American Centers in Latvia

In 2005, the U.S. Embassy opened two American Centers in Latvia. The "Info USA" Center opened in Liepāja Central Research Library on February 17, and the center at the Latgale Central Library in Daugavpils opened May 23. This project represents an investment of $38,000 in each library, and months of close cooperation between the library staff and the U.S. Embassy's Information Resource Center.

The mission of the centers is to provide accurate and up-to-date information about political, economic, cultural, educational, and social life in the United States. "Info USA" centers are small, American-style libraries created to help increase mutual understanding between Latvia and the United States, to accuratley tell the story of the United States to the Latvian people, to maintain an open dialogue, and to build bridges of understanding.

The centers provide for their visitors free access to books, periodicals, videos, CD-ROMs, and the Internet, and they offer cultural programs such as exhibitions, literary events, film showings, and guest lectures on topics related to American life and culture.