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Elena Goncharova was a deputy director of
the department of literature in foreign languages at the Far
Eastern State Research Library, but after her return from the
USA she became the director of American Corner. It was
officially opened in May 31, 2001 with the assistance of the
US Embassy in Moscow, which successfully introduces programs
of supporting American Information Centers and Corners in
Russia. Such Centers are already functioning in Moscow, St.
Petersburg, Kazan, Novgorod, Novosibirsk, Ufa and in other big
cities of our country.
The opening of American Corner can be called without
exaggeration a historic event for the citizens of Khabarovsk
and Khabarovsky Territory. Before its foundation the
department of literature in foreign languages of the Far
Eastern State Research Library had had the biggest collection
of literature in English, but it had not been able to give
new, reliable and full information about the USA. The few
publications, most of them magazines and newspapers, could not
meet the growing needs of the readers. The latter did not have
the access to the Internet because there were no computers.
Since the opening of American Corner these problems have been
solved.
American Corner is based on the unique collection of new and
various thematic books, video- and audiotapes, CD-ROMs which
contain the information about history, politics, economics,
geography, traditions and culture of this country. This
collection, also, includes wonderful study and methodic
materials on teaching and learning of English. Besides this,
American Corner was presented computers, printers, a TV set, a
VCR and other equipment.
Elena had an important aim to organize work at American
Corner, and she did it successfully.
For about three years American Corner has gained a reputation
of a serious information center where you can get an answer to
any question connected with the USA. Today American Corner
offers its information service to workers of the Government of
Khabarovsky Territory and the city of Khabarovsk, to
businessmen, scientists, school teachers and university
instructors, participants of different exchange programs
between Russia and the USA, students, schoolchildren, and also
to those who are interested in the English language and the
USA
At American Corner visitors of the Far Eastern State Research
Library have an opportunity to work with the information
recorded on CDs, disks, video- and audiotapes, which are in
Russia considered to be “non-traditional”. There is a free
access to the Internet, which is nowadays used by more and
more people who visit American Corner. Here, video classes,
various lectures and seminars are held; two clubs “Discover
America!” and “English Club” work, the city dwellers can meet
and speak with Americans, learn more about the USA and improve
their language.
American Corner provides information about new competitions
and programs, which are provided by IREX, Project Harmony
Inc., Open World, American Councils for International
Education, Fulbright and other organizations. Here everybody
can find program requirements and application forms.
Elena Goncharova constantly increases her professional level
by taking part in library staff meetings, which are held every
year in Moscow with assistance of the US Embassy, American
Information Center in Moscow, and, also “Project Harmony Inc.”
She is a member of the Association of American Centers and
Corners in Russia and, also, a member of the board of the
friendship society: “Russia – USA” in Khabarovsk.
Dealing with different grants became an integral part of
Elena’s work. For example, in February, 2002 Elena attended a
seminar on the topic of filling in application forms for
grants that was organized by IREX and the US Embassy. After
that she, like other participants of this program, got a
target grant for organizing such a seminar in Khabarovsky
territory. In May, 2002 Elena conducted two seminars. The
first one was an outgoing seminar for specialists of three
most problem centralized libraries of Khabarovsky territory (Vyzemsky,
Bikinsky and Lazo territories) and the second one was for
twenty workers from the Far Eastern State Research Library.
Both seminars were highly estimated.
Thanks to the grant awarded by “Project Harmony Inc.”, Elena
and her five colleagues did the course of wed design in 2002,
and as the result of that the site of Khabarovsk American
Corner (http://ac.fessl.ru) was created.
In 2003 thanks to the grant funded by the Association of
American Centers and Corners of Russia two photo exhibitions
“Luis Armstrong – the king of jazz” and “American West –
reality and myths” were organized.
Today American Corner works successfully making bridges
between Russia and America. |
