Information Resource Center
The Information Resource Center (IRC) of the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan was opened in 1996.
The IRC provides fast, accurate, and objective reference services on the U.S. foreign policy agenda, economic perspectives, issues of democracy, global issues, and U.S. society values to the U.S. mission, Armenian government officials, journalists, non-governmental organizations, universities and businesses.
The IRC has access to the most advanced sources of information and the United States in Armenia, including access to major U.S. data sources, CD-ROMs, on-line databases, Internet sites as well as over 1,000 non-circulating reference books and American periodicals both in printed and electronic format.
The IRC staff conducts extensive outreach on a range of U.S. subjects for the U.S. mission, Armenian government officials, parliamentarians, NGOs, media representatives, the academic community and faculty.
Open for public access: Monday through Friday 13:00-18:00, closed on official embassy holidays.
Daily e-mail outreach on the topics of U.S. foreign policy, economic, civic and democracy issues from America.gov Current Issues is available for the members of mailing lists compiled by the IRC reference specialists.
The IRC has approximately 1,000 books and more than 50 periodical subscriptions, and offers up-to-date reference services including computer databases, CD-ROM, and Internet access.
The materials and services available in the IRC provide basic information about American society, history, government, and culture. This information is supplied within the goal of strengthening democratic institutions and a market economy in Armenia.
Resources
U.S. Government Publications
Please take a minute to read a newly released eJournal from the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Supreme Court: Equal Justice Under Law.
The IRC materials provide information about all spheres of activity of the American Government, statistical reports, and selected texts of regulations and laws.
The IRC offers government documents published by and about governing institutions such as the Congress, the Office of the President and the offices of the executive branch, the United States Supreme Court, independent agencies, state and local governments, political parties, and other institutions active in the political life of the United States.
IRC Electronic Catalog
An online access to IRC Core Collection. The books and periodicals collection provides information about American politics and government, history, culture, and society. It covers a wide range of subjects such as economics, international relations, education, ecology, etc. Search over 1,000 titles in one easy-to-use database. Anyone can search all the records in our electronic catalog immediately and without any charge, with no need to register or obtain a password. You will be connected initially to Basic Search, which is easy to use. Bibliographic records provide complete cataloging information for each book, including images of a book cover. Search by Subject, Format (books, periodicals, other media) and Keywords.
Services
Circulation: All materials are for on-site usage only.
Reference
The IRC staff assists patrons in locating information about United States Government agencies, American institutions, and U.S. foreign and domestic policies, as well as specific documentation and legistative developments about social, economic, political, and security issues. Inquiries may be made in person or by fax, electronic email, or telephone to the numbers listed below.
Electronic Outreach
The Information Resource Center staff is able to provide you with free-of-charge daily electronic services by sending you selected Washington File articles on political, economic, global, democracy and human rights issues. IRC staff also provides Armenian and regional news completed from Factiva Online.
If you're interested to become a subscriber for any of the mentioned topics, please fill out an IRC Users Registration Form (PDF).
IRC Programs
The IRC staff will gladly arrange special orientation programs for groups of IRC users, to demonstrate use of electronic databases and other tools and to provide specific information or services.
Fees
Use of books and in-house databases as well as printing and copying of the materials is free of charge.
The IRC resources are available by appointment to Armenian government institutions, local media, teachers, and persons with a serious interest in the United States. The IRC is open Monday to Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. and closed on U.S. and Armenian holidays.
IRC Recommends
The following is a list of 100 milestone documents, compiled by the National Archives and Records Administration, and drawn primarily from its nationwide holdings. The documents chronicle United States history from 1776 to 1965.