The Library maintains a comprehensive archival collection of United Nations documents and publications. The collection includes the 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 (including their subsidiary bodies), as well as documents and publications of affiliated agencies and programmes such as UNDP, UNEP and UNICEF. The Library also maintains collections of selected documents and publications issued by the United Nations specialized agencies.

The Woodrow Wilson Collection is a unique source of information about the League of Nations and about world organization, diplomatic history, peace movements and international relations during the League's existence. A gift of the Woodrow Wilson Foundation in 1950, the Collection now comprises about 8,600 volumes of League documents and 6,500 related books and pamphlets.

The documents include those from the Assembly, the Council, committees, commissions and other auxiliary bodies of the League as well as affiliated organizations such as the Health Organization, the Permanent Mandates Commission, the International Institute of Intellectual Co-operation, the International Labour Office, the Permanent Court of International Justice and the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law.

These materials do not circulate, but may be consulted in the Woodrow Wilson Reading Room (L-201).

The Oral History Collection is composed of a series of interviews with eminent personalities associated with the United Nations over the years. The interviews shed light on the history of the founding of the Organization and its important role in conflict resolution since 1945.

This Collection, presented in the format of transcripts with corresponding audio tapes as well as newspaper clippings, books and photographs, can be consulted in Room L-260 of the Dag Hammarskjöld Library and in the Sterling Memorial Library at Yale University.

Listening and recording equipment as well as photocopying services are available for users in the Dag Hammarskjöld Library.

The External Collection represents the Library's commitment to acquire current materials which, in Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld's words, "relate to the broad scope of the work of the United Nations".  The Library maintains a substantial collection of books (about 400,000), newspapers, periodicals and maps on subjects of concern to the Organization, such as the history of the United Nations, political science, international relations, international and national law, disarmament, energy, economics, transport and communications, geography, social development. These materials are collected with the aim of achieving a balance of national and linguistic coverage and, of representing various points of view. 

In addition to commercially published materials, the Library regularly receives official documents from Member and non-member States, as well as documents and publications from non-governmental organizations and intergovernmental organizations outside the United Nations system (e.g., Organization of American States, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and African Union).

The Library receives approximately 9800 periodical titles, including newspapers from various Member States. Approximately 230 periodicals of general interest are displayed in the reading room on the first floor of the Library (L-105). Additional periodicals are also available in electronic format. For further information: please click here.

The Library maintains an extensive collection of books, pamphlets and periodicals written about the United Nations and the organizations of the United Nations system. These materials are housed with the General Collection and are available for consultation in the Library.

This collection, located in the Abraham H. Feller Room, (Room: S-3455),  consists of materials on international relations and public and private international law. The collection primarily serves the needs of the Office of Legal Affairs.

The Map Library has a notable collection of more than 80,000 maps, as well as atlases, gazetteers, guidebooks and other geographic reference works. These materials can be consulted in the Map Room, (Room: L-282), where one will also find information on flags, boundaries, place names and national anthems. Most materials are for reference only and do not circulate.

This collection, located in Room: DC2-1143, consists of official economic and statistical publications from most countries of the world and from several intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.