The Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Division The African Section
The African Section in the Library of Congress The African Section in the Library of Congress is one of three units of the African and Middle Eastern Division (AMED). Established in 1960, the Section is the focal point of the library s reference and bibliographic activities for the countries of sub- Saharan Africa (excluding the North African countries of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia).
The African Section in the Library of Congress The African Section plays a vital role in supporting the Library s acquisition and collection development activities. Additionally, the Section performs the following functions: Provides reference and bibliographic services to members of Congress and other government agencies, commercial organizations, the scholarly community and the general public Prepares general and topical bibliographic guides to the Library s vast Africana resources Develops cultural and scholarly programs, special events, and other outreach activities. Maintains liaison with scholars and librarians in the United States, Europe, and Africa
The African Section in the Library of Congress For historical as well as contemporary research studies on the sub-saharan African countries, the Library s Africana (materials from or relating to Africa) collections have long been recognized as one of the most comprehensive in the world.
The African Section in the Library of Congress Research materials on sub-saharan Africa include every major field of study representing the humanities, arts, and social sciences (excluding technical agriculture and clinical medicine). Subject strengths within the Africana collections are in languages, literature, history, politics, government, and economics.
The African Section in the Library of Congress The collection s diverse formats include: Monographs Newspapers Periodicals Official government and international documents (including legislative and parliamentary documents, statistical reports, policy and administrative documents, etc.)
The African Section in the Library of Congress In addition, the collection contains: Films, video and sound recordings Manuscripts Maps and atlases Microforms Prints and photographs CD-ROMs and other materials in electronic formats
The African Section in the Library of Congress Materials are acquired via several channels, including: Purchase Copyright Exchange Gift The Library s field office in Nairobi, Kenya acquires materials from Eastern, Central and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean Island.
The African Section in the Library of Congress Services of the African Section are provided by area (country) specialists who have responsibilities for providing assistance in locating research materials for a particular linguistic or geographic region.
The African Section in the Library of Congress Staff members consult with researchers and visitors, answer queries received by telephone, fax, and electronic mail, and reply to correspondence from all over the world Additionally, staff members offer, via appointment, group and individual briefings on countries and subjects (both onsite and on location).
The African Section in the Library of Congress Researchers are able to access the Library s Africana holdings through various online utilities such as the Research Libraries Information Network (RLIN) and OCLC WorldCat, or by directly accessing the Library of Congress Online Catalog through the internet. http://www.catalog.loc.gov
The African Section in the Library of Congress Guides and Reference Tools In the African and Middle Eastern Reading Room, researchers may consult an extensive collection of specialized guides and reference materials which provide brief factual information or references to more detailed sources of information.
The African Section in the Library of Congress These resources include: General and subject bibliographies and indexes Dictionaries and encyclopedias Handbooks and directories Catalogs of library collections Current Issues of Selected Periodicals
The African Section in the Library of Congress Guides and Reference Tools Additionally, the reading room offers access to the Library s online catalog, various databases providing sources of information on the African countries, and Internet access.
Guides and Reference Tools A sampling of selected African business information reference and research tools accessible in the African and Middle Eastern reading room follows:
The African Section in the Library of Congress African and Middle Eastern Reading Room Website http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/amed
African and Middle Eastern Reading Room