Current Press Releases

US Embassy Launches American Shelf at Kissy Library

Freetown
October 18, 2007
Contact: Public Affairs Officer: Danna Van Brandt
Tel: 515000

The U.S. Embassy Chargé d’Affaires ad interim, Ms. Elizabeth Susie Pratt, launched the American Shelves Program at the Kissy Library on Thursday, October 18, 2007.  The American Shelves concept is derived from the widely successful American Corners, a partnership between Public Affairs sections of U.S. Embassies and host institutions.  The Shelf at Kissy Library will join the American Corner at the Bo Regional Library, the first partnership in Sierra Leone.

Through the American Shelves program, the U.S. Embassy will provide books, periodicals, and other materials to the library to place in a particular part of the library, which will be known as the American Shelf.  The relationship between the Embassy and the host institution, however, will extend far beyond the provision of materials to include joint programming and mutual support in the coming years.

According to the Chargé of the U.S. Embassy, “American libraries have a long tradition in many countries all over the world, and we are excited to be extending that tradition here.”  The staff of the Kissy Library will maintain ownership of the management of the shelf, and the collection will be free and open to all interested citizens.  The United States Embassy is pleased today to officially launch what we hope will be an enduring friendship.