MCU Research Library

The Marine Corps University Research Library is the premier academic library within the Marine Corps. Its collections include over 150,000 volumes, 400 periodical subscriptions, and 120,000 microforms as well as access to numerous government and commercial databases and digital resources.

While the Research Library’s emphasis is on amphibious warfare, all aspects of military arts and sciences and military history are covered in depth, with ancillary subject areas such as history, international relations, regional and area studies, geography, political and social sciences, and technology.

The Library provides a complete range of reference, bibliographic, research and loan services to students, faculty, and staff of the University schools. It also provides support to Marines and independent scholars worldwide.

Borrowing Items - Loan Periods

• Registered patrons may borrow a total of 30 items for a loan period of 30 days (except for DVDs). 

• DVDs: A total of 5 DVDs may be borrowed for a loan period of 2 weeks. 

• Reference, Rare Books and Special Collections cannot be checked out and must be used inside the Library. 

• Lost or damaged materials must be replaced at patrons' expense. Please contact the Circulation Desk if your borrowed materials have been damaged.

Renewals

• Items can be renewed once via phone or online.

• Additional renewals must be done in person at the Library, with the items to be renewed presented.

• If an item has been placed on hold, the item cannot be renewed and must be returned when requested by Library staff.

Holds

• Holds can be placed on items that are checked out by another patron.

• Holds can be placed by calling or visiting the MCU Research Library or Quantico Base Library circulation desks. Holds cannot be placed online.

• If an item has been placed on hold, the item cannot be renewed and must be returned when requested by Library staff.

Online Account Access

• Patrons may access and manage their Library account online.

​Overdues

• Borrowing privileges may be suspended until overdue items are returned. Patrons are reminded that Library materials are property of the federal government.

Returning Items

• Audio/Visual items (DVDs, CDs, Playaways) must be returned to one of the Circulation Desks. Please do not deposit these items into the outside drop box. The reason for this is that the elements - heat, rain, and cold - can cause damage to these items. 

• Library materials may be returned to either the Base Library or Research Library circulation desks. Materials that are not audio/visual items can also be returned to the drop box located across from the GRC.

MCU Research Library Hours

Monday-Thursday:       0730-2000
Friday:                          0730-1800
Saturday & Sunday:     1000-1800
Federal Holidays:         Closed

NOTE: Changes in hours due to holidays schedules and emergency closings will be posted on the Library website and social media outlets, and not on this page.

• Military ID and DoD card holders (Active Duty, local Reserve, local Retired military or family members whose Sponsor is Active Duty, local Reserve, or local Retired Military).

• Marine Corps DoD Civilians assigned to MCB Quantico as duty station. 

• Government contractors may register and checkout materials from the library with written permission from their COR stating that this use is necessary to accomplish their statement of work. 

• Family members of Civilian ID card holders, and civilians that do not hold a Military/DoD ID card are NOT authorized to obtain a Library card.

Registration

• Library cards must be applied for in person. 

• A current Military or DoD CAC/ID card must be presented at the time of application 

• Minors applying for a Library card must have a parent or guardian present at time of registration.

• The parent or guardian is responsible for all materials checked out by his/her minor family members.

• Lost or stolen Library cards should be reported immediately, so that the account can be deactivated.

BORROWING & CIRCULATION POLICIES

Borrowing Items - Loan Periods

• Registered patrons may borrow a total of 30 items for a loan period of 30 days (except for DVDs). 

• DVDs: A total of 5 DVDs may be borrowed for a loan period of 2 weeks. 

• Reference, Rare Books and Special Collections cannot be checked out and must be used inside the Library. 

• Lost or damaged materials must be replaced at patrons' expense. Please contact the Circulation Desk if your borrowed materials have been damaged.

Renewals

• Items can be renewed once via phone or online.

• Additional renewals must be done in person at the Library, with the items to be renewed presented.

• If an item has been placed on hold, the item cannot be renewed and must be returned when requested by Library staff.

Holds

• Holds can be placed on items that are checked out by another patron.

• Holds can be placed by calling or visiting the MCU Research Library or Quantico Base Library circulation desks. Holds cannot be placed online.

• If an item has been placed on hold, the item cannot be renewed and must be returned when requested by Library staff.

Lost Items

• The Libraries do not charge fines for overdue or lost items. We ask that you report lost items immediately and make a good faith effort to find them. If an item is permanently lost, patrons are required to replace the items at their expense, with copies in new or very good condition. Borrowing privileges may be suspended until lost items are returned.

Online Account Access

• Patrons may access and manage their Library account online.

Overdues

• Borrowing privileges may be suspended until overdue items are returned.

Returning Items

• Audio/Visual items (DVDs, CDs, Playaways) must be returned to one of the Circulation Desks. Please do not deposit these items into the outside drop box! The reason for this is that the weather - heat, rain, cold - can cause damage to these items. 

• Library materials may be returned to either the Base Library or Research Library circulation desks. Materials that are not audio/visual items can also be returned to the drop box located near the parking garage.

CHECKING OUT/CLEARING BASE

Please return library materials before you PCS! Patrons transferring to another base are required to check with Circulation Desk to ensure no items remain outstanding on either their own, or their family members', accounts.

CHILDREN

Children under 10 years of age must be supervised by a parent or guardian and should not be left unattended. The Library staff does not serve in loco parenti, that is, in place of parents.

Children are encouraged to use the Quantico Base Library. The Base Library offers numerous events for children including regularly scheduled story-time sessions.

The Academic Library is reserved for adults to study and conduct research.

COMPUTERS AND PRINTERS

NOTE: The Library staff members are NOT authorized to assist patrons with troubleshooting their personal electronic equipment.

MCU Research Library Computers

• 50 computers for patron use on a first-come first-served basis.

• Patrons that need to use a computer must sign in and must present a current Military or DoD ID card. You will be given a username/password to login to a library computer.

• If all computers are in use, priority is given to students of any of the MCU schools.

• Printing is limited to 25 pages per day per patron.

• Two scanners are available for patron use. A CAC is not required but you must request a username/password from the Circ desk.

• No memory sticks, USB drives, thumb drives or flash cards may be connected to any Library computer (per MCEN 293-08).

• Children under 18 years of age must use the computers in the Quantico Base Library.

• The Library complies with Marine Corps Bulletin 2010, which provides for monitoring of network traffic and outlines permissible and prohibited uses of the internet from government computers. When violations of this policy are observed by Library staff, they are reported to Command authorities.

COPIERS AND MICROFILM READER-PRINTER

• Copiers are available on the first deck in the copy, room located near the Reference Desk.

• Copier use is limited to reproducing materials from the Library collections and is subject to copyright laws.

• Patrons may not use the copiers for personal use, i.e., to copy service records books, etc.

• A Microfilm reader-printer is also located on the first deck. As of July 2019 it is out of order.

SUBSCRIPTION DATABASES

The MCU Research Library subscribes to a variety of online databases to assist MCU students, faculty and staff in conducting research. These databases have a higher-academic and research-oriented scope.

Databases for children K-12, and for general research are provided by HQMC-MCCS/Quantico Base Library.

All databases are available for all patrons to use while onsite. Offsite access to MCRL subscription databases is authorized for MCU students, faculty and staff only. 

For information and assistance, including instruction, usernames and passwords, contact the MCU Research Library Reference Staff at (703) 784-4411.

For information and assistance on MCCS databases, contact the contact the Quantico Base Library Staff at (703) 784-4843.

HEADPHONES

Headphones for onsite use only are available at the Circulation Desk. Headphones are required for online training and other websites that require audio, so as not to disturb other patrons.

INTERLIBRARY LOAN (ILL)
For registered borrowers, the MCU Research Library ILL Clerk will attempt to find and borrow from other libraries materials not available in our collections. The process usually takes 5-10 days, sometimes longer. Lending libraries determine the length of the loan.

ILL request forms are available at the Reference Desk. There is no charge for this service. If you are not a registered patron but would like to borrow from our collection, please submit a request through your local public library.

Interlibrary Loan services are not available for Quantico Base Library patrons.

INTERNET ACCESS / WI-FI
WiFi access is provided throughout the library by HQMC-MCCS Libraries via Boingo. Connect to the network called MCCS_WiFi.

Please note that the quality of the wireless signal depends on your location within the building, and the condition or quality of your computer equipment.

LOST AND FOUND
Please contact us at (703) 784-4409 if you suspect you forgot an item. We make every attempt to notify patrons who leave behind Military/DoD ID or Library cards. Unclaimed Military IDs are returned to the DEERS office to be destroyed. Other unclaimed items are disposed of after 90 days.

MARINE CORPS READING LIST
Marine Corps Reading List materials are located on the second deck of the MCU Research Library. All titles, including audio tapes, CDs and Playaways, are located here. Some reading list titles are also available online - please check the Reading List Guide for details.

We do not lend our Marine Corps Reading List titles to other libraries. We regret that we cannot purchase copies for Marine units.

STUDY ROOMS
Several study rooms on the first deck are available during operating hours, on a first-come, first-served basis.

To reserve the GRC Auditorium or other conference rooms in the GRC, contact the GRC Administrative Office at (703) 784-2240, and consult the GRC website.