University of Pittsburgh to Host Ceremony for the University Library System's Acquisition of the European Union Delegation Library April 9

PITTSBURGH-John Bruton, ambassador of the European Commission to the United States, and Samuel Zbogar, ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the United States and Mexico, will be at the University of Pittsburgh April 9 to formally present the entire European Union (EU) delegation library to Pitt's University Library System (ULS) in a by-invitation event. The library from the Delegation of the European Commission to the United States, in Washington, D.C., holds the most extensive collection of public EU documents and publications in North America. Zbogar is accompanying Bruton because Slovenia currently holds the presidency of the Council of the EU.

Established in 1951 soon after the formation of the European Coal and Steel and Community, the delegation's unique collection contains a complete set of EU institutions' and agencies' publications. It also contains partial collections of the publications of such international organizations as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Council of Europe, and European trade associations.

The ceremony marking Pitt's receipt of the library will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the Thornburgh Room of Hillman Library, 3960 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Bruton will sign a document formally presenting the library to the University, which will be accepted by Pitt's Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg. The gift of the EU library adds to Pitt's extensive holdings in support of European Studies. The ULS also has developed the online Archive of European Integration, through which it provides open access to conference papers, policy papers, preprints of journal articles, and more than 6,000 digitized EU documents from its depository collection.

Prior to the library celebration, Bruton and Zbogar will give a free public address titled "The Future of European Union-U.S. Economic and Political Relations." The address will be at noon April 9 in the Lower Lounge of the William Pitt Union, 3959 Fifth Ave., Oakland. Bruton will focus on the growing trade and economic relationship between the EU and the United States, taking into consideration developments in China and India. Zbogar will address issues concerning the political relationship between the EU and the United States.

For more information, contact Timothy Thompson at 412-624-3503 or tst@pitt.edu.

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3/28/08/tmw