U.S. Embassy Information Resource Center

Purpose

The Center was opened in 1984 to provide a place for exchange of information on the U.S. as well as to strengthen Mozambican-American cultural links. Our Information Resource Center (IRC), the Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, was established in January 1993 and seeks to provide books for loan related to the United States, literature by American authors and an extensive collection of popular and professional magazines and serials for consultation at the IRC. Members are offered free access to the Internet via the IRCs computers; prior registration for 60-minute time slots is requested. Members can only read, download* and print* from the Internet, no e-mail service is provided.

The IRC is open to the general public, by appointment, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 0900 - 1700 and Wednesday 0900 - 1700 (open only to journalists, American citizens and special appointments) and Friday 0900 - 1100 (open only to journalists, American citizens and special appointments). We also serve out-of-town queries sent by fax, e-mail or letter.

Membership

Membership is open to all residents of Mozambique who are 18 years of age or older. Applicants will be asked to complete a form, agree to comply with library regulations and present official identification (registration card, passport, or school registration card). Upon receipt of their membership card, IRC members can make appointments to use the IRC and borrow books and videos. Cards are valid for two years. Members are asked to notify the librarian immediately if a card is lost or their address changes. Members are not permitted to allow others to use their library cards.

Reference Service

Trained staff are available during library hours to answer questions and assist in selecting materials. Please feel free to ask for assistance.

The library can assist academic, government or business researchers in obtaining detailed information from the United States such as copies of speeches and reports, details of legislation and articles from periodicals which are not available in Maputo. Researchers are asked to place their requests well in advance of the date information is needed.

Periodicals

The library receives a number of magazines and newspapers for the reference and has access to over 2,000 others on CD-ROM's. Periodicals include newsmagazines and specialty magazines dealing with art, music, culture, foreign affairs, business, education and sports. We receive International Herald Tribune and the Chronicle of Higher Education. Same day reference to hundreds of U.S. newspapers such as New York Times and Washington Post is available via Internet.

Books

Up to three books may be borrowed for a period of two weeks. Books may be renewed for an additional period of two weeks provided they have not been requested by another patron.

Books and materials currently on loan may be reserved at the loans desk. A notice will be sent to members making such requests as soon as the material is available.

Video Library

The library also has a lending collection of educational videotapes in English. Patrons and institutions may borrow one tape at a time for a period of three days. Special requests for extended loan periods and special group showings will be considered individually. Failure to return tapes to the library in good time and condition or to comply with the library's regulations will result in forfeiture of loan privileges. Special notification service for news worthy videotaped programs is available.