UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM CONSORTIUM HOLDS FIRST MEETING

Press Release
PI/1170

UNITED NATIONS SYSTEM CONSORTIUM HOLDS FIRST MEETING

The Dag Hammarskjöld Library/Department of Public Information (DPI), as Lead Agency, will be hosting the first meeting of the United Nations System Consortium on 13-14 September.

The Dag Hammarskjöld Library, in cooperation with the ISCC/Task Force on Inter-Library Co-operation, Management and Standards, initiated the Consortium in January 1998. There are now 28 programmes/agencies within the United Nations System of Organizations participating as members.

The primary purpose of the Consortium is to achieve system-wide cost savings and efficiencies through joint subscriptions to electronic information accessible via the Internet. It is expected that 1999 purchase cost savings will exceed those of 1998 ($58 million).

Benefits include volume-driven discounts, timely delivery of critical information, and 7-day, 24-hour accessibility regardless of geographical location. Consequently, staff in field missions, peace-keeping operations, and travelling on assignment now have the same information available to them as staff in major duty stations. Because of the deep discounts, smaller offices are now able to purchase access to information that was hitherto beyond their means.

Vendor contacts, contract negotiation and ordering is coordinated and centralized at United Nations Headquarters by the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and the United Nations Headquarters Procurement Division.

A major achievement of the Consortium is vendor recognition of the permanent missions as primary patrons of United Nations System libraries. As a result, delegates and mission staff now have access, at their desktops, to the products and services subscribed to by the Consortium.

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