AMBASSADORS LIBRARY DEDICATED AT THE EMBASSY OF LIBERIA IN WASHINGTON DC

A new Library to help Liberians and other nationals do research on Liberia’s relations with the United States has been established at the Chancery of the Embassy of Liberia in Washington DC. The idea of a Research Library at the Embassy, called “Ambassadors Library” was initiated by Ambassador Charles Alexander Minor in 2005, during a breakfast meeting in Washington DC for the Embassy staff, Former Ambassadors of Liberia to the United States, and friends of the Embassy. They all welcomed the idea, and promised support and voluntary services for its implementation.

The Library was dedicated on February 16, 2007 by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who was in the United States for Liberia's Partnership Forum and the Liberia Private Sector Investment meeting. During the dedicatory program, Ambassador Minor said the Library will have collection of archival materials, historical and current documentations, papers and documents on Liberia-US relations, and speeches of Presidents, and Liberian Ambassadors to the United States. Ambassador Minor added that other materials including collections of supplementary materials on diplomacy, international relations, protocols, and writings on the Liberian Civil War will also be part of the Library’s huge collections. The Library is now open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2PM to 5PM. While the Library is open, a staff librarian will always be on hand to assist researchers, answer questions, and to ensure the appropriate management of the Library.

This specialized non-circulating reference Library will be operated under the close supervision and guidance of a Board, with the current Ambassador as Ex-officio. All previous Liberian Ambassadors assigned to the United States and also the current Ambassador are patrons of the Library, and they are encouraged to donate documents related to their tenure, as well as pertinent materials, funds, and services. The Library has a collection of nearly Two Hundred books on Public diplomacy, Liberia-US relations, the Liberian Civil War and politics; and hundreds of ephemeral materials. The Library is still receiving donations of books, financial contributions and other materials within the confines of its objectives for its operations.

The occasion was also used to dedicate a staff launch at the Embassy named after Former Vice president of Liberia, “The Harry F. Moniba Launch”.

President Sirleaf accompanied by a high powered delegation toured the Library and the Harry F. Moniba Launch.