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United Nations Library&Archives Geneva

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United Nations Library&Archives Geneva

Our services - the UN Library&Archives Geneva and the Cultural Activities Programme at UN Geneva – are open to the public upon registration.

The Library of the United Nations Office at Geneva has been serving the international community as a centre for research and an instrument of international understanding since 1919, then part of the UN predecessor, the League of Nations. Its services include : the United Nations Library&Archives Geneva and the Cultural Activities Programme at UN Geneva – and are open to the public upon registratio

n. The United Nations Library&Archives offers researchers:
- one of the richest collections in Europe in the fields of legal, social and political sciences, as well as on all areas of UN work. It also offers a comprehensive collection of UN documents, and electronic resources.
- over six linear kilometres of archives materials consisting of organizational and personal records that document a variety of areas since 1870: the United Nations Office at Geneva Archives, the League of Nations Archives, the International Peace Movements Archives, Private archives, and other collections.
- through the Cultural Activities Programme, hosted by the Library&Archives, Member States and International Organizations are given the opportunity to present exhibitions, concerts, and performances, films and cultural conferences to the international community and to visitors to the Palais des Nations.

31/08/2026

🌍 What resources can help us explore the history, experiences and contributions of people of African descent?

On 31 August, the International Day for People of African Descent is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity, heritage and contributions of people of African descent around the world, while also raising awareness of the challenges they continue to face.

Interested in learning more? The UN Library & Archives Geneva has developed a dedicated Research Guide bringing together key UN resources, documents and information to support research and further exploration.

🔎 Explore the Research Guide: https://tinyurl.com/ykedfmrn

26/08/2026

🏛️A glimpse inside a century of knowledge and diplomacy.

Founded in 1919 for the League of Nations, the Library has witnessed generations of international cooperation.

Today, as the building enters a new chapter through its first major renovation since the 1930s, its unique spaces are being prepared for the future, facilitating knowledge exchange and engagement with Member States, researchers, UN agencies and other stakeholders in a modern setting. 🔎✨

25/08/2026

📚 What can archives reveal about the lives of refugees during the Spanish Civil War?

Between 1936 and 1939, the Spanish Civil War forced thousands of people to leave their homes. Behind this history are stories of evacuation, displacement, humanitarian assistance and international efforts to respond to a growing refugee crisis.

The UN Library & Archives Geneva is pleased to share a new Research Guide on refugees during the Spanish Civil War, prepared by our former intern Zahira Aragüete-Toribio.

Drawing on the archives of the League of Nations, the guide brings together historical documents that shed light on:

📄 the evacuation of civilians and refugee movements within Spain
👧 the experiences and protection of displaced children
🤝 humanitarian relief provided by international organizations and aid groups
🏛️ refugees seeking shelter in foreign embassies
🌍 international responses to the consequences of the conflict

Through correspondence, reports and other archival records, these collections offer a unique perspective on how one of the major refugee crises of the 20th century was documented and addressed by the international community.

🔎 Explore the Research Guide: https://tinyurl.com/4ze3dxfy

21/08/2026

♾️ Rebirth: A Powerful Symbol of Balance and Hope

Whether viewed from above or from the ground in Ariana Park, Rebirth by Italian artist Michelangelo Pistoletto is an extraordinary work of art.

Donated by Italy and Cittadellarte - Fondazione Pistoletto in 2015, this monumental installation is made up of 193 stones arranged to form the artist's iconic Third Paradise symbol. Inspired by the mathematical infinity sign, the symbol adds a central circle that represents the meeting point between nature and technology: a space where a more balanced and sustainable society can emerge.

Located on the grounds of the Palais des Nations, Rebirth reflects values that resonate deeply with the mission of the United Nations: dialogue, cooperation, peace, and sustainable development.

More than a sculpture, it is an invitation to build bridges, embrace diversity, and work together towards a future where innovation and nature coexist in harmony. 🌿🤝🌍

20/08/2026

📚 What are researchers exploring in 11 kilometres of UN archives?

🔹 Human rights was the most popular research area, with around one quarter of researchers studying subjects ranging from the history of human rights to state violence, torture and enforced disappearances.

🔹 International trade and development attracted more than one fifth of researchers, with topics including commodities, multinational corporations, technology transfer and the impact of oil shocks.

🔹 Nearly 20% consulted UNECE records, exploring environmental protection, development, transport and road safety.

Researchers also showed growing interest in disarmament and peace, women’s rights, developments in Africa, desertification, humanitarian response and relations with NGOs.

Curious to discover more? Read the UN Archives Geneva Blog post by our ex-colleague Neytcho Iltchev to find out more. 👉https://tinyurl.com/mrx48775

19/08/2026

🌍 World Humanitarian Day is also a moment to look back at how humanitarian action has evolved.

The UN Archives Geneva preserve the records of the Office of the United Nations Disaster Relief Coordinator (UNDRO), covering the period 1971–1991.

Created in Geneva in 1971, UNDRO helped coordinate international disaster relief and supported disaster prevention and preparedness. Its history forms part of the institutional development that eventually led to today’s United Nations OCHA.

📜 The document featured here is a letter from A.N. Shevchenko, Under-Secretary-General for Political and Security Council Affairs, to the Under-Secretary-General in charge of UNDRO.

Curious to explore more? 🔎
Discover the UN Geneva archival collections here
https://archives.ungeneva.org/unog-archives

18/08/2026

♿ How can research support disability rights and inclusion?

The Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability - CRPD is meeting in Geneva for its 35th session, from 12–27 August 2026, reviewing the implementation of the Convention by several States parties.

As we mark 20 years since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it is also an opportunity to explore the knowledge and resources that help advance disability rights and inclusion.

📚 Explore resources from UN Library & Archives Geneva:

🔎 Discover selected resources on disability rights, inclusion, accessibility and related topics ➡️ https://libraryresources.unog.ch/disability

📖 Browse books on disability in our Library catalogue ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/29627wra

12/08/2026

🌑 Beyond the Eclipse: Discover the Science Behind the Spectacle

Today, millions of people are putting on glasses; either to look up at the sky or to read about one of nature’s most remarkable phenomena: a total solar eclipse. 🌞

But beyond the spectacle lies centuries of scientific observation, curiosity and discovery.

📚 Explore the fascinating world of solar eclipses through resources available at the UN Library & Archives Geneva, from astronomy and eclipse observation to the history of scientific exploration.

Our extensive collections and databases provide access to a diverse range of resources on astronomy, solar eclipses and the history of scientific discovery.

🔗 Explore the collection: https://tinyurl.com/24f7vnrn

✨ Because every great discovery begins with curiosity.

11/08/2026

🏛️ How can archives help uncover the hidden histories of diplomatic spaces?

The concluding study day of the international conference Diplomatic Interiors: Spaces, Practices, and Infrastructures in Historical Perspective, held last November at the Palais des Nations and hosted by the UN Library & Archives Geneva, explored precisely this theme.

Andreas Kalpakci (ETH Zurich) and Charlotte Rottiers (KU Leuven) tell us more about the experience in our recent UN Archives Geneva Blog. It was a rich day for the participants who explored the Palais as both a living diplomatic space and a historical source. They saw first-hand some of the original furnishings, diplomatic gifts, and architectural features that have shaped and multilateral diplomacy for nearly a century.

Participants also had the opportunity to see the ongoing renovation of the Palais through the Strategic Heritage Plan and the important role play in supporting preservation and heritage decisions.

During the roundtable, experts from archival practice, architectural history, diplomatic history, and museum studies explored how diplomatic interiors are documented and researched through sources ranging from architectural drawings and photographs to oral histories and maintenance records.

This academic event highlights how archives preserve not only buildings and objects, but also the people, decisions, and stories that have shaped international cooperation over time.

📚 Explore UN Archives Geneva articles ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/mr2aa2hv

🔗 Conference programme and Book of Abstracts ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/3m7usx83

10/08/2026

🦚 The peacocks of the Palais des Nations have a history of their own!

As the UN welcomed new peacocks to the Palais, we took a look into the archives to discover more about their predecessors.

Records from the League of Nations’ digitised archives from 1936 to 1938 trace the planning and construction of an earlier peacock shelter. Correspondence, architectural drawings and site plans reveal the care that went into creating a home for what would become one of the Palais’ most beloved symbols.

Among the details we discovered:

🦚 Henry Larsen, founder of the Geneva Zoo, was consulted on the shelter’s design.

🏡 The plans included dedicated perches for adult birds and a separate enclosure for chicks.

❄️ Officials even discussed whether extra provisions were needed to protect the birds during winter.

🗺️ The plans also offer a fascinating glimpse of the Palais grounds in the 1930s, showing the nearby railway tracks, the Route de la Bibliothèque and the proposed shelter nestled among the trees.

💌 And even back then, you could send a postcard of a League of Nations peacock back home!

🔗 Explore the collection➡️ https://tinyurl.com/2pdxajcf

Adresse

The United Nations Office At Geneva, Palais Des Nations, 8-14 Avenue De La Paix
Geneva
1211

Heures d'ouverture

Lundi	08:30 - 17:30
Mardi	08:30 - 17:30
Mercredi	08:30 - 17:30
Jeudi	08:30 - 17:30
Vendredi	08:30 - 17:30

Site Web

https://ask.unog.ch/library/, https://ask.unog.ch/archives/

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