IUCN Library

IUCN Library: 1948 – present

The IUCN Library (app.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/iucn.htm) compiles the titles published by IUCN - The World Conservation Union from 1948 to the present. It also includes the publications of CITES - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Ramsar - the Convention on Wetlands, TRAFFIC - the joint wildlife trade monitoring programme of IUCN and WWF, UNEP WCMC - the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre, and a small selection of titles from IUCN members or other publishers.

Most of IUCN publications are for sale in the World Conservation Bookstore Catalogue.

IUCN publications and reports are indexed and abstracted on ASFA (Aquatic Sciences and Fisheries Abstracts), CAB Abstracts and NISC Wildlife Worldwide databases and information products, online or on CD ROM.

Depository and Exchange libraries

For over 50 years IUCN has been a source for information on the status, conservation and management of the Earth's living natural resources. To disseminate this information, IUCN has used the medium of books, periodicals and reports. These publications have been and are still distributed or sold to IUCN's global constituency. However, given increasing interest in the environment and corresponding growth in IUCN's programmes and geographic scope, the traditional distribution mechanisms can not reach all who want access to IUCNs information. This is particularly true in developing countries where difficulties in obtaining foreign exchange, high communication costs and unreliable postal services make it difficult to obtain needed information.

To address this problem, in 1994 IUCN established IUCN Depository Libraries. Similar to the United Nations Depository Libraries where each member State selects one library to be the recipient of all the documents of the UN, so in IUCN, selected IUCN members or partners may receive a copy of each IUCN publication. Coordinated by the IUCN Library, a network of Depository Libraries is being formed (view list).

These libraries are charged with four tasks:

1. making this information available to the local/regional community
2. responding to specific requests referred to it by other network libraries or IUCN regional or country offices
3. identification and acquisition of publications produced in the country/region for the IUCN HQ
4. provided an annual report on the status and use of IUCN publications

The creation of the Depository Libraries Network has helped to:

• ensure equitable and faster access to IUCN's information
• improve communication between IUCN offices, members and the conservation community
• reduce duplication of materials and services
• encourage resource sharing and capacity building among libraries
• build a solid information management, exchange and dissemination infrastructure
• access and link to other IUCN information networks and programmes e.g. SDN
• expand use of electronic communication by channelling requests

Depository Libraries Criteria:

• must be an IUCN member, National Committee or other non-profit organization having significant links to IUCN
• must have capacity to manage the collection
• must have capacity to respond to queries and disseminate information
• must have capacity to participate in the DL Network e.g. keep statistics on use, prepare reports, participate in evaluations, participate in building/maintaining the network
• must be able to participate in network activities in English, French or Spanish

Other IUCN libraries

IUCN Environmental Law Centre Library

Since 1963 the IUCN Commission on Environmental Law (formerly known as Commission on Legislation and Commission on Environmental Policy, Law and Administration) and over the past thirty years the Environmental Law Centre, have continuously collected and catalogued legal provisions relating to environmental conservation in individual countries. A growing number of significant international instruments have been developed and added to the pool, as well as literature pertaining to environmental policy, law and administration.
Today the ELC-libraries collection hosts one of the world's largest and most comprehensive collections of environmental law and literature, which covers the entire spectrum of issues related to environmental conservation: from soil pollution to genetic resources, from water quality to waste management. IUCN, through the Environmental Law Centre, has pioneered the computerisation of its huge information resources since the late sixties.

IUCN Offices

IUCN offices around the world often have their own library. The contact details for the different IUCN offices can be accessed via the "our work" drop down menu above.

Information Resources

Other IUCN information resources include the Biodiversity Economics Library, the Protected Areas Database and the Species Information Service.

The Biodiversity Economics Library

Biodiversity Economics LibraryThe Biodiversity Economics Library is aimed at the broader biodiversity community including environmental policy makers, natural resource managers and users, scientists and scholars, and conservation advocates. Information on biodiversity and economics is classified within collections from which relevant hot topics, key events and useful links are highlighted. Information can also be accessed - throughout the site - using the search engine. This site is best viewed using Internet Explorer and removing the hotlinks underlining option. Currently, the Library hosts six collections: biodiversity business, biodiversity finance, biodiversity incentives, biodiversity trade, biodiversity assessment and biodiversity valuation.

The Protected Areas Database

The United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) has been working with information on protected areas since 1981. UNEP-WCMC's work on protected areas is carried out in close collaboration with IUCN's World Commission on Protected Areas and Programme on Protected Areas. The website, hosted by UNEP-WCMC, contains many different types of information, from a protected areas virtual library to a World Heritage monitoring network.

IUCN's Species Survival Commission Species Information Service (SIS)

Through its volunteer membership of 7,000 species conservation experts, IUCN's Species Survival Commission (SSC) holds what is probably the world's most complete body of information on the status and distribution of species threatened with extinction. Although abundant, the data and information contained within the SSC network is widely dispersed and sometimes difficult to access. The Species Information Service is being developed as SSC's data management initiative to address this problem.