AsianDOC Electronic Newsletter 1:3 (October 1998)

The Mid-America Chinese Resource Guide (http://lark.cc.ukans.edu/~eastasia/calamwrg/Contents.html) is an Internet project of the Midwest Chinese American Librarians Association which began in October 1997.

The goal of this project is to create an online reference resource to include all China related information from the Midwest area including: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin. The project is based on the Midwest Chinese American Librarians Association's 1995 printed publication of Midwest Area Chinese American Resources Guide.

The purpose of the Mid-America Chinese Resource Guide is twofold: to provide complete coverage of information related to China originating from the Midwest area; to provide China related resources to the Midwest for learning about China. It will include coverage of each state's history, business, culture, education, medicine, religion, private societies, and government organizations that have a significant focus on China. It will promote usage of Midwest area museums, libraries, cultural centers, conferences and events with a Chinese focus. Each entry will be annotated with a contact person, address, phone number, email and home page if one exists for the organization. The Resource Guide will also provide links to worldwide information on China and Taiwan, to promote understanding of Chinese language, history, and culture, from academic, government, business, and cultural information sources. Bibliographies and reports will be provided on special topics such as: Chinese Immigrant History in the Midwest, Chinese Export Business Firms, Chinese Language and Cultural Schools in the Midwest, How To Do Business with China and Taiwan, China and Taiwan Midwest Sister Cities, Multi-media Resources on Teaching About China, etc.

The Guide is intended for people who desire China related information from a Midwest State or region, and for people who desire to study Chinese history, language, and culture from worldwide resources. The Guide is intended to gather existing information in a systematic way to promote better usage of resources in the Midwest. It will promote better understanding of Chinese culture through links to collective activities, programs and resources. It will link resources on learning about China in each state from K-12 through the university level, and with private organizations. Links to China scholars, specialists, teacher resources on teaching about China, Chinese language schools, distant learning, interactive programs for learning about China and Chinese language, and study abroad programs in China and Taiwan will be provided.

The text is in English and may be accompanied by Chinese characters for names and titles of organizations or individuals if sources choose to supply Chinese characters for entries. Other than the printed Midwest Area Chinese American Resources Guide, there is no reference work with a China focus for the Midwest region. The Midwest Chinese American Librarians Association has a great desire to provide the public with easy access to China related information and to promote an understanding of Chinese culture.

The Resource Guide will include information on each state's business, education, private and government organizations which have a significant interest or activities focus on China. The Guide is to be the ultimate collective resource on China in the Midwest. It is our hope, through this pioneer project, that the other regional California, Florida, Greater Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Southwest CALA chapters will follow the Midwest lead and develop an online Resource Guide for each state in the U. S. through the collaboration of the Association. This would be the main reference guide of Chinese resources for the entire U. S. The following categories will be included:

1. General Information: History of Chinese in the state, Chinese historical resources in the state; Chinese organizations (state and local, official and private). Information on public and private officials that can be contacted in each state. Chinese provinces and cities designated as sister states or cities. Links to general information about China and Taiwan.
2. Art and Culture: Chinese artists, musicians, libraries with Chinese collections (university, public, private and special collections, including their online access to OCAT), and museums with Chinese collections. Chinese folk culture, events, special programs, bookstores, cultural resources (bibliographies of reference materials, multi-media materials, Internet resources). Chinese language software and guides. Cultural links and resources, cultural clubs, cultural exchange programs.
3. Business and Economics (import and export): Established business practice in the state. State business organizations dealing with China and Taiwan (such as international business branches). Chinese business in the state and affiliated companies in China and Taiwan. State business in China (including H.K.) and Taiwan. Information about doing business with China (bibliographies, reference books and Internet resources). State economic growth in relation to business with China (including H.K.) and Taiwan.
4. Education: Resources on learning about China and Chinese in the state (college and university, K-12, private organizations), China scholars, specialists; teacher resources on China. Chinese language schools, distant learning, interactive programs for learning about China and Chinese language. Study abroad programs to China and Taiwan.
5. Foundations, Scholarships: List of foundations, memorial funds and scholarships available to Chinese American or Chinese in study or research of China which are available at the state or national level.
6. Small business: Grocery stores, restaurants, gift shops, computer suppliers, travel agencies, hotels, transportation and specialized stores which focus on service to Chinese or China related services.
7. Medicine: Chinese doctors practicing western medicine, doctors practicing Chinese medicine, acupuncture, Chinese massage, Chinese herbs, Chinese medical resources (bibliographies and online resources).
8. Political organizations: Official Chinese government organizations, consulate and offices and other affiliated organizations and their contacts.
9. Religion: Religious groups and research institutes.
10. Professional Services: Accounting, communication, legal, real estate, engineering and architecture firms.
11. Society and not-for-profit organizations: Societies for social gathering and fellowship among Chinese, academic and alumni organizations, scholarly organizations that are not-for-profit.
12. Sports and Recreation groups: Martial arts, Qi-gong, tai-ji clubs and recreational organizations.
13. Others.

The Special Project Committee was appointed in January, 1998 to carry out the project. Special Project Chair, Vickie Fu Doll, Acting Head and Chinese Studies Librarian, East Asian Library, University of Kansas; and Vice Chair, Fung-yin K. Simpson, Chinses Studies Librarian, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, oversee the project, coordinate bibliographies, and ensure the uniformity of the Resource Guide. The president of MW CALA Chapter, Marian Chou, Reference Librarian, Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, Indianapolis, IN., designated state editors for the 12 Midwest states. She will provide CALA's vision and the purpose of service to project Chair and vice Chair. That vision includes enhancing understanding of Chinese American culture and providing easy access information to Chinese communities in the Midwest. Dr. Hwa-Wei Lee, Dean of University Libraries and Professor of Education, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, will serve as the Project Advisor in providing advice to project officers. Pei-ling Wu, Assistant Director, DePauw University, Greencastle, IN, will serve as the Project Advisor in content and publicity.

This project will produce a homepage for each state with quality information on China and the Chinese community in the Midwest. It will promote Chinese cultural heritage, enhance education about China, promote business and trade, and encourage social interaction with China, Taiwan and the Chinese community in the mid-America region.

Submitted by Vickie Fu Doll
Acting Head/Chinese Studies Librarian
East Asian Library
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045
Email: vdoll@ukans.edu

URL http://asiandoc.lib.ohio-state.edu/v1n3/dbs/mid-america.html

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