Beginning a few weeks ago, the Thurgood Marshall Information Resource Center (IRC) after receiving intensive training provided by visiting Information Resource Officer (IRO) Stephen Mallinger began an aggressive campaign to explain the resources available through the American Embassy.

The relocation of the American Center in Conakry to the new embassy compound left many with the impression that IRC services were no longer available.  To combat this perception, the IRC developed a plan to reach out to the Guinean community.  As a first step the IRC identified three organizations to invite to the initial orientation offerings. They were the directors and staff of the archivists from the office of the Presidency, the information specialists from the government owned national television and radio station (RTG), and the information specialists from the National Assembly. Later, the IRC staff followed up with regularly scheduled library orientations for new members and another group of information specialists from the University of Conakry including the Director of the University Information Resource Center and 4 of her assistants.

For what was for many the first occasion to visit the new embassy compound, the introductory training on IRC resources covered the use of the Internet in modern libraries; a web search demonstration on U.S. Department of State websites like USInfo, the IRC Portal, Bunch Library and www.state.gov for English language resources; and the research and information services of the IRC. The visitors also received library membership cards and were shown how to obtain an email account. Following the demonstrations, the staff and visitors held roundtable meetings on developing effective mutual collaboration especially in providing information on different issues of interest including U.S. and Guinean treaties, statistics on HIV/AIDS, and U.S. Foreign Policy to West Africa.

The overwhelmingly positive response to this training was shown by each of the groups drawing very similar conclusions. All expressed an urgent need for continuing training in this area, wished to send more of their staff for orientation, and made suggestions for other training targets.

In celebration of the Fourth of July, the American Independence Day, the Thurgood Marshall Information Resource Center gave away two books on the United States through a drawing open to all members of the IRC. On July 5th, Public Affairs Officer (PAO) Andrew Mclean picked the winning entries.

Mr. Elhadj Boubacar Barry from the Public University of Conakry, Gamal Abdel Nasser, won the first book entitled “1001 raisons d’aimer l’Amérique”, and Mr. Elhadj Saikou Yaya Diallo from the University of Sonfonia won the second one entitled “Harley – Davidson, le centenaire”. Over 150 members participated in the raffle. The books were presented to the winners by APAO Kim Crawford Lueders on July 5th and 9th in the IRC with several IRC members.