Αμερικανικό Κολλέγιο Θεσσαλονίκης

  • American College of Thessaloniki
  • Amerikaniko Kollegio Thessalonikis
  • ACT

Address

Thessaloniki
55510 Pylaia
Greece

Phone

(0030)2310 398 390

History

The American College of Thessaloniki (ACT) is the post-secondary division of Anatolia College, an institution with a long and prestigious history that dates to 1886.

Building(s)

The Bissell Library American College of Thessaloniki opened in the fall of 2002 and is one of the largest English language libraries in Greece. The three-level, 4,500-square meter library is one of the largest private learning resource centres in Southeast Europe.

Archival and Other Holdings

In 1886 Anatolia College was located at Merzifon of Minor Asia. During the destruction of Smyrna and the surrounding areas in 1922, Greece's prime minister, Eleftherios Venizelos invited the school's leaders to Thessaloniki to build a new school. After Anatolia College was built in Thessaloniki, the school's president returned to Merzifon to retrieve books and materials from the previous Library in Smyrna. These materials formed the basis of the present Bissell Library, Special Collections & Archives, American College of Thessaloniki.The Bissell Library offers a collection of over 26,100 books in print, 90,000 electronic books, DVDs and other media which can be searched using the online catalogue. The library collection’s strengths include business, international relations, politics and Balkan Studies.

Finding Aids, Guides, and Publication

Anatolia Libraries have a new catalogue system, called KOHA. This guide will help you understand how to perform either a simple or advanced search, how to interpret the results pages, how to create item lists, and how to access your personal account. Please note that the catalogue offers access only to the tangible, not electronic, material held by both the Bissell and Eleftheriades Libraries. For journal, magazine, and newspaper online articles, please visit our database sites. You can access and search within the new library catalogue from any computer with internet access. Remote Access to the college’s server is NOT required.

Conditions of Access

Currently enrolled students of ACT, Anatolia College and the International Baccalaureate School, alumni of ACT and Anatolia College, current faculty and staff of ACT, Anatolia College and Anatolia Elementary School, and public members may access the Bisell Library and its resources.

Accessibility

By bus, take the 58 towards Panorama (allow about half an hour for the trip). The bus can be caught along Egnatia, near the White Tower, or along Papanastassiou. The Anatolia/ACT stop is not far past the point at which you pass over the Ring Road. By car, one can either: Get to the Ring Road and go towards Halkidiki; take the Panorama/ Pylea exit; bear left at the lights; the main entrance to Anatolia is a left turn at the second set of lights that follows. For ACT, turn left at the first set of lights, then right (almost immediately), and in 200 yards the ACT entrance will be on the left. Or, among several possible routes from downtown, take Egnatia or Leophoros Stratou to Papanastassiou; in Harilaou take a left toward Panorma just before the Aris stadium; go straight, up the hill, pass over the Ring Road, watch for the entrance to Anatolia at the second set of lights beyond the Ring Road. For ACT, turn left at the first set of lights past the Ring Road, then right (almost immediately), and in 200 yards the ACT entrance will be on the left.

Research Services

The Library building is Wi-Fi enabled and network ports are available for laptops. The two floors of the Bissell Library include reading and study space for 250 users with student group study rooms and computers accessible to enrolled students, alumni, and current Bissell Library members.

Reproduction Services

Copies are available. Employees at the ACT issue upon application, ratified copies of the archival material.

Sources

  • Entry by V. Ritzaleos based on ACT's website and information from the archive.

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