UNBISnet User Guide

There are three ways to access to UNBISnet data: Bibliographic Records; Voting Records and Index to Speeches. Unless you are specifically looking for voting records or a speech, search Bibliographic Records.  

Bibliographic Records Searching

The browse mode of Bibliographic Records allows you to create lists of UN publications related to keyword, author name, title, UN document symbol (when searching by document symbol, do not use any punctuation, such as slashes or periods), thesaurus term and more.

• All results are posted and hyperlinked.
• Related keywords are suggested, with postings and hyperlinks.

The keyword mode of Bibliographic Records allows you to search for keywords anywhere in the document record or in specific part of the record, such as the title, author, UN document symbol, country of origin, or numerous other options.

• Boolean (AND/OR/NOT), adjacency and phrase searching are available.
• Where available, there are hyperlinks to the full text.

You also have the option to limit your keyword search:

• by a subset databases (UN publications; Non UN publications; UN and NON UN)
• by type of record (monograph; journal article; monograph article; journal)
• by 39 different material types (examples include letters, dissertations, NGO written statements, vetoes, press releases and more).
• by language.

Hold down the control key on the keyboard to select multiple limits.

You can also limit your keyword search

• by publication date
• and you can sort your results in several ways.

A Search History of your keyword and browse search is available on every page.

Voting Records Searching

The Voting Records option accesses “the full text of voting records for all resolutions which were adopted - either without a vote or by roll-call or recorded vote - by the General Assembly beginning with its 38th session (1983-) and the Security Council beginning with its 1st year (1946-).”

Voting Records provides many fewer search options and limits than the Bibliographic Record.

The browse mode of Bibliographic Records allows you to create lists of UN publications related to Resolution Symbols and Agenda Document/Item Numbers. In order to effectively use the browse search in Voting Records, you must know either UN Resolution Symbol OR the Agenda Document/Item Number.

The keyword search option allows you to search voting records by:

• keyword
• UN Resolution Symbol
• Vote Date
• Bib No.

Voting Records keyword allows for:

• Boolean (AND/OR/NOT), adjacency and phrase searching
• hyperlinks to the full text

You also have the option to limit your search:

• Action Body

1. General Assembly
2. Security Council

• Vote Type
1. Resolution adopted without a vote
2. Resolution adopted with a vote

Hold down the control key on the keyboard to select multiple limits.

  You can also limit your search:

• By date
• By different sorting options

A Search History of your keyword and browse search is available on every page.

Index to Speeches Searching

Index to Speeches accesses “the full text to speeches made in the General Assembly beginning with its 38th session (1983-), the Security Council beginning with its 38th year (1983-), the Economic and Social Council beginning in 1983 and the Trusteeship Council beginning with its 15th special session (1982). “

Index to Speeches provides many fewer search options and limits than the Bibliographic Record.

The browse mode of Bibliographic Records allows you to create lists of UN publications related to Meeting Record Symbols and Agenda Document/Item Numbers. In order to effectively use the browse search in Index to Speeches, you must know either UN Meeting Record Symbol OR the Agenda Document/Item Number.

The keyword search option allows you to search speeches by:

• Meeting record symbol
• Speaker
• Country/organization
• Topic
• Speech date
• Bib no.

Index to Speeches keyword allows for:

Boolean (AND/OR/NOT), adjacency and phrase searching

• hyperlinks to the full text

You also have the option to limit your search by:

• Action Body
• Economic and Social Council
• General Assembly
• Security Council
• Trusteeship Council

Hold down the control key on the keyboard to select multiple limits.

You can also limit your search:

• By date
• By different sorting options

A Search History of your keyword and browse search is available on every page.