Ecumenical Information Network
c/o Lutheran Theological Seminary Library, P.O. Box 20, Shatin, H.K.
Tel : (852) 2691-1520 Fax : (852) 2691-8458
For more information, contact EIN coordinator: Tang, Sui-tung M.L.S. (Pittsburg), M.Div. (LTS)
Ecumenical Information Network (EIN) was established in March 1995 in Hong Kong and its goals are:
For the first stage, the EIN's main project is to network the theological and Christian libraries in Hong Kong. At present, there are 7 full member libraries in the EIN. They are:
Through the cooperation and networking of the EIN member libraries, the EIN has established the EIN Library Union Catalog through which the library users can access 7 theological libraries in 1 search. At present, the EIN Library Union Catalog has about 120,000 records, and it is the largest theological library catalog in Hong Kong. In the near future, when we have more members and the member libraries finish their data input, the EIN Library Union Catalog's records will be over 250,000 and will become the largest Chinese theological library catalog in the world.
Except for the EIN Library Union Catalog, the EIN is also helping the member libraries to network with other local and overseas libraries. Most of our member libraries now can connect to all the academic libraries in Hong Kong and link to overseas libraries such as Oxford, Cambridge, Yale, Luther Seminary and Graduate Theological Union (GTU). Through efficient inter-library loan services, we can photocopy periodicals and borrow books from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University and all local seminaries in 1 week. For overseas libraries, it will only take 3 weeks for periodicals and 1 month for books.
The EIN is also actively exploring the theological information on INTERNET. Recently, the EIN downloaded a database called Theological Research Exchange Network (TREN) from INTERNET. This searchable database contain 5,800 theological theses in the U.S. and the libraries can buy the theses in microfiche form only at a cost of US$10 per title. The EIN has also connected to 50 more sites on INTERNET that are related to Christianity. For example, through INTERNET we can search the Nave's Topical Bible and browse the art works of Vatican Museum. We can also access the full text of Catholic Encyclopedia, Selected Luther Works and such scholar web sites as Gnosis Archive and Electronic New Testament manuscripts.
Except for the networking and INTERNET, the EIN is also helping the member library to develop the electronic information such as CD-ROM. Some EIN member libraries now have installed the CD-ROM such as Religious and Theological Abstracts (periodical index), Logos (Biblical studies), World Religions (other religions), Encarta (general encyclopedia), Books in Print Plus (bibliography and book purchasing), CD-MARC and Bibliofile (library cataloging). In the near future, more electronic information will be purchased. These include Chinese Bible commentaries, Christian arts and Christian music.
Looking to the future, there are 3 directions for the EIN development:
First, the EIN will continuously invite the theological libraries, especially the seminary libraries to join the EIN. The EIN believes, in the Information Age, every community in the society needs information support for further development; otherwise that community will diminish. The Church, as a community in the society, really needs information support; otherwise she is difficult to bear witness to Christ in the Information Age. Hence, the EIN is gathering the information resources of various organizations and seminaries; so that the EIN will become the information center of the Hong Kong churches and support the churches and theological education of Hong Kong. At the same time, the EIN also hope that through this information cooperation process, inter flows and cooperation at other level can be developed among the organizations and seminaries. The EIN believe that with more cooperation, the churches of Hong Kong will be more united.
Secondly, the EIN will be more open for brothers and sisters. At present, the EIN is basically quite open. As the Lutheran Theological Seminary Library and the Youth for Christ My Library are open to all Christians in Hong Kong. Hence, brothers and sisters can use most of the EIN facilities by visiting these 2 member libraries. In Jan 1997, EIN started to let some individual readers of EIN libraries and some seminary libraries to access the EIN Library Union Catalog through modem and telephone line. We hope through further network development, in the near future brothers and sisters and church libraries in general can also access the EIN through modem and telephone line. And in long term, we hope the EIN Library Union Catalog will be on the INTERNET. So we will not only serve the churches in Hong Kong, but also serve the Chinese churches in Mainland China, Taiwan and overseas.
Thirdly, the EIN will develop electronic information and use the INTERNET further. As more information is in electronic format and on the INTERNET, the EIN will study and introduce those information that related to Christianity for the Hong Kong churches. Except for the CD-ROM and electronic databases, we are planning to develop an EIN Home Page on the INTERNET. We hope this home page can selectively and systematically connect to the Chinese and English Web Sites that are related to Christianity. So that it will become a focal point on the INTERNET, through which Chinese Christians can find high quality theological information efficiently. Recently, EIN is also starting to study the possiblity of put seminaries' theses and courses on INTERNET. We hope one day theological education can be totally on INTERNET.