LIBRARIES IN CHINA, INDIA AND UNITED STATES DESIGNATED UNITED NATIONS DEPOSITORY LIBRARIES

LIBRARIES IN CHINA, INDIA AND UNITED STATES DESIGNATED

UNITED NATIONS DEPOSITORY LIBRARIES

Five libraries, located in China, India and the United States, have been designated United Nations depository libraries, becoming part of an international network of 398 libraries in 144 countries and territories that bring United Nations documents and publications to users around the world.  They are the China University of Political Science and Law (Beijing, China), International Economic Law Institute (Xiamen, China), Zhengzhou University (Zhengzhou, China), Manipal Institute of Management (Manipal, India) and Mississippi State University (Starkville, Mississippi, United States).

The China University of Political Science and Law becomes the fourth United Nations depository library in Beijing.  Approximately 11,000 persons on campus regularly use the Library of the University.  The Library holds over

50,000 monographs and approximately 225 periodicals, journals, magazines and newspapers.  A wide range of electronic services is available to library patrons. Two librarians are assigned to manage the deposit, which consists of online access to the full text of parliamentary documents and printed publications in English.

Xiamen University was founded in 1921 and has developed into one of the key national universities in China.  The university offers a wide range of academic programmes.  The Library of the International Economic Law Institute is used by 5,000 faculty members, students and postgraduates on a regular basis.  The International Economic Law Institute Library holds 140,000 monographs as well as approximately 200 periodicals and provides access to online databases and electronic information products.  Three librarians are assigned to maintain the United Nations collection, which consists of online access to the full text of parliamentary documents and printed publications in English and Chinese.

Zhengzhou University was established in July 2000, resulting from a merger of a number of educational institutions.  With an enrolment of 35,000 students and a teaching staff of 2,200, it is now the largest university in Henan Province. Approximately 2,100 persons regularly use the Library of the Law School.  The Library holds over 90,000 monographs as well as about 5,100 periodicals, journals, magazines and newspapers.  It makes a wide range of electronic services available to its patrons.  Two staff manage the United Nations collection, which includes online access to the full text of parliamentary documents and printed publications in English.

Manipal Academy of Higher Education, awarded university status in 1993, comprises a number of colleges and institutes which offer a wide range of academic

programmes.  Manipal Institute of Management, founded in 1999, has established itself internationally and now attracts students from 40 countries.  The Manipal Academy of Higher Education library system currently maintains holdings of over 150,000 items, including monographs, serials, audiovisual materials and electronic products.  It is used by about 30,000 persons from Manipal and the surrounding area.  The Library of the Manipal Institute of Management offers its patrons access to a wide range of online databases.  The United Nations deposit includes online access to the full text of parliamentary documents and printed publications in English.

Mississippi State University is the largest university in Mississippi, with an enrolment of more than 16,500 students.  Established in 1878 as the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Mississippi, the university has evolved into a comprehensive institution with a diverse array of programmes in teaching, research and service.  The Mississippi State University library system is composed of the Mitchell Memorial Library and two branch libraries (the Architecture Library and the Veterinary Library), with a total of 30 librarians and 51 support staff.  The system has collections of over 1.5 million accessioned items (including books, microforms and audiovisual materials) and subscribes to over 15,500 serials.  Two librarians are assigned to manage the United Nations deposit, which consists of online access to the full text of parliamentary documents and printed publications in English.

Since 1946, the Dag Hammarskj`ld 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 398 United Nations depository libraries: 55 are located in Africa, 105 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 57 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 Hammarskj`ld Library in New York and by the Library of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

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