Speeches

Donation of Library of America Collection to Sin El Fil Library

Feb. 10, 2003

It’s a great pleasure to be with you this evening to celebrate a wonderful collection of American books that we offer as a gift to the library at the Cultural Center of Sin El Fil. The 136 volumes added to the Sin El Fil library shelves include a broad range of American fiction and non-fiction, written by authors representing the full diversity of American voices, and spanning more than 300 years of our history.

Looking over the titles of the books, I remembered reading some of them in my high school and college classes. Some of the books I loved; others were more hard going. But one thing I can assure you, if you take the time to read any of these titles you will understand a little bit more about America’s complex and multi-faceted society. And I hope that some of those who borrow and read books from this collection will be students from Lebanese University, whose branch campuses are located nearby, and who may not otherwise have access to this wealth of materials.

I’d like to highlight one of the authors included in the “Library of America” collection we are presenting today. This author is, in fact, credited with creating, in 1731, the first public lending library in America. I’m speaking of Benjamin Franklin. Founding Father and statesman, scientist and inventor, author and diplomat—Benjamin Franklin was an amazing and brilliant man. I highlight Ben Franklin, also, because this year is the 300th anniversary of his birth.

The volume of Franklin’s writings included in our gift today contains only a small slice of his work. A prolific writer and journalist, Franklin wrote on a broad range of subjects, including politics, science and education. His “Poor Richard’s Almanac” published each year, compiled his wise sayings. In it, he urged common sense, thrift and honest habits—advice as appropriate today as it was 300 years ago. “Reading makes a full man,” he once said. In the 21st century version of his wisdom, let me say, “Reading makes us all smarter, wiser and more understanding.”

And these are exactly the reasons the U.S. Embassy is so pleased to support municipal libraries throughout Lebanon. During the past two years, we have donated over 10,000 books in English, Arabic and French, for children and adults to over 100 public libraries and educational and cultural institutions. In September the Ambassador inaugurated our first American Corner at the municipal library in Rashaya. We hope to replicate this partnership elsewhere in Lebanon in the coming year—adding collections of books and materials about America’s culture, history and geography to libraries in Tripoli, Baakleen, Nabatieyeh and elsewhere in Beirut.

But more important than the gift of books and materials we donate today is the promise of sincere, heartfelt and lasting friendship between our two peoples, American and Lebanese. And that is why I am so pleased to be here today—to reaffirm to you the importance the United States accords to its relationship with Lebanon.

Our commitment to Lebanon is firm, enduring and non-negotiable. We stand with you, and all the Lebanese people, and will support you, as you advance with courage and determination to achieve a stable, united, prosperous and independent Lebanon. As you work to achieve a more hopeful future, the United States will remain an unwavering and steadfast ally, and a friend to Lebanon and the Lebanese people.