UN Library
From Bplsst
By Anna Levy Gov. Doc. Librarian
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE TOUR OF THE UNITED NATIONS DAG HAMMARSKJOLD LIBRARY (DHL) http://www.un.org/depts/dhl/index.html
GODIG meeting, January 25, 2007
Since mid-80s, the UN Library has become a part of the Department of Public Information. Before 1980s, the Library belonged to the Conference Services. This organizational change was a groundbreaking event in the creation of the new image of the Library that not only supports the needs of its internal users but also delivers information on international affairs and UN documents to the world at large.
Access to the Library is available to all users with a valid UN Headquarters grounds pass on weekdays (i.e., staff of the secretariat and permanent missions, members of delegations) Although the Library is closed to the general public, its resources are accessible via the Internet, and the Library provides email and telephone reference services upon request. Email Reference: http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/sendmail/sendemail_unreference.asp
To get to the Library’s website via the UN homepage [www.un.org] you need to use the link to Documents, Maps. That will take you the virtual UN Documentation Centre -http://www.un.org/documents/ UN Documentation Centre homepage will offer links to the Library and UNBISnet, Maps and Geographic Information, as well as UN-I-QUE: UN Info Quest UN-I-QUE data goes back to 1995, and it’s a great source for speedy searches.
Permanent public access to UN documents is also guaranteed by the Depository Library System, arranged by DHL in 1946 and maintained ever since. At present, there are over 400 depositories in 140 countries of the world, and the general public can consult the material free of charge at any depository library.
Here are some depositories in NYC: NYPL SIB (Partial deposit of publications in English since June 1947) 188 Madison Ave. New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 592 7000 E-mail: pbengston@nypl.org Internet: http://www.nypl.org/research/sibl/
NYU Bobst Library UN Collection (Full deposit of publications and masthead documents in English since November 1949) 70 Washington Square South, 6th floor New York, NY 10012-1091 Tel: (212) 998 2610 E-mail: intl.doc@nyu.edu Internet: http://library.nyu.edu/research/un-govt/
UN Library maintains several collections, and some of them are more important for us to know about then others: 1. UN System Collection, a comprehensive archival collection of UN documents and publications, which includes the official records and documents of the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the International Court of Justice as well as documents and publications of affiliated agencies and programs such as UNICEF 2. Woodrow Wilson Collection, a unique source of information about the League of Nations and about world organization, diplomatic history, peace movements and international relations during the League's existence. 3. Oral History Collection is composed of a series of interviews with eminent personalities associated with the United Nations over the years, presented in the format of transcripts with corresponding audio tapes as well as newspaper clippings, books and photographs
Three collections (legal, map and statistical) are viewed as branches: Legal Library consists of materials on international relations and public and private international law Map Library has a notable collection of more than 80,000 maps, as well as atlases, gazetteers, guidebooks in addition to information on flags, boundaries, place names and national anthems Statistical Library consists of official economic and statistical publications from most countries of the world and from several intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
At present, the Library (as well as the entire complex of UN buildings) is on the brink of major renovation project. It is expected that –for the duration of renovation- some collections and staff will be moved to the Long Island City by the end of 2007. The Library’s “cousin”, the UN Archives and Records Management Department, will be also relocated to the Long Island City. At present, this department has a small reading room in Manhattan.
UN PULSE @ http://unhq-appspub-01.un.org/lib/dhlrefweblog.nsf Using UN Pulse, a web blog created and maintained by a team of DHL reference librarians would be the easiest way to learn about just-released UN online information, major reports, publications and documents. UN Pulse is updated as new information is published and received.
UNBISNET OPAC @ http://unbisnet.un.org/ Catalog includes UN documents and publications as well as commercial publications and other non-UN sources held in the collection from 1979 onward However, older documents are being added to the catalog on a regular basis as a result of retrospective digitization of UN documents, on of the major projects the Library is working on. UNBISnet also provides instant access to a growing number of full text resources in the six official languages of the UN: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.
Posting UN resolutions on the website is the top priority, and it takes about 24 hours from the time the document was released. Resolutions adopted by the General Assembly, the Economic and Social Council and the Security Council are searchable from 1946 onward. The fastest way to find out it the resolution has been passed would be checking the link - Search Press Releases under General Assembly on the UN Documentation Centre homepage - http://www.un.org/documents/
In addition to the typical bibliographic record search, UNBISnet offiers Voting Record Search that allows users to get a record along with the full text of a resolution on a particular topic, i.e., landmines
Another unique feature of the catalog is Index to Speeches that provides information about the meeting, the speakers, along with the links to speeches in full text.
UN Library does not use the Library of Congress subject heading, but their own THESAURUS based on a French system.
