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The IUCN library is a unique repository of publications,
periodicals, scientific and technical reports
prepared by IUCN, its regional and country offices, commissions and partners.
Its collection of non-IUCN material is mainly
devoted to protected areas worldwide, the conservation of biological diversity,
ecosystem management, sustainable development and sustainable use of natural
resources.
The library is open to students, researchers or practitioners interested
in these subjects. It is preferable to call or e-mail ahead of time :
+ 41 22 999 0136, or library@iucn.org
ON-LINE
CATALOGUE
The IUCN Library catalogue
(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 online publications 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:
- making this information available to the local/regional community,
- responding to specific requests referred to it by other network libraries
or IUCN regional or country offices,
- identification and acquisition of publications produced in the country/region
for the IUCN HQ,
- 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
 The
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.
For more information:
Alicia Held
IUCN Library
Tel. 41 22 999 0136
Fax. 41 22 999 0010
Email: library@iucn.org
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