Latest embassy news

The U.S. Embassy Library Organizes a Two-day American Corner Coordinators Workshop

In order to provide more adequate tools to American Corner (AC) coordinators as well as to managers of the planned American shelves, The Information Resource Center of the Public Affairs Section organized a workshop on November 26 to 28, 2007 with Information Resource Officer Anne Johnson from Accra, Ghana, as lead trainer.  The participants came from five provinces of Cameroon (North, East, Center, Littoral and South-West). In his inauguration address, Public Affairs Officer Lonnie Kelley explained what the planned American shelves will be and how they will, along with the three American Corners existing, contribute to strengthen cultural dialogue between the peoples of Cameroon and the United States. The training covered several topics including an overview of American Corners as well as of the Public Affairs Section and Public Diplomacy as a concept, Educational Advising issues and Student Visa issues, an overview of American history, government, society and values, answering reference queries, the use of the InfoUSA CD in American Corners, programming issues, fund raising, etc.

The training gave all AC coordinators an opportunity, for the first time, to meet and discuss about setting up a national network that will include managers of American shelves and other partner institutions. One participant exclaimed at the end of the session: “I had up to now been merely managing a stock of books, periodicals and CD-ROMs and not an American Corner. I now better understand what is expected from me”. The impact of the workshop will most certainly be translated into increased programming of activities over the next few months. (photo Gallery)