Embassy News
Information Resource Officer Shares Practical Tips with Librarians in Ferghana and Tashkent (11/21/2008)
From November 14-21, the U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section welcomed to Uzbekistan Information Resource Officer Mary Nell Bryant from the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC. She is an expert in library science and information technology topics, and supports U.S. Information Resource Centers (IRC) throughout South and Central Asia.
During her busy visit, Ms. Bryant traveled to Urgench, Khiva, Samarkand, and Ferghana. She toured libraries in Samarkand and Ferghana, meeting with local librarians. She also explained how libraries can expand their programming and outreach via Web 2.0 to 50 librarians and students in Ferghana, and to 100 librarians and students from throughout the country who gathered at the National Library in Tashkent. She displayed example websites from various U.S. libraries, demonstrating how this user-friendly technology helps libraries become true community centers. She highlighted that the interactive nature of the Web 2.0 allows for immediate feedback from members on library activities. She shared very practical tips on how best to use technology in a library -- organize information (RSS feeds), use free catalogue software (www.librarything.com), contact members (Facebook), establish new programs (virtual book clubs), etc. The librarians appreciated the opportunity to interact with this expert on these interactive technology tools.
Arriving shortly after the U.S. Presidential Election, Ms. Bryant also outlined the “next steps” or “what comes next” in the peaceful transition in the White House. She shared this information at the Embassy’s monthly PressGap (gathering of Uzbek journalists) and weekly Chai Chat English Conversation Club. She shared her impressions of the vibrant electoral process, noting that each U.S. state runs its election slightly differently. For example, some states allow early voting. Ms. Bryant highlighted the role that volunteers play -- from Republican and Democratic parties alike -- to “get out the vote” and encourage voters to support their candidate. In closing she added that all newspapers in the Washington, DC area quickly sold out the day after the election. She had not seen this before. It was a clear example of how closely everyone was following this historic U.S. Presidential Election.