UNPRECEDENTED ONLINE ACCESS TO United Nations HISTORY LAUNCHED

 

The United Nations Department of Public Information today launched the first ever online version of the Yearbook of the United Nations -- the Organization’s flagship research publication.  The new website -- http://unyearbook.un.org -- provides free public access to the 59 volumes of the Yearbook collection, detailing the work and achievements of the United Nations system over the first 60 years of its existence (1946-2005).  New volumes, and additional useful features, will continue to be added.

The launch of a Web-based version of this extraordinarily rich resource of information about the United Nations system took place at the opening of “UN Book Days”, organized by the Department on 9 and 10 October 2008 at United Nations Headquarters to showcase information products and services of the United Nations system and intergovernmental organizations.

“Electronic resources are becoming more and more important,” said United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the launch of the event.  “I am especially glad that today we are also putting all of the UN Yearbooks online.  This is a tremendous step forward.  UN Yearbooks document all major events, with information and analysis on virtually every United Nations resolution and decision.”

“I have a full set of the Yearbooks in my office.  If you come to my office, I can show you,” Mr. Ban remarked.  “And I’ll always treasure them.  But I will definitely be using this new online version.  With just a few clicks, anyone can search through this comprehensive historical record.”

Kiyo Akasaka, Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, called the Yearbook “an indispensable resource for anyone interested in the United Nations and its work.  The online edition brings our history and accomplishments to life for countless people across the globe, at a time when knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting our world are crucial to the achievement of the United Nations mission.”

The new site incorporates a user-friendly search function, allowing users to locate any Yearbook reference using key words, phrases or document symbols, by year or range of years.  Search results can be displayed in plain text or as a printable PDF file.  It is expected that the new website will not only serve as a strong research tool, but it will also help users better understand global issues as they affect them today.  It will broaden the Organization’s outreach to the public, increasing awareness of, and support for, the United Nations throughout the world.

The Yearbook of the United Nations remains the most comprehensive and authoritative reference work on the Organization.  Each Yearbook volume provides analysis, is fully indexed, and includes the texts of, and votes on, all major General Assembly, Security Council and Economic and Social Council resolutions and decisions.  Yearbook chapters are currently divided into five parts covering political and security questions; human rights; economic and social questions; legal questions; and institutional, administrative and budgetary questions.  The online version reproduces all Yearbook volumes up to and including the 1,682-page 2005 edition.

For more information on the Yearbook and access to the entire Yearbook collection, visit http://unyearbook.un.org.  For more information on the UN Book Days event, go to http://unp.un.org/bookdays.aspx.  The Yearbook of the United Nations, 2005 and earlier editions are available for purchase at the United Nations Bookshop and through United Nations Publications at https://unp.un.org/default.aspx.

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For information media • not an official record