2004 Press Releases

State Scientific Library in Košice Will Be First in Slovakia to Host "InfoUSA" Center

Joint press release

Bratislava, January 9, 2004

On January 13, Barbara Zigli, Public Affairs Officer at the U.S. Embassy in Bratislava, and JUDr. Ján Gašpar, Director of the State Scientific Library in Košice will sign a Memorandum of Understanding to establish an American information and cultural center called "InfoUSA-Košice" within the library.

The mission of the center will be to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Slovakia by providing information about the U.S. and serving as a focal point for American cultural programs. The proposed timeframe for opening InfoUSA-Košice to the public is late spring this year.

U.S. Steel Košice has generously agreed to renovate two rooms for InfoUSA-Košice in the former palace that houses the State Scientific Library. The U.S. Embassy will provide a core collection of information materials valued at $18,000, consisting of the latest books, CD ROMs, DVDs, and videos on topics including American studies, English teaching, culture and arts, politics, law, and business. The Embassy will also provide equipment for the center, including computers, photocopying equipment and DVD/video machines. The State Scientific Library will provide space as well as a librarian fluent in both English and Slovak to assist visitors in using the center's resources.

Access to InfoUSA-Košice for library patrons will be free of charge and open to all. The public is invited to share ideas for programming at InfoUSA-Košice.

Suggestions can be e-mailed to: arc@usembassy.sk