Information Centers & Libraries
U.S. Embassy & Consulate Information Resource Centers
The Information Resource Centers are an extensive resource for current, in-depth information focusing primarily on political, economic and social issues and on American culture. Users are encouraged to contact the IRC in advance to discuss their query with reference staff.

- Berlin: IRCBerlin@state.gov - Düsseldorf: IRCDuesseldorf@state.gov - Frankfurt: IRCFrankfurt@state.gov - Hamburg: IRCHamburg@state.gov - Leipzig: IRCLeipzig@state.gov - Munich: IRCMunich@state.gov

German American Institutes
America@yourlibrary

Virtual Classroom - About the USA Newsletter
Online registration - Please note that the newsletter is currently undergoing a redesign. It will be available again in the fall.

2010 issues:
December 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
August 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
June 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
May 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
April 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
March 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
February 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)
January 2010 summary | fulltext (pdf)

2009 issues:
December 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
November 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
October 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
September 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
July 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
June 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
May 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
April 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
March 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
February 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)
January 2009 summary | fulltext (pdf)

2008 issues:
December 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
November 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
October 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
September 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
July 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
June 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
May 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
April 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
March 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
February 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)
January 2008 summary | fulltext (pdf)

2007 issues:
December 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
November 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
October 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
September 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
August 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
July 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
June 2007 summary | fulltext (pdf)
May 2007 (summary) | fulltext (pdf)
April 2007 fulltext (pdf)
March 2007 fulltext (pdf)
February 2007 fulltext (pdf)
January 2007 fulltext (pdf)

Educational Exchanges
Education USA

Meet US - School Outreach Program
U.S. Embassy and Consulate school outreach programs provide German secondary school students with the opportunity to meet with American exchange students, as well as Embassy/Consulate staff and other resident or visiting Americans, to learn more about everyday life in the United States. Visits can be structured to meet curriculum needs but teachers should not expect a formal lecture. The discussions may be conducted in either English or German.

National Teacher Workshops and Conferences
Embassy and Consulate programs for teachers

American Studies Publications and Teaching Materials
Thematic classroom packages and other services for teachers
About the USA Website & CD-ROM
InfoAlert
Brochures, Posters & Maps
Electronic Journals
English Teaching Forum (ETF)
Travel Information

Information Centers & Libraries

The Information Resource Center
The Information Resource Centers are an extensive resource for current, in-depth information focusing primarily on political, economic and social issues and on American culture. Users are encouraged to contact the IRC in advance to discuss their query with reference staff.

German-American Institutes
Libraries in binational centers located around the country maintain open public libraries. Contact center libraries for information about services and opening hours.

Educational Exchanges

Education USA
The U.S. Embassy in Germany offers web-based reference and referral services for information on exchange opportunities in the United States. In addition, under the auspices of the U.S. Department of State's Education USA program, the Embassy provides support to a network of Educational Advising/Information Centers in Germany. | Education USA

Workshops and Conferences

Cultural and Educational Programs
The Public Affairs Sections of the U.S. Embassy and the Consulates arrange informational, cultural and educational events on a range of topics. Program events include seminars and conferences, lectures and discussions, press briefings, literary readings, exhibitions, concerts and other artistic performances. For upcoming program events please check the Embassy website as well as the websites of the U.S. Consulate or German-American Institute in your area.

Special Services for Teachers

Thematic Classroom Packages
Thematic classroom information packages on topics relevant to secondary school curriculum needs and in support of programs and conferences for teachers are prepared and updated regularly by Information Resource Center staff. The information packages include annotated guides to selected Internet sources and abstracts of recent magazine and newspaper articles.

Examples of Recent Thematic Classroom Packages
Affirmative Action
African American Oral Traditions and Political Activism: The Struggle for Civil Rights From 1960 to the Elections of President Obama
American Press and the Challenges of Politics and Technology
American South (October
Hip Hop: American Youth Culture At Home And Abroad (October 2007)
Ethnic Visions of the United States of America
History and Culture of Latino Life in the United States
Lincoln's Legacy: Nation Building, Democracy and the Question of Race and Civil Rights
Midterm Elections
Multiculturalism and Race Relations at the End of the Century (May 2006)
Myth and Reality: The American Dream in the 21st Century (September 2004)
Teaching about Terrorism and Tolerance | print version (September 2004)
Technology in the Classroom (September 2004)
U.S. in a Global Community (June 2007)
Urban Cultures, Urban Landscapes: Growing Up in the American City
Vigorous Executive: The President in American Politics and Culture (August 2008)

U.S. Presidential Elections 2008 - Berlin-Brandenburg School Project (A joint program of LISUM and the U.S. Embassy) - Research and Information: 2008 Elections -

Contact classroom@usembassy.de for more information.

American Studies Publications and English Teaching Materials

About the USA Digital Library - Website and CD-ROM
The IRC also provides background information and links on popular topics for students and teachers in the About the USA section of the U.S. Mission to Germany web site. Topics include: Arts & Entertainment, Economy, Government, History, Science & Technology, Society, Sports, Travel & Geography. A CD-ROM version is also available through your Information Resource Center. The CD-ROM can be used with or without an Internet connection. Online, About the USA provides extensive hyperlinks to selected sites and resources that provide a rich spectrum of information about the United States. Offline, the CD-ROM provides full-text documentation on American social and political institutions and processes, simulating an Internet environment.
About the USA complements the America.gov website which is maintained by the Office of International Information Programs (IIP), U.S. Department of State. It is an authoritative resource for foreign audiences. organizes links and fulltext resources relating to official U.S. policies, American society, culture, and political processes.

InfoAlert
InfoAlert highlights recent articles and reports from leading U.S. journals and policy sources and provides informed commentary on international and domestic issues. Some articles are password-protected and are available for professional and institutional audiences only. The InfoAlert is compiled by the staff of U.S. Embassy and Consulate Information Resource Centers in Germany.

Brochures, Posters and Maps
A selection of brochures are available for purchase through the Amerikazentrum Hamburg. Materials include a poster-size U.S. paper flag (84 x 53 cm) and a set of three "American Studies wall maps" (106 x 76 cm). The Amerikazentrum also offers a set of five colored "historical wall maps" (86 x 56 cm). For further information and to order please call Tel.: (040) 7038 3688 or visit the AZ's Online Shop

Electronic Journals
Thematic electronic periodicals provide information on U.S. foreign policy, economic perspectives and U.S. society and values. Each issue contains topical articles and sources of information ranging from bibliographies to Internet resources. Recent issues included: The U.S. Supreme Court: Equal Justice Under Law | Indigenous People Today | Multicultural Literature in the U.S. | Immigrants Joining the Mainstream | National Parks, National Legacy | American Teenagers

English Teaching Forum (ETF) Online
The English Teaching Forum is a quarterly journal for teachers of English as a foreign or second language. In print since 1962, and with a worldwide readership of over 200,000, the journal focuses on the theory and practice of teaching English and includes discussions of methods, techniques and ideas useful in the classroom.

Travel Information
Travel brochures can be requested from the local tourist offices in the U.S., some also have offices in Germany. A list of addresses is available through the Visit USA Committee Germany e.V.
Additional information is also available on the Internet. Start with About the USA - Travel.