiest and fastest means for sharing information among organizations and with interested researchers? What types of information are of greatest interest/need?

7. DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION TO THE CHURCH/MISSIONS COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
What means can we use to share information with the larger Christian community interested in world evangelization? What materials, database resources, and personal expertise do we have that would benefit them?

8. CONNECTING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS, NETWORKS, ASSOCIATIONS WITH SIMILAR INTERESTS.
What are the benefits and means of relating our cooperative work with that of other consortia?
9. ACTION PLAN: 1-3 YEAR GOALS.
How do we proceed from Abilene in June 1996? What are the greatest needs and priorities? Who will be responsible to work on each area? What are the time lines?
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