VENEZUELA DONATES BOOKS TO OAS COLUMBUS MEMORIAL LIBRARY

A collection of more than 200 books was presented to the Columbus Memorial Library of the Organization of America States today, as the hemispheric body marked the 218^th anniversary of the birth of the Latin American hero Simón Bolívar.

Ambassador Jorge Valero, Venezuela's Permanent Representative to the OAS, presented the volumes to Secretary General César Gaviria, during a ceremony that followed a Permanent Council tribute to the Latin American hero. The Secretary General thanked the Venezuelan government, noting that the volumes will made available to researchers throughout the Hemisphere.

The books were donated by the Venezuela-based Ayacucho Library Foundation, which publishes classic works by intellectuals of Venezuela and Latin America, covering a variety of subjects, including literature, philosophy, history, politics, art and anthropology—from pre-Colombian times to the present.

"This really carries on this tradition of enriching the holdings of the Columbus Memorial Library," stated Columbus Library Director Dr. Virginia Newton, who was also on hand for the presentation.

The donation coincides with the 112^th anniversary of OAS Library, which was established as a repository for the vast works donated by each country in the Western Hemisphere. These latest additions will also become part of the Library's catalog on the Internet.

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