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ABOUT THE B.I.A.J
The BIAJ was established in June 1989 as
an umbrella organization to promote the
interests of the local book trade and
ensure its balanced and integrated
development. |
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OBJECTIVE
To provide a forum for communication and
cooperation within the industry in order to
promote its development, with a high standard
of ethics and service to the community, and to
provide an industry view on relevant national
issues.
FUNCTIONS
Membership is open to individuals and
organisations working in any of the three
sectors of the industry: publishing and
production, promotion, and distribution.
Associate membership is available to persons
and organisations working in areas related to
the book trade like libraries, cultural
agencies and educational institutions.
The general membership meets four times per
year in quarterly general meetings and an
annual general meeting where its Executive
Committee is elected, comprising President,
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer,
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer and three
sectoral representatives.
FUTURE PLANS
The BIAJ intends to continue on its
present path of building membership, extending
its range of activities and working with
government and other organisations to build
the Jamaican book publishing industry and
enrich the cultural life of our country.
ACHIEVEMENTS
The BIAJ has enabled the various sectors
of the industry to discuss common problems and
conflicts within the industry and work out
strategies to overcome them.
The BIAJ has collaborated in improving the
quality of service to the public through joint
exhibitions, seminars, lower book prices and
improved delivery.
The BIAJ cooperates with all public and
private agencies interested in promoting the
reading habit, as well as the local and export
market for books, the development of libraries
and of an indigenous publishing industry.
COLLABORATION
Every two years the BIAJ collaborates with
the National Book Development Council and the
Jamaica Library Service in the organisation of
National Book Week, a week-long programme of
activities aimed at highlighting the
importance of books and reading.
Activities include a National Book Fair with a
variety of awards to promote and reward
excellence in book publishing, promotion and
distribution, as well as overall service to
the industry.
The BIAJ promotes the development of an
indigenous Jamaican publishing industry, with
an important role to play in national
development. The BIAJ encourages the
publication of local textbooks written to the
specific requirements of local curricula,
reflecting our own culture and making
education of our young people more relevant
and meaningful.
The BIAJ is represented on all Government
advisory bodies relating to books, including
the National Council on Libraries, Archives
and Documentation Systems (NACOLAIS), the
National Copyright Implementation Task Force,
the National Book Development Council (NBDC)
and the Textbook Advisory Committee of the
Ministry of Education & Culture.
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