Embassy of the United States Yerevan, Armenia

The Information Resource Center (IRC) of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan was opened in 1996.

The IRC provides fast, accurate, and objective reference services on the U.S. foreign policy agenda, economic perspectives, issues of democracy, global issues, and U.S. society values to the U.S. mission, Armenian government officials, journalists, non-governmental organizations, universities and businesses.

The IRC has access to the most advanced sources of information and the United States in Armenia, including access to major U.S. data sources, CD-ROMs, on-line databases, Internet sites as well as over 1,000 non-circulating reference books and American periodicals both in printed and electronic format.

The IRC staff conducts extensive outreach on a range of U.S. subjects for the U.S. mission, Armenian government officials, parliamentarians, NGOs, media representatives, the academic community and faculty.

Open for public access: Monday through Friday 13:00-18:00, closed on official embassy holidays.

Daily e-mail outreach on the topics of U.S. foreign policy, economic, civic and democracy issues is available for the members of mailing lists compiled by the IRC reference specialists.

The IRC has approximately 1,000 books and more than 50 periodical subscriptions, and offers up-to-date reference services including computer databases, CD-ROM, and Internet access.

The materials and services available in the IRC provide basic information about American society, history, government, and culture. This information is supplied within the goal of strengthening democratic institutions and a market economy in Armenia.

Resources

U.S. Government Publications

The IRC materials provide information about all spheres of activity of the American Government, statistical reports, and selected texts of regulations and laws.

The IRC offers government documents published by and about governing institutions such as the Congress, the Office of the President and the offices of the executive branch, the United States Supreme Court, independent agencies, state and local governments, political parties, and other institutions active in the political life of the United States.

IRC Electronic Catalog

An online access to IRC Core Collection. The books and periodicals collection provides information about American politics and government, history, culture, and society. It covers a wide range of subjects such as economics, international relations, education, ecology, etc. Search over 1,000 titles in one easy-to-use database. Anyone can search all the records in our electronic catalog immediately and without any charge, with no need to register or obtain a password. You will be connected initially to Basic Search, which is easy to use. Bibliographic records provide complete cataloging information for each book, including images of a book cover. Search by Subject, Format (books, periodicals, other media) and Keywords.

Services

Circulation: All materials are for on-site usage only.

Reference

The IRC staff assists patrons in locating information about United States Government agencies, American institutions, and U.S. foreign and domestic policies, as well as specific documentation and legistative developments about social, economic, political, and security issues. Inquiries may be made in person or by fax, electronic email, or telephone to the numbers listed below.

Electronic Outreach

The Information Resource Center staff is able to provide you with free-of-charge daily electronic services by sending you selected Washington File articles on political, economic, global, democracy and human rights issues. IRC staff also provides Armenian and regional news completed from Factiva Online.

If you're interested to become a subscriber for any of the mentioned topics, please fill out an IRC Users Registration Form (PDF 18 KB).

IRC Programs

The IRC staff will gladly arrange special orientation programs for groups of IRC users, to demonstrate use of electronic databases and other tools and to provide specific information or services.

Fees

Use of books and in-house databases as well as printing and copying of the materials is free of charge.

The IRC resources are available by appointment to Armenian government institutions, local media, teachers, and persons with a serious interest in the United States. The IRC is open Monday to Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and closed on U.S. and Armenian holidays.

IRC Recommends

Books That Shaped America

The Library of Congress, the world’s largest repository of knowledge and information, began a multiyear “Celebration of the Book” with an exhibition on “Books That Shaped America.” The initial books in the exhibition are displayed below.

“This list is a starting point,” said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. “It is not a register of the ‘best’ American books – although many of them fit that description. Rather, the list is intended to spark a national conversation on books written by Americans that have influenced our lives, whether they appear on this initial list or not.”

Source: http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/books-that-shaped-america/#0