Soon after the first session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa in January 1959, a Library was established to serve the needs of the Commission's secretariat. A comprehensive list of all the publications concerning Africa available at the U.N. Headquarters Library in New York was prepared as a basis for the acquisition of material. Lists were also drawn up of the government publications required from each individual country, dating back to 1950 (1958 for annuals and periodicals), and these were obtained from the governments concerned. Constant contact is maintained with them, to keep the collection up to date. Non-government publications were purchased through the Headquarters Library during the first four years. Since 1963, the Library has placed orders through booksellers in each country in Africa, and a few others elsewhere. A full list of booksellers in Africa is now being compiled, and will be published as soon as possible.