LIBRARIES IN ARMENIA AND REPUBLIC OF KOREA DESIGNATED UN DEPOSITORY LIBRARIES
Press Release
PI/994
LIBRARIES IN ARMENIA AND REPUBLIC OF KOREA DESIGNATED UN DEPOSITORY LIBRARIES
19970317 Libraries in Armenia and the Republic of Korea have been designated United Nations depository libraries, making them part of an international network of 357 libraries in 147 countries that brings United Nations documents and publications to users around the world.The National Library of Armenia in Yerevan and the National Library of Korea in Seoul, Republic of Korea, are the most recent additions to the United Nations system of depository libraries.
The National Library of Armenia is the second depository library in Armenia. It was established in 1919 and was named the Alexander Miasnikian State Library until July 1990. With around 6,150,000 items, it is the largest library of Armenian books in the world. The Library acquires published Armenian works and foreign language publications in all scientific fields, with a special emphasis on the humanities.
The National Library of Armenia is both a research and a public library, serving mostly scientists, researchers and students. Located in the centre of Yerevan, it has over 400 employees, of which 127 are professional librarians, who serve about 40,000 users and 740 interlibrary partners every year. About half the patrons are students. In order to best serve readers, 13 specialized reading rooms and other conveniences have been provided. Photocopying services are available, and the Library is equipped with microform readers and CD-ROM equipment.
The National Library of Korea is the fifth depository library in Korea. It was opened in October 1945 and is responsible for the collection and preservation of national literature. Its holdings amount to nearly 3 million volumes, which are all available through an on-line computer catalogue. Outside users of the Library can access the collections through the Internet or other commercial networks, such as CHUNLIAN and HITEL. The National Library has over 250 staff, including 162 professional librarians, and supplies standardized classifications and catalogues to other libraries in the Republic of Korea.
Since 1946, the Dag Hammarskjöld Library at United Nations Headquarters in New York, which is part of the Department of Public Information (DPI), has arranged for the distribution of United Nations documents and publications to users around the world through its depository library system. At present, 51 depository libraries in Africa, 82 in Eastern Asia and the Pacific, 16 in
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Western Asia, 30 in Eastern Europe, 82 in Western Europe, 45 in Latin American and the Caribbean, and 51 in North America receive these materials, with the understanding that their collections will be maintained in good working order and be available to the public free of charge.
United Nations Member States, as well as non-members, are entitled to one "free depository", usually the national library in the capital city. In addition, the national parliamentary library, if open to the public, is also entitled to receive material free of charge. Other depository libraries pay a token annual contribution to receive United Nations documentation. Developing countries pay a significantly smaller amount.
The designation of depositories is carried out by the United Nations Publications Board. The degree of development of the requesting libraries and the overall geographic distribution of depository libraries in the countries concerned are among the criteria used.
United Nations professional librarians and information officers make periodic visits to the depository libraries to provide assistance and training in the management of the United Nations collection. In addition, special training seminars for depository librarians are periodically organized by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library, DPI, New York, and occasionally by the Library of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
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