PRESS RELEASE
Fund for Armenian Relief
630 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10016
Contact: Edina N. Bobelian
Tel: (212) 889-5150; Fax: (212) 889-4849
E-mail: edina@farusa.org
Website:
November 5, 2007
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NATIONAL MEDICAL LIBRARY’S ANNA SHIRINIAN HONORED
Today, Armenia’s National Medical Library boasts a collection of over half a
million printed items, which includes rare and early printed materials from
the field of medicine and health care. It also includes books, theses,
monographs, serials, references, audio-visual materials, and microfiche.
Healthcare professionals use the Medical Library, second in quality only to
Moscow in the former Soviet Union, for education, research and development.
Supported by the Fund for Armenian Relief (FAR) since 1989, it is a critical
part of FAR’s Continuing Medical Education Program.
Over the past 18 years, the National Medical Library has been administered
in Yerevan by Ms. Anna Shirinian. Ms. Shirinian received a FAR Medical
Fellowship and spent three months training with Dr. Robert Brody, Director
of the Medical Library of Cornell Medical College. Since then, her vision
and drive have grown Armenia’s National Medical Library.
Under her guidance, FAR has sent the Library over 80 monthly subscriptions
to medical journals, CD-Roms with access to 300,000 medical abstracts
updated monthly, videos, and other medical sources in English. It has
sponsored English language seminars to more than 400 medical professionals
to enhance English language skills and teach medical English terminology.
The training helps the doctors and healthcare workers to better understand
the materials in the Library and prepare them for fellowships overseas.
With FAR’s provision of books, computer equipment, training and other
support, Ms. Shirinian organized courses in computer literacy for medical
professionals. A computer network system was established that connects the
five of the major medical institutions in Armenia to an information network
to share critical know-how and data, as well as online access to the
National Medical Library’s Washington, D.C. counterpart. FAR has also
helped develop the Library’s homepage
Ms. Shirinian has applied for and received grants from the Eurasia and Soros
Foundations for the work she is doing. She has been instrumental in
establishing a highly respected new journal in Armenia, the annual Medical
Review Journal, which is now publishing Volume 6 and whose editorial board
has received support and encouragement from FAR.
In recognition of her important contributions to Armenia and its medical
community, Ms. Shirinian received a Gold Medal from the Government of
Armenia. FAR applauds Ms. Shirinian for her dedication and commitment to
improving access to Armenia’s healthcare workers.
Volunteer library science professionals willing to provide support to Ms.
Shirinian are asked to contact FAR at (212) 889-5150 or far@farusa.org.
ABOUT FAR
Since its founding in response to the 1988 earthquake, FAR has served
millions of people through more than 220 relief and development programs in
Armenia, Karabagh and Javakhk. It has channeled over $265 million in
humanitarian assistance by implementing a wide range of projects including
emergency relief, construction, education, medical aid, and economic
development.
FAR, one of the preeminent relief and development organization operating
there, is dedicated to realizing the dream of a free, democratic,
prosperous, and culturally rich Armenia. It works towards a brighter future
by partnering with donors to make life better for vulnerable people
For more information on FAR or to send donations, contact us at 630 Second
Avenue, New York, NY 10016; telephone (212) 889-5150; fax (212) 889-4849;
web ; e-mail far@farusa.org.
— 11/5/07
E-mail photo is available upon request.
PHOTO CAPTION: Anna Shirinian, Director of Armenia’s National Medical
Library, received a gold medal from the Government in recognition of her
contributions to Armenia and its medical community. The National Medical
Library has received continuous support from the Fund for Armenian Relief
(FAR) since 1989.