United Nations online databases at the BA
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Alexandria, 14 September 2005—The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) has currently adopted a new service that provides access to UN online databases. This is in addition to the BA’s being a depository library for the UN system where it maintains a comprehensive archival collection of the documents and publications issued by UN offices and duty stations worldwide.
This newly adopted online service at the BA Depository Library provides access to a vast amount of data and statistics about countries through five online databases, and its online availability facilitates data search. They include two UN databases: the United Nations Treaty Collection Database (UNTC), which gives access to detailed treaty references and the full text of recently deposited treaties in authentic languages and translations; as well as the Official Document System Database (ODS), which comprises the full text of United Nations parliamentary documents (including resolutions and decisions).
The other online services are the World Bank e-resources available due to the BA’s being one of the World Bank Public Information Centers. BA users are given access to a variety of data and operational information, that includes the World Bank e-library, the World Development Indicators and the Global Development Finance.
This is in addition to the actual collection in the F2 level of the Main Library at the BA. Official records and documents of the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council and the International Court of Justice, as well as documents and publications of affiliated agencies and programs such as UNDP, UNEP and UNICEF are all available.
The BA also maintains collections of selected documents and publications issued by specialized agencies such as the WTO, ILO, IMF, the World Bank, FAO, UNESCO, WHO, WIPO and IFAD, as well as periodicals, masthead and print depository documents.