Dialogue Worksheets Group 6
Issues:
- Limited income causing problem of purchasing
- Limited availability of books
- Orienting the students on where to purchase the books that are availability
- Different levels of the books
Definition of the problem: There is a lack of affordable, accessible Pentecostal and other textbooks and library books at different educational levels.
Ideas (Brainstorming):
- Technology must be a part of the answer – downloading from the internet
Not everyone has computers Print materials onsite much as Cuba is doing
Must be done in local languages One site to do cheap publishing Reproduce or create & place in libraries for student use
Copyright violation problems On-demand printing (part of our future) Open source writing culture among missionaries and nationals for training
Life Publishers can do short runs on demand if you have a book you are willing to sacrifice
Downside of photocopying a book is students get idea of inferiority of our
product
School can buy up textbooks and students check them out for a time
School can incorporate cost of the textbook into the cost of the tuition
Subsidized textbooks Publishers will allow you to scan a book (w/permission) if they know it doesn’t exist in your country…then you can sell at cost
Digital libraries Make anthologies of CONOZCA articles Ask missionaries what they need exactly
Need a list of good websites Africa Theological Library Services National church initiative is crucial Encourage national writers through writer seminars
Install internet access at the Bible school library
Strategies:
1. Orient educators and students about how to access internet resources.
- a. Get SEC & CRA and similar ministries to inform educators about internet and/or other resources.
b. Include a course in computer technology in Plan Basico.
c. Encourage FACULTAD & ISUM to include training in technological resources.
d. Develop an educators’ electronic resource center: chat room and/or blog, bulletin board.
e. Develop a listserve so that cool stuff can be shared among educators.
2. Promote the acquisition of equipment for, or adoption of, on site/demand printing in each country in as many places as may be feasible.
- a. Encourage ICI office to move ahead on setting up its office.
b. Access Speed the Light funds for purchasing printing equipment for Bible
schools.
c. Explore national public means of reproduction of materials.
d. Make missionaries more aware of LALS.
3. Recommend the acquisition of textbook stocks that can be rented or borrowed from the schools.
- a. Encourage auxiliary groups within the local church to sponsor/provide textbooks.
b. Encourage local churches to donate books to institute libraries.
4. Reinvigorate the culture of Pentecostal writing among missionaries and nationals and encourage an open source copyright-free policy.
- a. Request SEC reinstitute the writers’ workshop.
b. Revive CONOZCA.
c. Develop a website for e-publishing A/G writing.
Pitfalls to be avoided include:
- Avoid starting a new “Vida.”
Don’t oversubsidize with U.S. funds. Don’t forget to pray. The following can best provide leadership to further development and implement this plan: SEC (Spanish), CRA, FACULTAD, ISUM, Global, STL, CST (Caribbean), LALS, and National Churches.
The missionary’s involvement should be as a liaison between the above mentioned ministries and the national church.
The plan should be implemented as soon as possible, with a major progress within the next two years.
