Have you used post/base library?

CH (MAJ) William Beaver — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 04:55:34 -0400

Have you ever used the on-post or on-base library? How often ? In your opinion, what is the best one you have seen? And what is the value FOR YOU is the garrison/post/base library? Would a small library in a deployment FOB be of use to you?

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Apr 9 at 2015 6:53 AM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 06:53:24 -0400

My family and I frequently use the services at the Joint Base Charleston Libraries, granted they are somewhat small in comparison to other bases we've been to, but still a valuable resource with a good selection of current fiction and non-fiction titles.

When I would deploy, I always looked forward to the book exchanges set up by MWR. One of the best was when I was at Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan. We would receive donations of books from supporters Stateside and volunteers would shelve the books for easy browsing.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Apr 9 at 2015 7:35 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 07:35:54 -0400

I didn't use mine much at all, though many Soldiers I knew enjoyed using it for classes and to get some alone time away from the barracks.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 7:48 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 07:48:56 -0400

No. When I wanted a book, I'd order it from Amazon or take a trip to Military Clothing Sales.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 7:50 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 07:50:10 -0400

I've used a couple and I've got to say the one I was the most impressed with was the library at fort Tucker. I went there all the time to study in peace one we were allowed to in my AIT. If it weren't for that magical place, I don't think I would have passed.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Apr 9 at 2015 8:51 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 08:51:46 -0400

Fort Bliss, TX had the worse library of all the DoD libraries I ever visited when I arrived to Fort Bliss more than a few years ago. I rate the computer and Internet services a 10 out of 10, but the customer service was terrible and I told the head librarian to her face after she was rude with me and she also treated other service members with impolite service. To make a long story short, I made an ICE complaint and she ended up leaving early that day according to a follow up. I also refused to give her my CoC information when requested which she did not like.

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Apr 9 at 2015 9:02 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 09:02:33 -0400

When I was at the Anti Submarine Warfare training center in San Diego, I spent a lot of time at the base library. It was not a huge library, but it had a good selection. I was in there at least once a week. It was a good way to unwind after having information crammed into our skulls. There was no homework for class as the materials could not leave the classroom, and as an E-1/E-2 in California, there is not a whole lot that was financially a good idea. So when staying on base reading (a punishment in school) became a source of relaxation.
When I went to my ship, it was under construction so we conducted the initial load out. There was a media space on the ship with books and computers we could use. The book selection was not that great so I did not use it nearly as often as i had at the ASW training center.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 10:23 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:23:34 -0400

I used the library at Ft Sam Houston quite extensively when i was there for MOS training. And when I was deployed, the "library" that the USO and the Chaplains office had were of great use as well.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 10:57 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 10:57:57 -0400

My family and I loved and used the library here at Dover AFB quite frequently. I speak in the past tense becuase that library was closed as part of the whole sequester/budget cuts phase all of us went through.
I volunteered to help the librarian empty the building and find people who could use the thousands of books they had there. He was told that any of the books people didn't want had to go to the base recycling center. It was pretty terrible.
And I for one think a library at a FOB would be a great idea.

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Apr 9 at 2015 1:05 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 13:05:25 -0400

I was an avid reader when I was a kid and made extensive use of base libraries at Rhein-Main and Tempelhof. I never used them when I enlisted. Never thought about that until now. Somehow we were distracted?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 2:41 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 14:41:34 -0400

My armory's library consists of 5-20 copies of -10 for every piece of equipment assigned to us. Along with a smattering of FMs and recruiting tools. I should know I had to put the shelves up and organize it. What I do for my unit's AT is if anybody wants to read and has cell service I give them my Amazon account info and let them read from my Kindle library(550+ books)

Response by LTC Gail Daras made Apr 9 at 2015 5:22 PM

LTC Gail Daras — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 17:22:09 -0400

I have used the library at Fort Huachuca for academic purposes. At Fort McPherson they provided computers which helped my reserve unit get training done. But the library I have used the most and appreciated the most was at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait. I was working on my ILE and so I used it for research, they had free paperbacks, great news papers and a computer room. Also at Camp Arifjan our laundry room was filled with great free books that everyone shared. When I lived in Western Sahara there were a few books left behind by other English speaking peacekeepers so I had my family mail me books to read. Books kept me sane during that deployment.

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Apr 9 at 2015 5:25 PM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Thu, 09 Apr 2015 17:25:06 -0400

Yes, I often use the Throckmorton Library on Ft. Bragg, but only rarely for books. I use the computers when I have time during the day, to accomplish Skillport correspondence courses.

I do love reading, so I would be happy to have a library anywhere I go.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2015 12:08 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 00:08:53 -0400

The only post library I've ever used was the one at Ft. Hood. It's pretty large and spacious. I found the librarians and research aide to be very helpful, nice, and polite as well. There are study rooms for groups or you can sit out in the main areas and read as well. Also an extensive online library.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 8:32 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:32:03 -0400

Yes! The one at Fort Bragg was probably the nicest as far as staff goes, I always had good experiences with them. The one on Hood however, while pleasant most of the time, certain staff members in there were a little rude. But it was always a good experience.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Dec 3 at 2019 5:22 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 17:22:05 -0500

Yes. Used it to study at Redstone.