Surfing U. S. Info at the IRC

Have you ever written a report about the U.S.? You can find information about the U.S. on the Internet or at the library. If you want more specialized data about the U.S.

such as information on laws and treaties, you can use the Information Resource Center (IRC). The IRC is part of the Public Affairs Department of the United States Embassy. It offers information on government, society, culture and every field imaginable concerning the U.S.

The reporters of The UOS Times visited the IRC located in Yongsan-gu, and met with the IRC Director, Kim Su Nam, Ph.D. These days the IRC was quiet after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the states. The U.S. Embassy and the IRC were heavily guarded and the reporters had to pass a metal detector before entering. The inside of the building was also in silence. There were many books, magazines, and computers like at any library.

Ms. Kim gave us a tour of the 130 kinds of periodicals, 4,200 books, newspapers, various kinds of videotapes and CD-ROMs kept in the IRC. You can use these resources during business hours.

All of the information is in English and there are no translators or English-Korean dictionaries. You can also access to it through the IRC website.

One of the most important services that the IRC offers is technical searching.

For example, if you are studying about relations between the U.S. and other countries, you may need datas on treaties and other documents. You can request and receive this information at the IRC. The expert librarians will set you up with excellent data.

According to the IRC director, organizations and university professors use the IRC more often than university students these days. If you really want the best information for your studies about the U.S., the IRC will help you.

Website address - http://usembassy.state.gov/seoul/wwwhk401.html
Tel: (02) 397-4647, 4713, 4732, 4789 and 4662

Kim Soo-jeong
Editor-in-chief
sj11141@hotmail.com
저작권자 © The UOS Times(서울시립대영자신문) 무단전재 및 재배포 금지