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.
The Marine Corps Research Library is currently closed to the public and operating at a significantly reduced staff schedule due to COVID-19.
Our Librarians are still on duty, and doing our best to provide fast and thorough reference and resources assistance through monitoring our email and social media accounts. If you need research assistance, this is the best way to reach us. We will do whatever we can to help!
Page last updated 23 MAR 2020
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.
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 online, or by calling the MCU Research Library or Quantico Base Library circulation desks.
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 will 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. During COVID, these items can be returned to the outside drop box.
Library materials may be returned to the circulation desks in the Base Library or Research Library. Materials that are not audio/visual items can also be returned to the drop box located near the parking garage.
Marine Corps University Research Library Hours
19 January - 31 May 2021
Monday - Friday: 0730-1800
Saturday & Sunday: 1000-1800
Closed Federal Holidays
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.
THE MCU RESEARCH LIBRARY AND QUANTICO BASE LIBRARY ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING WITH COVID GUIDELINES IN PLACE.*
REFER TO SECDEF MEMORANDUM DATED 4 FEB 2021 ON USE OF MASKS AND OTHER PUBLIC HEALTH MEASURES
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MCU RESEARCH LIBRARY IS CURRENTLY OPEN TO ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVES, MARINE CORPS UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, FACULTY, AND STAFF, AND DOD CIVILIANS AND CONTRACTORS.
THE QUANTICO BASE LIBRARY IS OPEN TO ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVES, DOD CIVILIANS AND CONTRACTORS, RETIREES, AND MILITARY FAMILY MEMBERS.
Please refer to our COVID-19 Operating Guidelines for more information.
*Subject to change in response to COVID health concerns and official guidelines.
The MCU Research Library is the academic library of Marine Corps University. It is also a partial government repository.
Only registered patrons can borrow materials. The Library is located within the Gen. Alfred M. Gray Marine Corps Research Center (GRC) at 2040 Broadway Street, Quantico, VA, 22134. Parking is available in the garage across from the building.
The Quantico Base Library is an HQMC-MCCS Library co-located within the GRC. Only registered patrons can borrow materials.
Both Libraries, along with a Virtual Branch that manages library systems, databases and websites, comprise the Library of the Marine Corps (LOMC).
HOURS OF OPERATION (effective 19 January - 31 May 2021)
Monday-Friday: 0730-1800
Saturday & Sunday: 1000-1800
Closed Federal Holidays
Unscheduled closings due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances will be posted at the front entrances to the GRC, on individual Library websites, and social media outlets.
LIBRARY SERVICES
Eligibility
The following are eligible to apply for a Library Card:
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) WHO ARE STATIONED AT MCB QUANTICO OR LIVE WITHIN A 50-MILE RADIUS.
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 can be applied for in person. MCU students, faculty, and staff, and Olmstead scholars and research fellows can apply online.
A current Military or DoD CAC/ID card must be presented at the time of application, or MCU-affiliation must be verified by a staff member.
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.
Automatic Cancellation of Account
When one or more of the eligibility criteria cease (moving out of the Quantico area, PCS to another duty station, leaving DOD employment or contract, etc.) Library privileges automatically cease. It is the patron's responsibility to inform the Library of their change in status.
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.
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 online, or by calling the MCU Research Library or Quantico Base Library circulation desks.
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 will 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. During COVID, these items can be returned to the outside drop box.
Library materials may be returned to the circulation desks in the Base Library or Research Library. 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, leaving MCB Quantico employment, etc., 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 (exception: no programs offered during COVID).
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
Reserved for MCU students, faculty, and staff, Active Duty and Reserves, DOD civilians and DOD contractors. All other patrons must use computers in the Quantico Base Library.
21 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.
Printing is limited to 25 pages per day per patron.
One scanner is available for patron use. A CAC is not required but you must request a username/password from the Circulation Desk.
No memory sticks, USB drives, thumb drives or flash cards may be connected to any Library computer (per MCEN 293-08).
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
A copier is 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.
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 are not available at this time, due to COVID health concerns.
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 left an item in the building. 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 First deck of the MCU Research Library, near the periodicals section. 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
No study rooms are available due to COVID health concerns.
SOCIAL MEDIA
All important Research Library updates closings, and other notifications will be posted on social media and on our website.
If you are a patron of the MCU Research Library or Quantico Base Library, we invite you to suggest a book, audiobook, journal, DVD, or other materials you think the Library should add to our collections. Submit your suggestion via email to mcu_grc_reference at usmcu.edu. We do not allow form submissions via the web. If your request is time-sensitive, please call the Reference Desk at (703) 784-4411 or DSN 278-4411.
Include the following information in your email request:
Research Tools | Library Services | General Information | Quick Links | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Databases | Reference & Research Assistance | Contact Us | Gray Research Center | ||
eJournal Portal | Borrow/Renew/Return | Directions/Hours/Location | Marine Corps Archives | ||
Library Catalog | Copyright Assistance | Library Staff Training | Marine Corps University | ||
Marine Corps Reading List | Interlibrary Loan | Library News & Announcements | National Museum of the Marine Corps | ||
RefWorks | Manage My Account | Library Services & Policies | Quantico Base Library | ||
Marine Corps Social Media / Privacy / Accessibility / FOIA / No Fear Act / Marines.mil / MCB Quantico / USA.gov |
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