Freedom Forum opens Mali library for journalists

09.29.00

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BAMAKO, Mali — The Freedom Forum has opened a library for journalists at the Maison de la Presse in Bamako. One of 15 Freedom Forum journalism libraries around the world, the library is the first of its kind in Mali and the second library sponsored by The Freedom Forum in Africa.

The library has "truly magnified the role of the press in Mali" and "is a symbol of the democratization of the nation," Sadou Yattara, chairman of Maison de la Presse, said during an opening ceremony Sept. 29.

Ousmane Sy, Mali's minister of territorial administration and local communities, said the library's Internet capability will enable the Malian press "to be connected to the rest of the world."

The U.S. ambassador to Mali, Michael Ranneberger, said a free press "will help resolve the problems" in the West African nation, which is one of the world's most impoverished countries. "It says something about the importance of Mali – and the freedom that you have here – that of the 200 nations of the world, yours is one of the 15 that have been selected" by The Freedom Forum for a library, said former U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, a Freedom Forum trustee.

In a statement, Charles L. Overby, chairman and chief executive officer of The Freedom Forum, said, "Nurturing a vibrant tradition of press freedom abroad and at home is one of The Freedom Forum's top priorities. We know that strong democracies and thriving societies are vitally dependent on free and well-informed media. The Freedom Forum libraries provide resources often otherwise unavailable to journalists in emerging democracies, and we are pleased to bring these resources to Mali."

Tailored for French-speaking journalists, the library offers books and other publications and computer and Internet access. The library is available to all journalists and journalism students, free of charge. It will be staffed by a trained librarian.

"We believe that all journalists should have access to accurate, up-to-date information. The Freedom Forum library will be a place where journalists can obtain that kind of information," said Chris Wells, senior vice president/international, The Freedom Forum. "This library also connects Mali, through the Internet and online databases, with journalists and media issues around the globe. Mali has a strong tradition of independent media, and we hope the country's journalists will take full advantage of our facility."

Other Freedom Forum libraries are located in Johannesburg, South Africa; Buenos Aires, Argentina; London; Hong Kong; Manila, Philippines; Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria; Zagreb, Croatia; Budapest, Hungary; Riga, Latvia; Vilnius, Lithuania; Bucharest, Romania; St. Petersburg, Russia; Bratislava, Slovakia; and Lima, Peru.

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