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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT">I think Joss's idea is excellent.
Here are a couple of further thoughts:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff size=2 face="Calisto MT"></FONT> </DIV>
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<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT">I think the reading list should be
just a part of a far more comprehensive resource centre, which includes other
aides to learning such as lists of or links to important films, websites and
music (more on this one later), and any other educational medium - such as the
artwork of a particular painter, say.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT">You probably know about it, but the
open materials section at MIT is pretty impressive:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="" target=_blank>http://ocw.mit.edu/index.htm</A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT">I also think it would help if
suggested inputs to the reading list/resource centre included the name of the
person suggesting them (and they should be known SSC members), and some sort of
basic guide to the relative importance of the suggestion (according to the
person recommending it). For example, the reading list that I started compiling
a couple of years ago uses a simple star-rating system, so that one star =
"interesting", two stars = "important" and three stars = "essential". A book
isn't included on the list unless it is at the very least
"interesting".</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT">It might also be worth suggesting
alternative sources to Amazon, such as the British-based "Betterworld Books",
which seems to have a fairly ethical operating policy that resonates more
closely with LSSC than Amazon:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="" target=_blank>http://www.betterworldbooks.co.uk/</A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT">Hope that helps.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT"></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT color=#0000ff face="Calisto MT">j</FONT></DIV></DIV></BODY></HTML>