ST. CYRIL AND ST. METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY DESIGNATED UNITED NATIONS DEPOSITORY LIBRARY
Press Release
PI/1115
ST. CYRIL AND ST. METHODIUS NATIONAL LIBRARY DESIGNATED UNITED NATIONS DEPOSITORY LIBRARY
19990129 The St. Cyril and St. Methodius National Library in Sofia, Bulgaria has been designated depository library, making it part of an international network of 367 libraries in 141 countries that brings United Nations documents and publications to users around the world. The St. Cyril and St. Methodius National Library becomes the second depository library in the Republic of Bulgaria.The St. Cyril and St. Methodius National Library was founded in 1878 as Sofia Public Library, and became the National Library in 1909. It has a collection of more than two million volumes and subscribes to more than 3,000 current periodicals. As a scholarly library, the National Library serves the academic community and individual scholars, students and citizens. It serves also as the national bibliographic information centre in the fields of social science, public administration, science and culture and as research institute in library science, bibliography and bibliology, functioning also as a national science and coordination centre in library service. It has electronic access to external databases, and maintains a National Union Catalogue (database name DULUC) as well as a Web site.
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, there are 366 United Nations depository libraries: 53 are located in Africa; 99 in Asia and the Pacific; 32 in Eastern Europe; 84 in Western Europe; 46 in Latin America and the Caribbean; and 53 in North America. These libraries receive United Nations 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 than developed countries.
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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 in New York and by the Library of the United Nations Office at Geneva.
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