RESOURCES
American Reference Center
Who We Are
The American Reference Center in Nairobi, Kenya is a specialized reference and research facility. Our purpose is to provide accurate, up-to-date information and background about the United States and about topics that are important to both Kenya and the U.S.
The Center serves Kenyan government officials, members of Parliament, University students, the judiciary, journalists, educators, economists, business and health professionals, NGOs, and individuals with an interest in the United States. Collections and research activities focus on the following subjects:
- U.S. Society, Institutions, and Values
- Democracy and Governance
- Human Rights
- Economic and Trade Issues
- Health and HIV/AIDS
- Law, Legislation, and Justice
- Media & Information Technology
Resources
The Center has approximately 4,500 books, 35 periodical, newspaper subscriptions,video cassettes, CDS, DVDS, full Internet access, and a variety of online resources, including:
- Electronic Journals
- Policy Databases
- Government and Think Tank Reports
- CD-ROM Encyclopedias & Phone Directories
- JSTOR
- Communication & Mass Media Complete
Databases available to ARC Staff
Staff at the American Reference Center uses these premium databases for high-quality results:
Books in Print with Reviews – Published reviews and ordering information for thousands of U.S. titles, searchable by subject
Communication & Mass Media Complete - provides the most robust, quality research solution in areas related to communication and mass media. CMMC offers cover-to-cover ("core") indexing and abstracts for more than 420 journals, and selected ("priority") coverage of nearly 200 more, for a combined coverage of more than 600 titles. (Please ask for a password from IRC staff)
Factiva – 2800 trade publications and major news sources such as Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, and hundreds of local and international newspapers.
Facts on File – Concise chronologies of world events drawn from major newspapers
Federal News Service – Transcripts of Washington D.C. testimony, hearings, briefings, and press conferences
Gale Academic One File – Five databases including Associations Unlimited, Biography Resource Center, and Expanded Academic Index with the full text of articles from 900 journals
JSTOR – Is a database that archives the complete digitized back runs of core scholarly journals, starting with the very first issues, some dating as far back as the 1600s. Users access JSTOR from the ARC’s Internet-access computers
Leadership Directories – Up-to-date directories of the U.S. Congress, judiciary, federal, state, and city governments, law firms, NGOs, media, and associations
Lexis-Nexis – Full-text legal, legislative, news, and reference information
ProQuest - databases offer indexing, abstracts, and selected complete texts of articles and newspapers from thousands of publications.
Stat-USA – Economic, industry, and trade statistics from the U.S. Department of Commerce
Reference & Information Services
Staff assistance is available during regular hours listed in this brochure. Queries may be submitted in person or by telephone, fax, or email:
Phone: 254-20-3636205/197/493
Fax: 254-20-3636353
Email: ircnairobi@state.gov
Lending Library
Books are available for checkout by registered members. Application forms are available at the Center or by request.
Group Presentations
Demonstrations of resources at the American Reference Center can be arranged for groups upon request.
