COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIBRARY

HISTORYPRESENTFUTURE

April 18, 1890 – The delegates to the First International Conference of the American States debated what would be a fitting memorial of the first gathering of representatives from the American Nations. Ambassador, Carlos Martinez Silva, Delegate from Colombia, first introduced the idea of a Library as a Memorial…

…the memorial to be erected ought to be something at once useful and made up of elements, to which each government might contribute independently, [and] it occurred to me that the only plan which would satisfy all these requirements was the establishment in Washington of a memorial Library, to which each government could send, on its own account, the most complete collection possible of historical, literary and geographical works, laws, official reports, maps, etc., so that the results of intellectual and scientific labor in all America might be collected together under a single roof… That would be a monument more lasting and more noble than any in bronze or marble.

COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIBRARY READING ROOM, 1910

The Cornerstone of the Inter-American System

COLLECTIONS MAPS & ATLASES PHOTOGRAPHS LEO S. ROWE COLLECTION PERIODICALS & SERIALS RARE BOOKS GENERAL COLLECTION AUDIO-VISUAL COLLECTIONS

THE ARCHIVES The CML has the largest depository of publications and papers documenting the history and programs of the OAS and its predecessor organizations.

LIBRARY UNITS: CML TECHNICAL SERVICES DOCUMENTS CONTROL ARCHIVES & RECORDS MANAGEMENT REFERENCE & INFORMATION

The CML serves: The OAS Secretariat Permanent and Observer Missions, and Embassies Researchers throughout the Hemisphere and the World Services include: Ask a Librarian Reading Room Research Inter-Library Loans Current Awareness

EXHIBITS The Columbus Memorial Library showcases its rich collection of book, maps, photographs, documents, stamps, archives, etc. by mounting various exhibits throughout the year. COSTA RICA: SU HISTORIA Y CULTURA A TRAVES DE IMAGENES PAN AMERICAN DAY: April 14 COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIGHTHOUSE HOUSE OF THE AMERICAS - CENTENNIAL

TECHNICAL SERVICES ACQUISITIONS UNIT Acquires (by purchase, donations or exchange) all material for use by the OAS. CATALOGUING UNIT Provides electronic access to bibliographic records. Prepares cataloguing data for OAS publications.

RECORDS MANAGEMENT SERVICES The Records Management Center houses current records and permanently valuable archival records of the OAS. DOCUMENTS CONTROL Collection of Documents of the Pan American Union, the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Specialized Organizations, such as: Pan American Health Organization Inter-American Commission on Human Rights Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission *Available for researchers use with advance notice

The World Digital Library (WDL) makes available online, free of charge and in multilingual format, significant primary materials from countries and cultures around the world. The Columbus Memorial Library has contributed photographs to this project and continues to participate in its development. WORLD DIGITAL LIBRARY

CML WEBSITE Includes: Online Catalog Finding Aids Reference Shelf Publications, Exhibits & More

GROUP OF FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY Comprised of Ambassadors of Permanent Missions and Permanent Observer Missions, the Group assists the Columbus Memorial Library in realizing some of its planned activities and in generating enthusiasm for its programs.

Hours of Operation: 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Thursday 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Friday Services Include: Databases, General Information, Research Chief Librarian – Beverly Wharton-Lake Phone: Reference and Information - Stella Villagran Phone: USEFUL INFORMATION Columbus Memorial Library

DECEMBER 1, 4:00 P.M. COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIBRARY 19 TH Street and Constitution Ave. NW JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE