Dorothy Noel, chairman of the Book Industry Association of Jamaica, gives a helping hand to Danielle McCalla, in this file photo at last year's launch of a book in Kingston. - Winston Sill/Freelance Photographer

THE BOOK Industry Association of Jamaica (BIAJ) said it's committed to work with government and other stakeholders in the education transformation process.

This is one of the missions of the board chaired by Dorothy Noel. The BIAJ is an umbrella organisation linking the four sectors of the book industry (publishing, promotion, distribution and production), "in order to promote their interests and develop the industry in an integrated and balanced way".

Outlining the objectives of the current board, Ms. Noel said, "The aim of this administration is to continue some of the goals of the previous administration to achieve continuity and to energise the industry to respond to some of the important issues facing the industry.

"In this regard, we hope to increase the membership and to increase their involvement so that the board can utilise the expertise of the entire industry, be they writers, independent publishers, booksellers, to accomplish our strategic goals."

'Books On Wheels'

"We intend to work more closely with the Ministry of Education as an important stakeholder so that our members can respond more quickly to the policies and goals of the transformation programme and other initiatives" of the ministry.

The BIAJ said that the current executive will continue the 'Books On Wheels' project, under which the organisation partners with members to donate age-appropriate books to the paediatric wards of all major hospitals and the Sir John Golding Rehabilitation Centre.

"These books are stored on a mobile cart to allow for easy access for the patients," Ms. Noel explained. "We intend to approach schools to ask them to partner with us by providing students who can go to read for the children as part of their outreach programme."

Other members of the Dorothy Noel-chaired board are:

Devon Headley

Bryan's Bookstores Limited

Sharon Neita

The Book Merchant Limited

Steadman Fuller

Kingston Bookshop Limited

Elaine Stennett

Jamaica Publishing House Limited

Rudolph Speid

Sangster's Book Stores