ARTHUR R. ASHE, JR. FALL 19'J5 FOREIGN POLICY LIBRARY UPDATE TRANSAFRICA FORUM • 1744 R Street, NW • Washington, DC 20009 • 202-797"2301 • 202-797-5968fax • e-mail:[email protected] OVERVIEW Since its opening in August 1993, the Arthur R. Ashe, Jr. Foreign Policy Library has served as the centerpiece of TransAfrica Forum's historic land­ mark building in Washington's Dupont Circle em­ bassy section. Dedicated to the memory of the tennis champion Arthur Ashe, an active member of Trans­ Africa Forum's Board of Directors, the Ashe Li­ brary remains the only African American library whose collection focuses on U.S. foreign policy to­ wards Africa and the Caribbean. In our increasingly interdependent global econ­ omy, Americans need authentic information about Africa and the Caribbean. Over the past two years, this unique library has become a respected resource for foreign policy experts, students, educators, and the public at large. This publication provides an update on the Ashe Library's progress in the past two years. The staff is dedicated to serving the public by providing materi­ als and resources that will empower our users with the information needed in their efforts to learn about and support Africa and the Caribbean. • Ashe Library materials include a one-of-a-kind repository of books, serials, monographs, audiovisual materials, archival collections, important policy documents, and specialized automated resources. They present accurate, current, and comprehen­ sive information about the countries in Africa and the Caribbean and related foreign policy issues. • Ashe library services insure on-going support for our users, with specialized reference assistance for students and teachers. These services include personalized, professional research; access to internal and online databases; participation in an inter­ library loan network; and the automated transfer of information. • Ashe library outreach programs foster interest in global affairs through creative events and services. Programs include an array of Afrocentric lectures, exhibits, and other events that create opportunities for academic and cultural interaction between Americans and peoples from Africa and the diaspora. • Ashe library staff work diligently to provide a quality, special library by endeavoring to meet the collective needs of those they serve. Each staff person is dedicated to fulfilling individual reference needs, to effectively maintaining the current collection, and to enhancing the collection to reflect an ever-increasing variety of resources. • The Ashe libran1 Socierv of Friends allows individuals and organizations to contribute annually to the library. Private donations and volunteer services support the library's collections and programs, strengthen the efforts of the staff, and insure a maximum level of information and services to the local, national, and international community. LIBRARY SERVICES OUTREACH PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES Open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, Given the dearth of information available on Africa and the Ashe Library meets patrons' research needs when they the Caribbean, . the Ashe Library engages in community and contact the library in person, by telephone, by facsimile, by educational programs to enrich the knowledge base of stu­ mail, or via e-mail. Since its opening almost 5,000 persons dents and staff of the District of Columbia Public Schools, as have used the library's facilities, with a dramatic increase well as Ashe Library patrons and the general public. The during the first six months of 1995. Ashe Library addresses the needs and interests of a broad audience, from grade school children to business profession­ Open access is encouraged for students of the District of als and scholars. These programs and activities are popular Columbia and area public and private schools, from elemen­ and always well-attended. tary through high school grades. Special programs are held periodically for younger children who tour the facility. During the past two years, the library has hosted presenta­ tions by a distinguished roster of speakers, including: Other Ashe Library services include the following: • Nii Akuetteh, Ghanaian foreign policy analyst • Individual research assistance • Maya Angelou, acclaimed author, playwright, poet, and • Group research assistance training drama producer • Purchase suggestions • Charles Cobb, Jr .. National Geographic Mag{dlle • Bibliographies • Anne-christine d' Adesky, Hailian political ac1ivis1 • Ready reference information • Basil Davidson, respected author/ Africa historian • Photocopying facilities • Melvin Foote, Director, Constituency for Africa • Announcements of special events • Tours and iopical discussions with staff • Bill Grimmette, storyteller • Gay McDougall, International Law Group on Human Rights THE COLLECTION • William Minter, author and expert on Mozambique • Kenneth Mokoena, National Security Archives • George Moose, Assistant Secretary of State for African The library houses more than 4,000 works written in ·Affairs English. Materials written in other languages, including in­ digenous languages throughout the diaspora, will be added in • Diva Moreira, Afro-Brazilian political scientist the future. More than half of the books in the collection were • Emmanuel Ngwainmbi, telecommunications in Africa published in the last ten years. Titles in the collection are • Wole Soyinka, Nobel Prize-winning Nigerian author often unavailable at other local institutions, keeping the li­ • Susan Taylor, Editor-in-Chief, Essence Magazine brary '.s materials in demand. In addition to books, the collec­ tion includes: African World Presentations • Periodica·ls and journals • Government documents and institutional publications African World presentations include vocal and instru­ • News clippings mental music, art, craft exhibits, ethnic foods, and oral pre­ • Special collections of rare books sentations about the cultures of the featured country or group. • Maps and photographs Presentations have featured Zambia, Haiti, Ghana, and the • Audio and video recordings women of Africa and are always well-received. • Materials available through interlibrary loan • TransAfrica Forum archival materials Other Programs • Film series featuring controversial issues in three countries and RECORDS MANAGEMENT produced by African filmmakers • Art exhibits featuring works of African artists and craftsmen The library has a project to archive and store the history • Business institutes featuring guidelines for effective planning of TransAfrica and TransAfrica Forum. This Records Man­ for business opportunities in three African countries agement Project entails standardized classification for filing, • Holiday gift book fairs featuring books from and about Africa and the Caribbean for families scoring, and accessing TransAfrica Forum's records, a bene­ • The African Youth Exchange foatures a pen pal program be­ fit to staff and researchers. tween American and African/Caribbean children and youth, between individuals and classroom groups Materials covered are correspondence, documents, press releases, repons, marketing and publicity materials, tran­ Informational programs for students in local public scriptions of meetings reflecting the organization's history, schools and area colleges and universities, as well as local etc. The project should be completed by mid-year 1996. · organizations, are regularly scheduled throughout the year. ONLINE DATABASE around the country. In addition to the support of staff in day­ to-day operations, they maintain the news clipping files, or­ Access to online databases allows the Ashe Library to ganize Archives Room materials, and document incoming broaden its service base by acquiring more information and periodicals and journals. With other TransAfrica Forum in­ serving more patrons. The library presently accesses Internet terns, they assist in the preparation of materials for Trans­ through America Online and a local library network, CAP­ Africa Forum education campaigns, research information for CON. Specialized information is also available through DIA­ staff publications and presentations at meetings and Congres­ LOG and Congressional Quarterly's Washington Alert. sional hearings, and attend programs and conferences that address TransAfrica Forum issues. Sharing information about issues, activities, and publica­ tions is crucial to the mission of TransAfrica Forum. Routine searches relate to current Forum issues and research needs ASHE LIBRARY STAFF for doctoral students and visiting scholars. Present online capabilities are used by the staff for: As the Ashe library Director, Satia Marshall Orange • Shared cataloging resources with other U.S. libraries for new administers the general and specialized operations, services, acquisitions and programs of the library. She works with ocher staff to • Access to specialized databases for unusual topics satisfy patron requests and fills online requests. She reviews • Access to Congressional databases for up-to-date information publication resources and requests from patrons and staff, about the latest developments on legislation, hearings, etc. · consults with the administration of TransAfrica Forum to • Interlibrary loan for titles in other locations • Internet access for news and information resources address their library service needs, and selects titles and • · E-mail communication with library users, as well as other li­ other resources for acquisitions. Ms. Orange meets with braries, concerning research requests