United Nations Publications on display at first ‘book days’ event

Secretary-General Says Knowledge-Sharing Key to Greater Understanding

The Outreach Division of the Department of Public Information launched today its first ever “UN Book Days” event at United Nations Headquarters, New York.  The event is a forum for academia, delegates, businessmen, United Nations staff members and the public at large.  Displayed in one location are titles from the United Nations system, as well as from other intergovernmental organizations such as the European Union and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

“As a knowledge-based organization, we know that knowledge is the fuel for progress.  This exhibit shows how the United Nations is sharing knowledge with our partners so that we can generate even greater understanding and cooperation,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in opening the event.  “I hope that UN Book Days will raise awareness about all our information resources so that researchers working to address pressing global problems will have the materials they need to succeed.”  Extending a warm welcome to “our friends from the academic community”, Mr. Ban noted that “teachers, students and librarians can really benefit from these resources”.

A particular highlight of UN Book Days this year was the launch of the online edition of the Yearbook of the United Nations, a comprehensive review of all the activities and areas in which the Organization is involved.  This new service gives readers quick access to search for and review more than 60,000 pages from 59 volumes published since 1946.  It can be accessed at http://unyearbook.un.org.

Statistical resources feature prominently in the displays, which also include atlases, annual reports, research papers, manuals, software products, databases, videos and more than 158,000 international treaties.  The United Nations offers for sale about 900 new titles each year, published in locations as diverse as Bangkok, Santiago, Addis Ababa, Beirut, New York and Geneva.  Taken together the United Nations system releases publications in every continent and offers several thousand new titles each year.  As a group, the exhibitors at UN Book Days have approximately 200,000 titles in print with virtually every major language in the world represented.

UN Book Days takes place on 9 and 10 October in the General Assembly Visitors’ Lobby which is open for the public during regular business hours.  Admission is free.

For more information on UN Book Days, please visit https://unp.un.org/bookdays.aspxor contact Vlad Vitkovski, tel.:  212 963 8065, e-mail:  vitkovskiv@un.org.

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For information media • not an official record