Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
03ZAGREB2670 | 2003-12-22 14:12:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Zagreb |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available. |
UNCLAS ZAGREB 002670 |
1. DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITY: EACH YEAR, THE CROATIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION HOLDS ROUND TABLE TALKS WHICH FOCUS ON A TOPIC OF CURRENT INTEREST. THIS YEAR, THE TALKS WERE DEDICATED TO THE ISSUE OF FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATION. PA ZAGREB BROUGHT U.S. SPEAKER FRANK KURT CYLKE, DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICES FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED (NLS), U.S. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, TO BE THE KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE EVENT. CYLKE ALSO SPOKE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB AND VISITED THE ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND DURING HIS VISIT TO ZAGREB. 2. DATE: DECEMBER 9-13, 2003; FY04; QUARTER: 1ST 3. JUSTIFICATION AND OBJECTIVE: THE CROATIAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION'S COMMITTEE FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATION, IN COOPERATION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB, SPONSORED THE THIRD ROUND TABLE TALKS WHOSE THEME THIS YEAR WAS "FREE ACCESS FOR ALL CITIZENS". THE COMMITTEE WAS INTERESTED IN HAVING AN AMERICAN SPEAKER ON THIS TOPIC BECAUSE OF THE U.S.'S EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE IN THIS FIELD. POST SOUGHT TO REINFORCE THE IDEA, STILL NEW IN CROATIA, THAT ALL CITIZENS HAVE THE SAME RIGHT OF ACCESS TO INFORMATION. 4. MPP STRATEGIC GOAL AND AUDIENCE REACHED: MPP GOAL: U.S. SOCIETY AND VALUES. AUDIENCE: OVER 100 CROATIAN LIBRARIANS PUBLIC AND SPECIAL LIBRARIES FROM THROUGHOUT CROATIA; STAFF AND MEMBERS FROM THE CENTRAL LIBRARY FOR THE BLIND, LIBRARY SCIENCE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS. 5. RESULT/IMPACT: EXCELLENT: ON DECEMBER 10, CYLKE DELIVERED THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS AT THE "ROUND TABLE TALKS," IN WHICH HE SPOKE ABOUT THE IDEA OF FREE ACCESS TO INFORMATION IN LIBRARIES FOR USERS WHO ARE BLIND AND/OR PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED. IN ADDITION, DURING HIS DECEMBER 9-13 VISIT, CYLKE ALSO GAVE A LECTURE TO OVER 40 LIBRARY SCIENCE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS AND PROFESSORS, IN WHICH HE OUTLINED THE SERVICES AND WORKING METHODS OF THE NATIONAL LIBRARY SERVICE FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED, AND SPOKE AT THE ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND AND MET WITH ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATIVES. THE PRESENTATION OF SUCH EXTENSIVE SERVICES AND WIDE ACCESS TO INFORMATION FOR THE BLIND WAS NEW TO CROATIANS, ALTHOUGH GOVERNMENT AND EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT FOR THE BLIND HAS EXISTED IN CROATIA SINCE THE MID- 1800'S. AT ALL VENUES, CYLKE WAS APPROACHABLE AND KNOWLEDGABLE, CLEARLY AN EXPERT IN HIS FIELD WHO RELISHES HIS PROFESSION. ALREADY, REPRESENTATIVES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES WHO ATTENDED THE ROUND TABLE TALKS HAVE ASKED US HOW TO CONTACT HIM, BECAUSE THEY WANT TO INVITE HIM TO SPEAK AT THEIR UPCOMING EVENTS. 6. NON USG SOURCES OF IN-COUNTRY FUNDING: THE LIBRARIANS' ASSOCATION HOSTED A DINNER. 7. QUALITY AND SUPPORT OF IIP OFFICES INVOLVED: EXCELLENT. FRANK NNNN |