American Information Center
American Information Center Official Opening
Official launch of the American Information Center (AIC) on February 27, 2003! Ambassador Wanda Nesbitt, Malagasy audience members and officers from the US Mission in Antananarivo and Embassy staff attended the ceremony. Located at the Embassy Annex building, just a block away from the Embassy, the AIC is a modern information resource center born of the traditional library well known to many in the former American Cultural Center in Ambohidahy. Not only has the AIC changed its location but also its focus from a lending library to an information resource center.
The AIC contributes to the advancement the of the U.S Mission goals in Madagascar by increasing knowledge and awareness of American policies, government, institutions, and society and topics relevant to US-Malagasy relations. It does so by responding to inquiries from our audience and by information promotion services through training, outside presentations, public exhibition or by providing background information on specific topics. Soon the AIC will provide even more information to its audience on a regular basis.
It serves the Malagasy Government, the Senate, the Parliament members, businesses and economic operators, researchers and academicians, Democracy and Human Rights groups, civic education groups, health and environment entities, local NGOS and Associations, the US Mission, journalists and a range of Malagasy audience with an interest to the United States.
With this change in focus, the former American Cultural Center library circulating collection was disseminated to over 35 Malagasy institutions including libraries in Antananarivo (National Library in Anosy, ENAM Androhibe, Municipal Library in Analakely, and University Library (B.U) Ankatso as well as in the provinces in 2001. The AIC no longer lends books but instead has a critical reference collection of over 700 books, 8 periodicals, government and commercial online databases, unlimited Internet access, videos and CD-ROMs.