Introduction
Welcome to the Planning Institute of Jamaica's Documentation Centre! Have a look around and learn about the resources and services we offer. Librarians, there may be the possibility of establishing an exchange arrangement with us.

Our Mission
To provide quality information services for the staff of the Planning Institute of Jamaica to enable them to formulate effective economic and social policies.

Role and Functions
The Documentation Centre has responsibility for:-

• Identifying, acquiring, processing and storing for retrieval or dissemination, information or documents, particularly unpublished reports existing at the Planning Institute of Jamaica(PIOJ), other Government departments and the private sector that are relevant to Jamaica's development
• Acting as a depository for World Bank publications
• Performing duties of focal point for libraries within the Socio-Economic Information Network (SECIN).

Brief History
The library was established in 1962. In 1980 there was a name change from "Library" to "Documentation Centre" to reflect the emphasis on the processing and dissemination of information in support of the nation's socio-economic development thrust.

Upgrading of the Centre was undertaken by the Government of Jamaica with assistance from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) of Canada.

The Doc Centre as Part of the National Information System (NATIS)
The Centre is an active unit in the National Information System (NATIS) which is co-ordinated by the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ) (www.nlj.org.jm). In this role, the NLJ is the focal point for the sectoral networks. The PIOJ's Documentation Centre is the focal point for the Socio-Economic Information Network (SECIN).

As the focal point of libraries within the Socio-Economic Information Network (SECIN), the Centre promotes the sharing of information resources by co-ordinating the development of the various libraries within the network with a view to ensuring the most efficient means of meeting the information needs of planners, decision- makers and other users of socio-economic information.

Resources
These come in a variety of formats

• Audio-video cassettes
• Books
• CD ROMs
• Charts
• Feasibility studies
• Maps
• Newspaper clippings
• Pamphlets
• Periodicals
• Photographs
• Technical reports

Main Subject Areas

• Agriculture
• Economic development
• Education
• Finance
• Housing
• Human resource development
• Manpower
• Planning
• Population
• Science
• Social development
• Sustainable development
• Technology

Catalogue
There is a computerized bibliographic database. The programme used is Unesco' WINISIS. The number of records included currently stands at approximately 12,000.

Clientele
The facilities of the Centre are primarily for the staff of the Planning Institute of Jamaica. A reference service is offered to researchers, mature students and clients referred from other libraries.

Facilities
Accommodation
The unit consists of:

Documentation Centre	984 sq. feet (ground floor)
Registry	1000 sq. feet (basement)

Seating Capacity
Twenty persons (20)

Special Equipment
Microcomputers
Scanners
Colour printer
Photocopier

Services

Reference: Reference queries are answered and research requests carried out.

Photocopying: A photocopying service is provided at $10.00 per page. PIOJ staff members are charged $5.00 per page.

Current Awareness: A current awareness service is provided for staff of the Institute, members of SECIN network and the invitees to SECIN meetings.

Bibliographies: The Centre conducts literature searches and prepares bibliographies and book lists on selected subjects in response to requests.

Access to Information
The Planning Institute of Jamaica is one of the public sector entities implementing the Access to Information Act 2002. As stipulated by the legislation, all public sector entities are required to provide citizens access to Government documents excepting those that are exempt by said legislation. Exempt documents may be released through an Order of the Minister responsible for Information or after the expiration of 20 years after their creation or such shorter or longer period as the Minister may specify by Order.

Persons needing access to public documents may do so in person, by telephone, facsimilie or they may email us. The request form is posted on the PIOJ website and may be downloaded by any person needing to make an Access to Information request.

Publications
Publications of the PIOJ's Documentation Centre:

• Current Awareness Bulletin
• New Additions List
• PIOJ brochure
• SECIN brochure
• SECIN news

Ad hoc reading lists and bibliographies to accompany exhibitions and to commemorate special events are prepared.