Historical Background

Celebration of the 40th anniversary of the IRC in 2004 (Photo: Folli Teko/US Embassy)

The American Cultural Center was established in 1961. In 1962, a small library designed for American diplomats in Abidjan was created within the Cultural Center. In 1964, the library was opened to the Ivorian public. On July 1, 1974, the American Cultural Center moved from its original location in Plateau to the Cocody neighborhood. This move allowed the library to expand substantially and to provide easier access to the public.  What had started as small embassy library was now a full-service public library with a large reading room and thousands of books.

Here is a timeline of the significant events in the history of the Information Resource Center in Cote d'Ivoire:

1961 : American Cultural Center established

1962 : Library created for diplomats at the Center

1964 : Library opened to the public

1974 : American Cultural Center moves to its own facilties in Cocody

1996 : Automation of the entire collection and the circulation service

1998 : Reference service and outreach activities focusing on the promotion of the IRC resources and services to the target audience

2001 : Creation of the American Cultural Center home page with a section dedicated to the IRC

2004 : Information Technology program, which is a new outreach activity initiated to market the IRC products and services to target audience

2005 : Information Resource Center is relocated in the NEC at Cocody Riviera Golf

2006 : Online Library launched