Message-ID: <Chameleon.960208224324.lguerin@> Date: Thu, 8 Feb 1996 22:33:35 PST From: Lewis Guerin <mailto:lguerin@MCS.COM> Subject: Your information on the Web To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Dear Devel-l readers:Numerous people have expressed interest in Joaquim Moura's effort to build a Web site for information on micro-credit and related development topics. I work with him on it, although he does a *great* amount of work which is useful and appreciated. For those who have not visited, the page is located at http://webwrite.com/partners.bsb-dc. Currently it holds information on Partners of the Americas, links to related Web sites, several projects in Brasilia (youth work, community gardening, micro-credit, etc.), and other items.
In order to expand the information offered at this site, I would like to list some ideas for your reaction regarding additions and improvements and, more important, your opinions are also wanted. The overall purpose is to provide information to help professionals (and students) in this field find solutions, ideas, and other information for the important problems they face. As someone interested in this list, your thoughts are valuable as someone who knows: (1) specific problems, (2) what current information resources are like, and others that would be useful, or (3) questions you want answers for.
Joaquim identified four broad categories of information that might be useful: (1) micro-credit in general (concepts); (2) administration; (3) training; (4) funding sources. Another important issue is the format of presentation. How would this information be presented best? Would full length reports or short items be better? Should the site include search facilities? Should lists of links be annotated or not? The e-mail messages Joaquim listed on the page made me wonder if there is general interest in the items below. What do you think of these and the items above?
(1) Offers of service ("I/our organization would like to...."). Updated weekly? Monthly? (2) Opportunities for service ("We would like someone to...."). Updated weekly? Monthly? (3) Information about organizations: summaries of your organization (development agency, university department/program), summaries of projects, success stories, continuing problems, or whatever your organization would like to post for promotional or research purposes. (4) Annotated bibliography on important recent literature (could be provided by grad students doing advanced work). (5) List of Internet related mail lists and usenet groups, with instructions on how to subscribe, unsub, post messages, postpone delivery etc.
Would you use one or more of these? What other information do you think would be helpful for you or your organization? What do you wish would be available on the Internet? What have you experienced on various Internet research sites?
If you post your response to Devel-l it might stimulate others' brainstorming, and this would be very helpful. Please take just a few moments to add your ideas, desires, or tell what you can't find on the Internet that would help in your field work, research, or personal efforts to learn. Thanks for your attention.
Yours
Lewis Guerin mailto:lguerin@mcs.com