U.S. Information Service back in Christchurch

Press, 31 January 1986, Page 7

U.S. Information Service back in Christchurch

The only American diplomat in the South Island came to Christchurch from the United States Embassy in Finland, where he was assistant cultural attache. Mr Patrick Linehan was an academic and graduate student at the University of Wisconsin before he joined the Foreign Service and was posted to Finland, partly because he had learned Finnish through a Fulbright graduate language fellowship.

He is in Christchurch to take charge of the new United States Information Service office as its public affairs officer. The Gloucester Street office, which will open unofficially to the public from February 10, is staffed by two New Zealanders, a cultural affairs specialist and a secretary-librarian. “We intend to stay this time,” said Mr Linehan; referring to a former Christchurch American information office which budget cuts had forced to close some years ago.

Mr Linehan said there was now a greater awareness of the role of public diplomacy in the world. The U.S.I.S. has had big budget increases to do its work of publicising the United States. The office will offer a range of services. In March, a country and western duo would be brought to perform in the Town Hall. Robert Stone, the American novelist (“Dog Soldiers”) would come to give public readings and a seminar at the University of Canterbury. Mr David Emery, deputy director of the

Arms Control and Disarmament Agency, would talk about the state of arms control and disarmament negotiations. Although the office is awaiting a substantial reference library, it already has a wide range of up-to-date magazines and newspapers, including the

“Wall Street Journal,” “The New York Times,” the “Los Angeles Times,” “The Washington Post” and “U.S.A. Today.” It may also receive a daily newspaper from Seattle, a sister city of Christchurch. The U.S.I.S. office has a video library on American topics and facilities for speakers and small functions. Mr Linehan would also like to arrange some art exhibitions. The office is in the Sun Alliance building, opposite the Canterbury Public Library. It will have a reference library with a target of 2000 books. Minimum security precautions, such as a telephone system for gaining entry, have been built into the office, which will be open from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with library hours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The official opening will be in March.