Support Services

The BIDS Library and Documentation Centre

The BIDS Library, the largest social sciences library in Bangladesh, has a collection of over 1,30,000 books, documents, journals and microfiches. It provides a wide range of services to the user community, including current awareness, reproduction, inter-library lending and reading facilities. Annually, about 10,000 users avail of the library facilities. Because of its rich collections, the library attracts students, teachers and researchers from different parts of Bangladesh. The library produces an information dissemination bulletin for Bangla books. It also participates in information networks to facilitate resource-sharing, and maintains inter-library loan relationships with selected libraries in Dhaka city.

The computerization process at the library began in 1991. Since 1995, data on new books, documents, journal articles and BIDS publications have been entered into the personal computer. Up till now, about 65,000 records are available in the in-house databases. The library offers services from these in-house databases.

About 12 CD-ROM databases are available in the library such as Econ-Lit, Popline, World Development Sources, World Development Indicators, Global Development Finance, Program-Procurement in World Bank Financed Project, Information USA, Journal of Economic Literature, World Development Report, and World Bank Africa Database. In addition to the World Bank and UNU, the library has been designated as the depository of publications of the International Monetary Fund and Asian Development Bank. Besides other normal library services, users can avail full Internet Services

The Publication Section

The main thrusts of the publication are to publish books, journals, reports and monographs, improve the marketability of the institute's publications, and thus contribute significantly in promoting a wider dissemination of research findings. The publication unit is outfitted with necessary equipment for the institute's desktop publishing requirements. The unit also provides sales services to its local and foreign customers and promotes its publication through complimentary and exchange programs. The output of this unit such as research reports, research monographs, quarterly journal - The Bangladesh Development Studies - has wide circulation amongst researchers, policymakers and the concerned citizens in general.

BIDS Publications

BIDS is publishing two regular journals - one in English and the other in Bangla. Occasional publications include books, research monographs, research reports, project reports and working paper

Journals

(a)The Bangladesh Development Studies (BDS)

The Bangladesh Development Studies (BDS) is the quarterly journal of the Institute. This is published in English. It enjoys international reputation and is currently in its 33rd years of publication. It contains research articles, notes, and book reviews by BIDS researchers as well as by national and international scholars.

An Editorial Board consisting of national and international scholars selects the articles for publication. The Stylistic Instructions act as guidelines for contributors. For necessary information for subscribers/agents, please see

(b)The Bangladesh Unnayan Samikkhya (BUS)

The journal, Bangladesh Unnayan Samikkhya (BUS), is published annually in Bangla. It contains articles, notes and book reviews. It is widely read by not only students and researchers, but also by people of different walks of life who are interested on development issues of Bangladesh.

Books/Special Publications

Research works, either on theoretical, analytical or field-based issues, pursued by researchers of BIDS are occasionally published in the form of books. Some books take the shape of review of the Bangladesh economy in a particular year.

Research Monographs

Research Monographs are published in book form, and focuse on some particular area of study undertaken by the Institute.

Research Reports

Research Reports are mimeographed papers, which are often a part of, or lead to, a larger study.

Project Reports

Project reports, published by BIDS, contain the findings of research projects pursued by the Institute.


Working Paper New Series

Twenty issues have been published to date under the series.

The Computer Unit

The Computer Unit is an important component of the research infrastructure of BIDS, which was established in 1982 with the objective of providing data processing support to BIDS research. In an effort to be financially self-reliant, the Unit provides commercial services and enjoys the distinction of being the first organization to computerize electricity bills in Bangladesh for the Bangladesh Power Development Board in 1983.

As technology changed over time the computer unit had adjusted to it. There have been changes in several dimensions. All the researchers now have computers in their office rooms. Computers are now extensively used in support services such as the accounts section, administration, the publication section, library and documentation section. All these computers operate under a single network managed by this Unit with support from the Sustainable Development Network Project (SDNP). The network is now connected to the internet. Researchers can also access to the internet from their residence through dialup connection. The unit manages a dedicated website (www.bids-bd.org). The BIDS library has been put on-line for part of its holdings. There are several network share printers located in different parts of the building. In a nutshell, the unit has expanded very fast and provides valuable services to (hardware and software) research and all support service section.

The computer Unit also supports BIDS and all research projects of BIDS for data management, statistical analysis, graphics, simulations and customs programing using the different types of statistically data analysis software.

There are several efficient IT expertises Hardware, Software and Network to support the BIDS.

The Special Research and Development Fund (SRDF)

The Special Research and Development Fund was created out of net savings accrued from BIDS research project budgets after all project commitments and outstanding dues had been met as per contract.

The objective of the Fund is to provide support for research activities initiated by individual members of BIDS. Financial support is generally restricted to basic research costs, such as research assistance, basic travel, data entry and photo copying. Subject to fund availability, SRDF also provides support to library and infrastructural needs of the Institute.