The Information and Documentation Program aims at building the information and communication NGO network. Within this program, the following activities are conducted: information important for the work of NGOs has been collected and distributed; the database on domestic and international NGOs operating in FRY has been updated daily; the books and brochures that improves the exchange of information and communication among NGOs have been published (journal “Non-Profit Sector”, Directory of Non-Governmental, Non-Profit Organizations in the FR Yugoslavia, daily news on NGO activities on the Internet site of the Center).

The Database on Non-Governmental, Non-Profit Organizations in the FR Yugoslavia

The work on collecting data about NGOs in Yugoslavia has started back in 1993 when the first survey on NGOs was conducted and the first database on NGOs in Yugoslavia produced. It was published in the book: Branka Petrovic - Zarko Paunovic, Directory of Non-Governmental Organizations in the FR Yugoslavia (Open University, Subotica, 1994). Since 1996, the database on domestic NGOs and international NGOs and foundations operating in the FR Yugoslavia has been regularly updated. In 1997 and 2000, two books were published: B. Petrovic, Z. Paunovic and associates, Directory on Non-Governmental, Non-Profit Organizations in the FR Yugoslavia (Center for the Development of Non-Profit Sector, Belgrade, 1997); group of authors of CRNPS, Directory on Non-Governmental, Non-Profit Organizations in the FR Yugoslavia - the third edition (Center for the Development of Non-Profit Sector, Belgrade, 2000). By the end of April 2001, the Center’s database includes data on 1522 NGOs. The database is accessible at CRNPS Internet site, in both Serbian and English language. In order to provide better communication with international NGOs and foundations, in September 2000, the database is published in English in the form of NGO maps as “NGO Atlas of Serbia”. The Atlas is based on the data from the Directory and it includes 17 maps and tables-schedules of NGOs in Serbia, as well as 13 maps and tables of NGO networks in Serbia and a brief article on the current development in the NGO sector.

The Journal “Non-Profit Sector”

The main goal of this project is to inform NGOs about the plans and activities that CRNPS and the Forum of Yugoslav NGOs carry out in improving their work, as well as to provide them with useful information and advises. By the end of 2000, ten issues of the newsletter “Non-Profit Sector” is published, while since the beginning of 2001, this newsletter developed into the journal for information, analyses and education in the non-profit sector. The situation imposed the need for such a journal that would deal with the development of the third sector and, through different exchange of opinions as well as the analyses, discussions and expert articles, help in the development of the sector.

The Documentation Center - Press Clipping

In order to create the best possible database on NGOs in the FRY, the Center regularly updates its press clipping (newspapers articles related to NGOs). The goal of this project is to obtain an insight into the media coverage of NGOs, as well as to supply information on NGOs. Information and articles from the domestic press (dailies such as Politika, Glas Javnosti, Blic, Danas, and Beta News Agency) and local press are collected according to the type of organization. The press clipping for 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 is bound according to the types of organizations. Currently, the Center possesses relevant articles on 18 types of NGOs - all published in the domestic press during the last five years. This documentation is available to all interested NGOs, researchers and journalists. During the year 2000, 9,407 press clippings on NGOs were collected. Besides press clipping, the Center collects all other material on NGOs (leaflets, newsletters, brochures, books), provide by them. Thus, it creates the library of the non-profit sector.

The Internet Presentation of the Center

Since March 1998, the CDNPS has had its own presentation of the Internet (address: www.crnps.org.yu). In 2000, many innovations have been introduced into this presentation and it has attracted significant interest of the public. The presentation of the Center had 727,931 visits from almost all the countries having an access to the Internet. With its new design and new contents, the presentation of the Center becomes a real window into the non-profit sector in Yugoslavia and the world. The presentation also includes the daily news on NGOs in the FRY (in Serbian and English). Within this presentation, one can find the latest data on NGOs and the media in the FR Yugoslavia, information on the Center (reports, books, newsletters, activities, implemented projects and running projects), all the documentation regarding the Forum of Yugoslav NGOs, links to other NGOs and foundations, the Internet Guide for NGOs, etc.

The Library of the Non-Profit Sector

Its goal is to provide help in education for work in non-profit organizations and support the scholarly research in the domain of non-profit sector. The library consists of about 1000 titles from the country and abroad, such as: various directories, journals, books, newsletters, video and CD recordings. It is open for all NGO representatives, media and interested citizens, but the literature may not be taken out of the Center.