Resource Centre
 Introduction
The SDPI Resource Center serves as an information resource base for the multi-disciplinary research at the Institute. It also caters to the needs of the general public, students, academia and the research scholars both in the country and abroad.
The Center is one of the best and the biggest information resource on sustainable development and related fields in Pakistan. It maintains a library of selected, relevant and up-to-date information resources in an organized manner. The resources include books, documents, journals, audio and videocassettes, CD-ROMs and digital and online resources. The library holdings exceed 16500 books and documents with special strengths in the areas of development, environment and agriculture. There is an exclusive section for government and data publications. There are CD ROMs and videos. The library subscribes to local, regional and international journals and periodicals. In addition to the subscription, the library receives over 200 serials including journals, periodicals, and newsletters. Additional resources are available through the Inter-Library Loan Program and the Publication Exchange Program.
Goal
To fulfill the information needs of multi-disciplinary research and policy advice to the government, non-government organizations, private sector and the mass media to facilitate the transition to sustainable development in Pakistan.
Objectives
The SDPI Resource Center has evolved an effective coherent mechanism of acquisition, processing, organization, creation and dissemination of information. It undertakes the following tasks:
- Select and acquire appropriate resource/research information
- Organize the research information for easy access and use
- Advise and assist people in finding relevant material
- Information dissemination through publications, newsletters
- Network with libraries and information/documentation centers.
Timings
8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for national holidays.
Membership
The library membership is open to all. However, library membership can be acquired by depositing the refundable security of Rs.3000, in addition to minimal service charges.
Consultancy
The Resource Center offers library development, organization and computerisation consultancy services.
Networking
In order to enhance access to information, the Resource Center networks with national and regional thematically coherent organizations. The RC's Publication Exchange Program has a fraternity of 18 organizations. Under this program, SDPI publications are exchanged with books and other material published by partner organizations. The RC also has a formal Inter-Library Loan arrangement with Pakistani libraries in Islamabad and Lahore.
SD Newspaper Clippings Archive
Since 1993, SDPI’s Resource Center (RC) has been maintaining a database of development news on a daily basis. The database called the Development Monitor (DM) has over 1.3 million entries on a wide range of subjects. The database covers eight major national dailies, The Friday Times, Pakistan and Gulf Economist, The Herald and The Newsline. The RC offers clippings to both in-house and external users.
SDPI’s Development Update
In order to keep abreast of emerging issues at the national and local level, the SDPI launched its weekly newsletter of newspaper headlines called the Development Update in 2005. It is an efficient research tool to track development in a particular field or on an issue and a valuable resource for researchers and students, as it has articles by scholars and reputed names in particular fields.
The Development Update is available at: http://www.sdpi.org/online_bulletins.htm
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