Biblioteca Benjamin Franklin

Last week I had the opportunity to visit one of the finest examples of an international library, the Biblioteca Benjamin Franklin in Mexico City. This Library, or Information Resource Center (IRC) as it is known to the U.S. State Department, was established in 1942 and still continues to "promote friendship and understanding between Mexico and the United States by providing access to information on their bilateral relationship." (from the Library website.) Through the work of its very capable staff, the Library serves the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, the  Mexican Government, the Media, professors, researchers, businessmen and women,  and anyone interested in learning more about the United States in Mexico.

Mexico and the United States will always be closely linked at many levels--economically, politically, culturally--due to their geographical boundaries. The work of the Biblioteca Benjamin Franklin will continue to build understanding between our two nations, which has become increasingly important with the current difficulties faced by Mexico related to drug trafficking and violence.

The Library maintains a very useful website, in English and Spanish--see the link below.

 http://www.usembassy-mexico.gov/eng/library.html