American Corner Vanadzor

American Corners Armenia Second Annual Workshop

11:29am 01.10.2007

Ten American Corners Coordinators and Library Directors participated in a two-day annual workshop on September 26-28, 2007 in Tsakhkadzor, Armenia. The coordinators of the four existing Corners in Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor, and Kapan participated in the workshop. The workshop was designed to enrich the participants with a deeper understanding of the American Corners program, as well as bring American Study resources into American Corners practices effectively.

The official agenda started with welcome remarks by U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Tom Mittnacht and Vienna-based Information Resource Officer Bill Middleton.

Yerevan IRC Director Nerses Hayrapetyan gave an overview of the program in Armenia, and later presented his talk on AC reporting issues. IRC assistant Anna Mkrtchyan gave a presentation on U.S. Embassy Information Resource Center databases and Online Resources. PAS Technical Management Assistant Avetik Petrosyan was the keynote presenter of the workshop. His presentation on Mailman -- free software for managing mail lists; was the core of the workshop's program.

U.S. Consul Robin Busse gave a presentation on U.S. Student and Tourist Visas and Diversity Visa program. RA National Assembly library head librarian Fatma Khachatryan led a discussion on some cataloging issues at the American Corners. IRO Bill Middleton gave presentations on different topics including How to Write a Good Highlight and the use and usage of ACSTAFF_L mailing list. Presentations by IREX, ACCELS, and a Peace Corps representative were also important parts of the workshop agenda.

All participants were enthusiastic about the workshop, and said that they came away from it with an increased understanding of the American Corners program, a greater sense of cooperation with their Corner colleagues, and renewed energy for Corners programming.

In the workshop's closing remarks, IRO Bill Middleton and CAO Susan Bridenstine expressed their deep appreciation to the American Corners Coordinators and the Library Directors for their contribution to the overall success of the American Corners Program in Armenia.