Welcome to the Military LIbraries Division Blog. We hope that you will find this blog a useful source of information on information, trends, and events that affect military libraries and information centers and the people that run or use them.
June 30, 2009
DOD Libraries--Where to Find Them
Periodically one or more listservs will ask the question, "Where can I find a list of all of the military libraries?" There does not seem to be a single, best list. Here is a partial list:
Department of Defense Library List-http://www.dod.mil/other_info/libraries.html
The list is divided into service: DOD, Service Academies, Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard. The Army, Navy and Air Force sections are further divided into types of libraries like Deparatment, Base/Post, Base/Post Overseas, Medical, Technical , Academic etc
Pritzker Military Library-http://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org/resources/military-libraries.jsp
Pritzker's list is small and primarily limited to the DOD academic libaries.
Military Libraries Division Resources- http://sladmil.cimes.fsu.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=resources.main
DMIL offers a growing list of military libraries, divided by branch of service.
Naval Postgraduate School, Dudley Knox Library- http://www.nps.edu/Library/Research/SubjectGuides/Resources%20by%20Type/Libraries/LibrariesSubGuide.html#dod
The Dudley Knox library's list includes government libraries, military schools, libraries and museums. The military libraries are divided by service. The list also includes presidential libraries, university libraries, international libraries, and more.
June 29, 2009
Greta's Links--House Intelligence Committee Report
The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence approved the bill H.R. 2701 and released its report on the Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010. The report - House Report 111-186 is available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_reports&docid=f:hr186.111.pdf [long url so you may need to copy and paste into your browser]
The Chairman's statement about this report is available at http://intelligence.house.gov/Media/PDFS/ReyesRelease061809.pdf and among other things, the bill "amends the National Security Act to change the way Congress is 'fully and currently' informed of all intelligence activities." In a second provision, the bill creates a statutory and independent Intelligence Community-wide Inspector General (IC/IG).
The bill also:
· Authorizes an increase in funding for human intelligence collection and counterintelligence activities as well as research and technology
· Funding in support of US efforts in Afghanistan Pakistan as well as other global security issues
· Investment in cybersecurity capabilities
· Investment in critical language capabilities including five high-priority African languages
June 22, 2009
Greta's Links--Political Violence Against Americans--20098
The State Department has released the latest version of their report "Political Violence Against Americans." The 2008 report is available at
http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/125224.pdf. There was no reports produced from 2003-2007.
Other versions of the report are available at http://www.state.gov/m/ds/rls/rpt/19691.htm
This report was known as "Significant Incidents of Political Violence Against Americans" from 1987-1997 and there was a previous study
"Lethal Terrorist Actions Against Americans: 1973-1986." Available at http://www.dod.gov/pubs/foi/reading_room/122.
June 16, 2009
The ABCs of Military Resources: Live from SLA/DC
Coming to you live from SLA.....Welcome to our wicked cool session on military sources :D
As a former public librarian in a military town, finding reputable sources for military related questions can be a puzzle. Venturing into this brave new realm requires savvy, time, and well...some expert advice!
Look no further cause we have the experts right here at today's SLA session!
Lily McGovern from National Defense University and Greta Marlatt from the Naval Postgraduate School are panelists for today's session with Sharon Lenius, Manager of the Virtual Library for the National Guard as moderator. The combined wealth of knowledge amongst these ladies is rather like having your own phenomenal cosmic power!
With the size of this audience, apparently this is a hot topic :D In fact the room is overflowing! Glad we posted the links to this session earlier. Librarians love to share the knowledge, and military librarians are no exception.
(Wow, we are now so full it's amazing! Hooray :D)
Ideas of note from the panelists:
Lily McGovern:
Techniques you'd use for any reference query you can use here:
- The Reference Interview: Is this DOD specific?
- Get the terms, organizations, acronyms etc.
- Start with Topic and Terminology try using the DOD Dictionary or official wikis and websites.
- Finding Resources: Who cares about this?
- US Government manuals, Defenselink, organization websites.
- Tip: You may need to drill down the organization website
- Who reports on the topic? Think tanks? Organizations? GAO? CRS?
- Tip: check those footnotes for more resources!
- Specialized databases like DTIC or the JEL (Joint Electronic Library)
- Search by .mil or .gov domains, use the site searches
- Other resources: RSS Feeds, Social Network sites, Second Life, Podcasts
- Check out official mililtary Blog sites
- US Government manuals, Defenselink, organization websites.
- Really Stuck?
- Network! Military Librarians LOVE to share the knowledge & we play well with others.....
- Find a Subject Matter Expert
- Join a Military Blog list
Greta Marlatt:
- How do you feel when you get a military question?
- Try not to panic, hang on for the ride :D
- Check out the NDU Site: http://merln.ndu.edu
- Resources of note:
- Use MIPALS (Military Policy Awareness Links)
- White papers found on MIPALS
- MERLN Digital Collections
- Dudley Knox Library Website http://www.nps.edu/Library/index.html
- Subject guides by topic
- Ranks and Insignia (Know them!)
- Service pages: These are key sources! Yes, there are seven ;)
- Note the portals
- Research Tools:
- Air University Research Information Management System
- DTIC Online (Defense Technical Information Center)
- Key: Use the multi search for all service branches
- Combined Arms Research Digital Library
- AT& L Knoweldge Sharing Systems: Aqcuisitons
- Air War College Gateway to the Internet
- Think Tanks
- Strategic Studies Institute
- Command and Control Research Center
- Peacekeeping & Stability Operations Institute
- Think Tanks
- US Air Force Counterproliferation Center
- Military Journals
- AULIMP: Air University Library Index Military Periodicals
- Bibliographies:
- Air University, Joint Forces Staff College
- Inspector General: DOD Office of Inpsector General: Weapons Systems
- Afghanistan Reconstruction
- Iraq Reconstruction
- GAO: Government Accountablity Office
- Defense Budget Information:
- Dudley Knox Library site: Defense Budget Information
- Pentagon Library
- Appropriation laws, etc. (Legislative history!)
- Army Heritage Collection Online
- FM's
- bibliographies
- Joint Pubs
- Air Force Historical Center
- Organizational Records
- Timelines
- Chronologies
- Naval History and Heritage
- FAQ's are loaded with great stuff!
- Marine Corps HIstorical Division
- West Point
- West Point Maps/Atlas Digitized! Campaigns!
- FOIA: Foia Library (Freedom of Information Act)
- Web Search Tools
- USA.gov
- Google US Government
- GPO
- Public Military domain Search: USA
- Commercial Sources
- GIS
- Inside Defense
- Proquest
- Jane's
- Stratfor
- CQ
- Worldcat
- Praeger
- Military Balance
- Digital National Security Archive
- DDRS
- EIU
- LexisNexis
- Global Insight
- Ebsco
- Newsbank
- Periscope
- SIPRI
- Good Non-Military Sites
- FAS Federation of American Scientists: Military Analysis Network
- Center for Defense Information
- RAND
- National Academies Press
- Secrecy News
- Internet Archive: The Wayback Machine (Get old files!)
- Wikileaks
- Murphy's Law of Combat!
- Teamwork is essential...it gives somebody else to look at :D
- Incoming fire has the right of way...
Blogging from the Front Lines (at SLA): MLD Kick-off Breakfast - 15 June 2009, 0700 hours
MLD enjoyed good company and a good meal as 86 members turned out for our kickoff breakfast!
Sponsored by LexisNexis, our government rep Kara Owens gave a brief presentation on her company’s “Rule of Law” Resource Center. It is a free online resource featuring information and articles on human rights , rule of law and related topics. Visit the site at: http://law.lexisnexis.com/webcenters/RuleoflawResourceCenter.
We enjoyed scrambled eggs, BACON, assorted muffins and pastries, fresh fruit, cereal and juices, and of course great coffee (much welcomed at that early hour!) Everyone was certainly glad to see each other again and excited about the (then-upcoming) SLA conference. A good time was had by all!
Sharon loved the bacon!
Carol and Connie graciously pose for the camera.
Even at breakfast, Rachel feels compelled to provide instruction ;-)
June 15, 2009
Blogging from the Front Lines (at SLA): MLD Wreath-laying Ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery
13
June 2009, 1315 hrs.
It was by far the coolest thing I have ever done. And by that I mean,the most meaningful. It was over in just a few minutes. While not quite sure I can put it in words at this time, I will try.
If you aren’t familiar with the ceremony, I recommend a youtube video search. It is a highly ritualized event, the details of which can be read about at Arlington’s website: http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ceremonies/wreath_layings.html. Participating on behalf of the MLD were Sharon Butcher, Jim Dorsey, and myself – all of us with prior military service, along with Bill Cook, a veteran and representative from IEEE, one of our Partner/Sponsors. MLD Chair Emily Mardis was on hand to coordinate us all. I’m grateful for Pat Alderman of NDU, for arranging this amazing experience.
From left to right: Jim Dorsey, Sharon Butcher, Monika Maslowski, Bill Cook.
As a former Marine, I’m thrilled enough to be a military librarian for the Library of the Marine Corps in the first place. But I’m not sure anything else I might ever do will ever top this honor of honoring our fallen Soldiers, Sailors and Marines at possibly the most visible and respected monument in the nation.
I confess I did the typical “Marine-thing” and did some “recon” at Arlington last week. I humped the hill (the Tomb is about a 15-minute uphill walk from the Visitor’s Center), camouflaged in casual attire and flip-flops. I silently scoped out the area, watched the Changing of the Guard Ceremony, determined where to check in. It never occurred to me that Arlington was such a tourist destination, and that scores of random strangers would be watching us do our thing. I was "good-to-go."
HA. HA. Not usually one to be nervous about anything, Saturday morning traffic on 95N made me crazy (and almost made me late), and the security guards at Arlington wouldn’t let me drive up to the Tomb. Hence, another 15-minute hike, this time in heels and a black suit and skirt. OORRAA. Trying not to melt in the 80+ degree heat, we waited. Changing of the Guard... the first wreath ceremony, then our little squad of Military Librarians. The Sergeant gave us brief instructions and then joked with us before the ceremony to put us as ease.
To our credit, the ceremony went off without a hitch – the MLD wreath was a gorgeous creation of blue, yellow and white flowers with a blue banner, and really stood out from the others, which were the typical red, white and blue.
I remember thinking, “wow the Styrofoam is
squishy… it’s cool they’re letting us salute even though we’re not in
uniform… Oh boy, I hope my Pop is proud of me now. If he’s not -- then he never
will be.”
My father was an “Old Corps” Marine (1945-1957), one of those tough-as-nails Master Sergeant types that barely spoke a word about his time in service. But when I was a kid, he taught me to whistle the Marine Hymn (drive my mother nuts!) He didn’t live to see me enlist, at age 29, and serve as a field radio operator in the reserve unit based in the very town I grew up in. But I had his dog tags in my pocket. I had my dog tags in my pocket.
My pockets just weren’t
big enough for all the military people, places and things I have seen and known, respected and admired. Even though
my heart swelled with pride, my small act will never measure up to the
sacrifices of those men and women who enlisted before me, and will certainly after
me. But that’s OK. We were there to give
them the honor, not claim it for ourselves. And I will continue that tradition, as do all our Military Librarians, by working hard every day to support our men and women in uniform in all branches of our service.
It was by far the coolest thing I have ever done. Or may ever do. That’s all I can really say.
Semper Fidelis,
Monika Maslowski
LCpl USMC(R), 1999-2003, MOS 0621
and Military Librarian.
June 12, 2009
Handout for ABC's of Miltary Resources available
Here is the handout that you will need for the ABC's of Military Resources, presentd by Greta Marlatt and Lily McGovern, 1330-1500, Tuesday, June 16 in room 142 of the convention center.
ABCs of Military Resources: Best Recommendations for Unclassified Resources to Answer Questions about the Military
Presentation at SLA 2009 Annual Conference
Washington DC
Lily McGovern, National Defense University Library
Greta E. Marlatt, Naval Postgraduate School Library
In U.S. Navy jargon, gouge is the essential piece of information; the heart of the matter - this is our “gouge” on tips and resources for searching for military information
Trivia Question -- How many uniformed services are there?
37 US Code Chapter 1, section 101
Air Force
Army
Coast Guard
Marine Corps
Navy
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Public Health Service [PHS]
Contents
SEARCH STRATEGIES
· Focus your thinking for military research by using the same techniques you'd use in any reference question
· Determine which entity would care about the topic to write about it
· Look for organizations that would have reason or ability to collect stats
· Try to understand the military organization/structure to get to the right office or agency
· Figure out what the military calls it to use the right search terms [military lingo]
· Search by the .MIL domain to get focused results
o CAVEAT – many military schools and organizations are moving to .EDU and .ORG domains
· Use the specialized search engines for more focused results
· Site map and site search within sites
· RSS feeds – Blog feed, MyiGoogle
· Social Networking sites [LinkedIn, Facebook, Second Life etc.]
EXAMPLES
Military vs. armed forces
TAD – TDY
Acquisition [military vs business]
Rank - CAPT [Navy] vs. Capt/Cpt [Air force, Army or Marine Corps]
Weapons [kinds = missiles, ordnance, mines, etc]
Need to disambiguate
Sparrow [bird, missile]
Typhoon [weather, submarine, military aircraft, close in weapon system ]
AWARDS, RANK AND INSIGNIA
Rank
Badges and Insignia
Navy
· Officer and Specialty Insignia
Awards and Decorations
SPECIALIZED SEARCH TOOLS
Google US Government [formerly Google Uncle Sam]
USA.gov [formerly Firstgov]
Catalog of US Government Publications
OFFICIAL SERVICE SITES
OTHER HELPFUL GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
COMMERCIAL SITES
Inside Defense
Jane’s
Military Periscope
LexisNexis Congressional
Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU)
Global Insight
ProQuest
Ebscohost
Praeger Security International
NewsBank – Armed Services and Government News
NewsBank – Military Periodicals
CQ [various]
Military Balance
SIPRI Yearbook
Declassified Documents Reference System Online
Digital National Security Archive
Global Information System
STRATFOR
WorldCat
REFERENCE TOOLS
Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) Acronyms
Center for Army Lessons Learned (CALL) Thesaurus
DOD Dictionary of Military Terms
Glossary of Defense Acquisition Acronyms and Terms
Military Acronyms, Initialisms, and Abbreviations
MilitaryHOMEFRONT Glossary Terms
Terms /Abbreviations / Acronyms
RESEARCH [see also Think Tanks]
Military
Air Force Institute of Technology [AFIT]
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Air Force Scientific Advisory Board
Air University Research Information Management System
Army Command & General Staff College (CGSC)
AT&L Knowledge Sharing System [acquisition information]
Center for Army Lessons Learned
Chemical and Biological Defense and Chemical Demilitarization Website
Defense Acquisition University
Military Education Research Libraries Network (MERLN)
Maxwell Archives [formerly Air University Research Web]
Naval Research Advisory Committee
Naval Research Laboratory Technical Reports
Naval Postgraduate School Research
Non-Military
DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information's (OSTI) Science Conference Proceedings Portal
JOURNALS
Indexes
Air University Index to Military Periodicals [AULIMP]
Staff College Automated Military Periodicals Index [SCAMPI]
Esbcohost Military
ProQuest Military
Lexis Nexis Government Periodicals
Scholarly Journals
DoD and Military Electronic Journals [good list]
High Frontier: The Journal of Space Professionals
Marine Corps University Journal [coming mid-2009]
Service Trade Journals
US Naval Institute Proceedings
MILITARY HISTORY
Air Force
· Air Force Historical Research Agency
· Air Force Historical Studies Office
Army
· Army Heritage and Education Center
· U.S. Army Heritage Collection Online
· Combined Arms Research Library
Marine Corps
· U.S. Marine Corps History Division
Navy
· Naval History & Heritage Command
National Security Archive [GWU]
BIBLIOGRAPHIES
Air University Library Bibliographies
Joint Forces Staff College Library
National Defense University MiPALS
Naval History and Heritage Command
Naval Postgraduate School Library
BUDGET
· National Defense Budget Estimates for the FY Budget (Green Book)
Service
· Army
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Congressional Committees
Appropriations Committees
· House
· Senate
Budget Committees
· House
· Senate
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Defense Appropriations and Authorization laws
NPS Library Defense Budget Information
CONGRESSIONAL/LEGISLATIVE
House Armed Services Committee
Senate Armed Services Committee
GPO Access Legislative Branch Resources
EQUIPMENT
Dictionary of American Fighting Ships
Coast Guard Aircraft, Boats, & Cutters
INSPECTOR GENERALS (IG)
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR)
Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR)
STATISTICS
Population Representation in the Military
DOD Personnel & Procurement stats
Demographic Breakdown Reports [Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute]
GOOD NON .MIL SITES
Federation of American Scientists (FAS)
· DOD 101 – An Introduction to the Military
Center for Defense Information (CDI)
Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL)
Internet Archives Wayback Machine [good for broken links]
MISCELLANEOUS
Army Field Manuals
U.S. Army Heritage Collection Online
Federal of American Scientists
CRS reports
· Federal of American Scientists (FAS)
· Open CRS
· State Dept Foreign Press Center
Directives, Instructions, Specifications and Standards
ASSIST [Specifications and standards]
Freedom of Information Act [FOIA] Reading Rooms
· Benefits
· Quadrennial Review of Military Compensation
Protocol, Customs and Traditions
SOCIAL NETWORKING
US Army Combined Arms Center on Twitter
BLOGS/RSS/LISTSERVS
Army Libraries Discussion List
[subscribe: LISTSERV@ORATOR.USMA.EDU, subscribe ARMY-LIB (Your First and Last Name)
Military Libraries Division Discussion List
U.S. Air Force Live [official blog]
US Army Combined Arms Center Blog Library
Military & Government RSS Feeds
Military Information [NPS Library]
Military Internet [NPS Library]
THINK TANKS/RESEARCH CENTERS & INSTITUTES
Aerodynamic Decelerator Systems Center
Africa Center for Strategic Studies
Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies
Cebrowski Institute for Innovation and Information Superiority
Center for Advanced Operational Cultural Learning
Center for Civil Military Warfare
Center for Contemporary Conflict
Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies
Center for Homeland Defense and Security
Center for Information Systems Security Studies and Research
Center for Stabilization and Reconstruction Studies
Center for Strategic Leadership (CSL)
Center for Strategy and Technology
Center for Technology and National Security Policy
Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs
Center for the Study of Weapons of Mass Destruction
Center on Terrorism and Irregular Warfare
Command and Control Research Program (CCRP)
Culture, Region & Language Program
Cyberspace & Information Operations Study Center
Defense Equal Opportunities Manpower Institute
Defense Personnel Security Research Center (PERSEREC)
Defense Resources Management Institute
Foreign Military Studies Office (FMSO)
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies
Global Center for Security Cooperation
Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) (NDU)
Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) (US Air Force Academy, CO)
Meyer Institute of Systems Engineering
Modeling, Virtual Environment and Simulation Institute
Near East - South Asia Center for Strategic Studies
Peacekeeping & Stability Operations Institute (PKSOI)
Spacecraft Research and Design Center
Strategic Studies Institute (SSI)
U.S. Air Force Counterproliferation Center (CPC)
PORTALS
DTIC Research and Engineering Portal
DTIC Private STINET
June 10, 2009
New DMIL Website Launched
Webmaster Monika Maslowski proudly announced the launch of the completely new Military LIbraries Division website. http://sladmil.cimes.fsu.edu/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.index The new website has a lean new look with separate sections for news, calendar, e- forums, grants and awards and partners. All of the DMIL events at the SLA Conference are listed in the calendar section.
Explore the new website and see how you like it.
June 09, 2009
GovLoop Libraries
From the DGI Web 2.0 CommitteeGet in the Loop with GovLoop Libraries
We invite all SLA Government Information Division members to take a look at GovLoop.com, a site that is emerging as the leading social networking site for government workers at all levels around the world. This invitation is the latest step in building DGI 2.0 and exploring networks for our members.
GovLoop is similar to other social networking sites such as Facebook or LinkedIn, but the conversation is focused on topics like managing and leading in government, Gov 2.0, upcoming seminars, and knowledge management in government, with plenty of fun stuff sprinkled around. GovLoop welcomes “gov't employees (fed/state/local/intl); public policy students/professors; good gov't organizations; and gov't contractors with good intentions.”
A group for librarians has already been established on GovLoop by Dr. Curtis Rogers of South Carolina State Library. We’ve talked with him, it is an open group, and he’d love to have DGI members on board. The group is called Libraries – Local, State, Federal (http://www.govloop.com/group/librarieslocalstateandfederal) and Curtis describes it as “a group for library employees to share ideas, keep up to date, and learn from one another.” The group is open to anyone.
DGI members can use GovLoop as another place to network with other government librarians and information professionals, but also as a way to join in discussions with the wider world of government leaders, managers, and staff outside of the library world.
It can also be a good place to promote libraries in the public sector. For example, a GovLoop member recently started a discussion that is just begging for a professional, informative response from a DGI member: “How do you search? … Does anyone use libraries anymore?” (See: http://www.govloop.com/forum/topics/how-do-you-search-what-search)
Be a Reference SupAStar :D
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When you are ready, join a network and share the resource love.
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