The ECA library is open to the public Monday through Thursday, from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm and Friday from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. We are closed on weekends and official ECA holidays.

The library is part of the UN Economic Commission for Africa's Public Information & Knowledge Management Division (PIKMD).
We are in the Limpopo building, which is located within the grounds of ECA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A map of our exact location is available here. External patrons are welcome to access our library during regular working hours. They must check in via Gate 2 of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. A valid ID is required. Patrons will receive a day pass that will allow them access to the Limpopo building only. External patrons may also request a pass beforehand by filling out our online form.

Unfortunately, for security reasons, external patrons are not allowed to park within ECA premises. Please call us at (+251) 11-551-0280 if you would like information on how to arrive via public transportation or taxi.

There are information desks available on each floor of the Library. You are also welcome to call the main line for our Reference Desk at (+251) 11-544-5509 if you need help locating any of our resources.

Journal articles can be accessed through our online databases. If you don't have a journal in mind and are searching by subject or keyword, we recommend you use Ebscohost , JSTOR and Proquest. The ECA library has both print and e-journals subscriptions available. The library’s list of electronic resources is a good initial access point to our e-collection. If you are searching for a specific journal or magazine title, we suggest using our Ebsco A-Z Journal Finder to assess whether we have the journal issues you need in full-text. If you can't find it online, ask a librarian to check whether a hard copy is available or call our Reference Desk at (+251) 11-544-5509.

The library has inter-library loan agreements with many local institutions and is part of several consortiums. Any resource that is not available within the ECA library can be requested through our partners and delivered directly to the requesting patron. Contact us via our Ask a Librarian chat box or call our Reference Desk at (+251) 11-544-5509 to find out more.

The best places to search through our resources are our website and the online public access catalog (OPAC). Books can be checked out through the Circulation Desk, located by the entrance to our facilities. For detailed information regarding borrowing policies and privileges, contact the Circulation Desk at (+251) 11-544-5509 .

Anyone who works at ECA can make use of the library at any time, either in person during working hours or online via our website. External patrons are welcome to access our library during regular working hours. They must check in via Gate 2 of the UN Economic Commission for Africa. A valid form of ID is required as well as a letter from the librarian from his/her home institution or organization describing what resources s/he would like to access. External patrons may also request a pass beforehand by filling out our online form.

It depends. Different patrons have varying degrees of privilege regarding the number of books they may check out and how long they may keep them. For more information, contact us via our Ask a Librarian chat box or call our Reference Desk at (+251) 11-544-5509. In general terms, members of the broader diplomatic community are welcome to borrow resources from the ECA library. External patrons may only access our library’s resources either in person or via our website .

Currently there are no penalties in place for late returns.

There is a penalty for any lost or damaged books, which will include processing fees.

The library has both printing and photocopying services available on the ground floor, right by the main entrance.

Most of our subscriptions are now available via IP access, meaning that patrons do not need a login credential or a password to access our resources; as long as they are accessed from within the ECA compound. If a password is requested when trying to access any of the online databases we subscribe to, please let us know and we'll be glad to help you.

We suggest trying our Ebsco A-Z Journal Finder to see if we have the issues you need in full-text online.
You may also try the online public access catalog (OPAC) to check whether a hard copy is available. Alternatively, if we do not yet carry the journal you are looking for, you may also request it via our Ask a Librarian chat box or by calling our Reference Desk at (+251) 11-544-5509.

The library carries both print and online journal subscriptions. The library’s list of electronic resources is an excellent access point to our extensive online collection. If you don't have a specific journal in mind and are searching by either subject or keyword, you may try Ebscohost , JSTOR or Proquest. If you know the specific name of the journal or magazine you are looking for, we suggest using Ebsco A-Z Journal Finder to see whether we have the issues you need in full-text. Alternatively, if the article or journal you are looking for is not available online, you may also request it via our Ask a Librarian chat box or by calling our Reference Desk at (+251) 11-544-5509.

You can access the ECA library via the ECA website

The central access point for all our physical resources is our online public access catalogue (OPAC) .

You can send your query to our User Services Desk at libservice@uneca.org, visit us in person at the Reference Desk, reach out to us via the Ask a Librarian chat box or even call our Reference Desk at (+251) 11-544-5509 to request help.
We can also come by your office and provide a personalized reference consultation session.

The library strives to provide researchers, students, academics and the general public with all the technical assistance necessary to meet their needs. For inquiries, reach out to us via the Ask a Librarian chat box or by calling our Reference Desk at (+251) 11-544-5509.

Anyone who is within the ECA compound and accessing our website via the ECA’s IP address can make full use of the library’s online subscriptions and resources.