LIBRARIES IN BRAZIL, KENYA, PHILIPPINES DESIGNATED UNITED NATIONS DEPOSITORY LIBRARIES

LIBRARIES IN BRAZIL, KENYA, PHILIPPINES DESIGNATED

UNITED NATIONS DEPOSITORY LIBRARIES

Three libraries, located in Brazil, Kenya and the Philippines, have been designated United Nations depository libraries, becoming part of an international network of 394 libraries in 145 countries and territories that bring United Nations documents and publications to users around the world.  They are the University of the State of Santa Catarina (Florianopolis, Brazil), Moi University (Eldoret, Kenya) and Saint Mary’s University (Bayombong, Philippines).

                The University of the State of Santa Catarina (UDESC) in Florianopolis, the State capital, becomes the sixth United Nations depository library in Brazil.  The University plans to set up a United Nations documentation centre as an independent entity on its premises, with unrestricted access for the general public.  The United Nations deposit includes printed publications and masthead documents of the United Nations in English, as well as Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) masthead documents.

Moi University in Eldoret becomes the second United Nations depository in Kenya.  The Margaret Thatcher Library, the main library of the university system which houses the United Nations deposit, is fully computerized and equipped with public-service areas that can accommodate up to 2,500 readers.  The United Nations deposit includes online access to the full text of parliamentary documents, printed publications in English and Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) masthead documents.

Saint Mary’s University in Bayombong becomes the fifth United Nations depository in the Philippines and the first depository to be designated in the northern part of the country.  The University Library is open to the general public and, in particular, also reaches out to minority groups in the region.  The deposit consists of online access to the full text of parliamentary documents, printed publications in English and Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) masthead documents.

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 394 United Nations depository libraries:  56 are located in Africa, 101 in Asia and the Pacific, 19 in Western Asia, 30 in Eastern Europe, 82 in Western

Europe, 50 in Latin America and the Caribbean, and 56 in North America.  These libraries receive United Nations materials, with the understanding that their collections will be maintained in good order and made available to the general 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.

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 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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