The Institute holds an extensive collection of the publications of the League of Nations (Société des Nations), and it collects documents and publications of the United Nations, of their Specialized Agencies as well as those of other international organizations.
Since the end of 1949 the library of the Institute holds the status of a United Nation Depository Library. It receives and collects all documents and publications of the United Nations, which are publicly and freely distributed. It has the mission to make the material received accessible to the general public, free of charge. In addition, each library is requested to organize activities on a regular basis to publicize its United Nations collection.
Our Depository Library is discharging this obligation by keeping the library open for everybody without any admission requirements. It make the material received available through interlibrary loan, photocopying or other means to users who cannot easily visit our Institute.
The United Nations inquires into the observance of the conditions of deposit by mandatory biennium questionnaires or by visits by members of the the Dag Hammarskjold Library.
The books, documents and periodicals of the United Nations, their Specialized Organizations, and of other international and regional organizations, until now are offered as a choice only in the Institute's electronic catalogue. It is above all, books and series of bound volumes and periodicals of the organizations. The UN Depository Library has its own database, which contains all available documents.
There already are, on the Institute's server, numerous electronic documents of the United Nations and Specialized UN Organizations. When required, these texts can be read and printed. All documents are filed in folders according to organs, subjects and document symbols. In addition important original texts on the United Nations' work, their specialized organizations, an d other international and regional organizations, can be found at the Institute's homepage.
For further information about the materials and the access for users, please consult the UN Depository Library. The staff of this division are glad to inform you about the details of the available material. For the research please call during the business hours listed below