Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen Hicks announced in an Oct. 25 memorandum that the Department of Defense will celebrate Military Libraries Week, an event dedicated to recognizing the contributions of military libraries to service members, their families and the broader defense community.
This year's theme "Leaders are Readers" highlights the key role libraries play in fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
Military libraries have been part of the support network of the armed forces since the beginning of the state. Beginning with the garrison library at West Point, founded in 1780, and the War Department Library, founded by Henry Knox in 1795, these institutions have provided important academic, scholarly, and cultural resources to service members and defense personnel for decades.
Today, the Department of Defense operates more than 300 libraries worldwide, offering materials ranging from military doctrine to morale-boosting leisure media.
Hicks kicked off Military Libraries Week Nov. 10 in a brief address to service members and their families, highlighting their contributions to lifelong learning and professional development.
"Libraries and the books they hold provide unlimited opportunities for learning," she said, adding that her own reading list reflects her commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in the department. Hicks encouraged service members to visit their local military libraries and thank library staff for their commitment to fostering knowledge and community resilience.
Mission and History of the Combined Arms Research Library
The Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library at Fort Leavenworth is an example of the enduring importance of military libraries. CARL's unique contribution to education and morale deserves special recognition.
Known for its exceptional collections and commitment to innovation, this institution serves as both a resource and a haven for the Fort Leavenworth community, including students from the Command and General Staff College and the School of Advanced Military Studies.
The library at Fort Leavenworth was established in conjunction with the Infantry and Cavalry School - now the Command and General Staff School - and initially consisted of a modest collection of government publications, teaching materials, and donations from officers and private individuals. The early years of the library were challenging. Cramped conditions and limited staff hampered its development until 1906, when Ezra Fuller became its first official librarian.
Fuller's efforts were crucial in shaping the library's identity as he pushed for better equipment and a higher budget. By 1927, the library's collection had grown to more than 55,000 items-including books, pamphlets, and maps-forming the foundation of what became an essential military research facility.
Over the decades, CARL has evolved with the U.S. Army to include modern resources such as online databases and digital catalogs. In 1994, CARL moved to new, large facilities to better serve the growing demands of the academic and military community at Fort Leavenworth.
Throughout its existence, CARL has strived to preserve the past and meet the present needs of its clients. Its extensive archive of unique military documents and special collections is an invaluable resource for researchers and students who rely on these materials to write scholarly papers and monographs. In 2003, CARL digitized much of its collection, making these resources available worldwide. This digital library now contains thousands of documents, ranging from historical reports to recent theses, which serve military scholars and historians around the world.
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