Researching the United Nations: Finding the Organization's Internal Resource Trails

 

by Linda Tashbook

 

Linda Tashbook is the Foreign International Comparative Law Librarian at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law’s Barco Law Library, a Fulbright Senior Specialist, and an attorney in private practice.  Prior to becoming the foreign and international librarian, she was the Barco Law Library’s Electronic Services Librarian.  Before law school, she worked as a public librarian. Her Juris Doctor and Master of Library Science degrees are from the University of Pittsburgh.  Her Bachelor of Science degree is from Texas Woman’s University.

 

Published October 2005

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Standard Queries
Types of research tools
Locate or investigate someone involved with the UN
To investigate an issue that the U.N. works on
To find out about the work of a particular U.N. entity
To research a treaty deposited with the U.N.
Glossaries for UN functions

Finding Official Operating Documents of UN entities
Topical research guides & resource collections compiled by UN entities
Guides to U.N. Research made by non-U.N. entities
Databases of information from throughout the U.N. system
Database Training Manuals
Directories of UN staff and components: (a list in order by location, topic, and entity)

 

Introduction

The United Nations is such a massive organization that its wide array of processes and products require enough reference sources to warrant a map and compass for navigation. As a map, here are suggested search techniques for several standard types of queries and, as a compass, here are the U.N.'s many diverse search tools organized into resource types.

Standard Queries

 

Types of research tools

 

For more information about the search tools and primary sources that are published by the U.N., peruse some research guides by non-U.N. entities.

 

To locate or investigate someone involved with the UN

 

To investigate an issue that the U.N. works on

·       Peace & Security Documents Research Guide

·       Economic & Social Development Reports & Databases

·       Human Rights Documents Research Guide

·       International Law Documents Research Guide

 

To find out about the work of a particular U.N. entity

 

To research a treaty deposited with the U.N.

 

Glossaries for UN functions

 

Finding Official Operating Documents of UN entities:

 

Topical research guides & resource collections compiled by UN entities

This list is only intended to contain true finding aides that point to assorted information sources in a subject area. An alternative way to find subject-based resources is to click on the ‘Publications’ link on the home page of any U.N. department or other office or program.

 

Guides to U.N. Research made by non-U.N. entities

 

Databases of information from throughout the U.N. system: (each listed by name, annotated, and with a link to instructions for searching it)

 

Database Training Manuals

 

Directories of UN staff and components: (a list in order by location, topic, and entity)

These directories primarily list national representatives who participate in the named entities. Where possible, staff directories are also linked. Generic "contact us" links are purposely omitted because those are not informational in themselves and they can already be efficiently located.

 

 

Units subsidiary to the General Assembly:

 

Units under the Security Council:

 

Units under the Economic and Social Council: (This list only includes the units that have online directories.)

 

International Court of Justice