Library

Get to know the Army general libraries. You will find something for soldiers and families in all locations and military stages. There are 62 libraries across seven countries with physical collections in all formats. They support professional, educational and recreational reading.

Installation libraries play an important role for soldiers. They offer technical publications to support job requirements and career development. Soldiers can earn college degrees and certifications, update promotion packages, prepare for transition or retirement and more. Computers are available for completing training or personal education.

These libraries are also a “community couch” with programming, study and meeting spaces. There is something for everyone, including book clubs, story times and walks, game and movie nights. A themed summer reading program provides family fun. Evening and weekend hours accommodate busy schedules.

Makerspaces are now available in many Army libraries. All ages can explore and enjoy science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

Soldiers and their dependents who are deployed or in remote locations can use the Army MWR Library Online. It offers a wide variety of electronic databases and downloadable content. Contact your installation library for questions about registration. If you’re not near an installation library, contact usarmy.mwr.library@mail.mil.

All Defense Department service members and their families can also use the online DOD MWR Libraries. The libraries have a wide range of online resources for children and adults. Access free tutoring, finance and language classes, career transition assistance, car care advice, legal forms and much more. Visit Military OneSource today to see what the DOD MWR Libraries can do for you and your family.

The Defense Supply Center, Columbus (DSCC) does not have a library on the installation.  

We are fortunate, however, to have access to the Columbus Metropolitan Library (CML) - one of the most-used library systems in the country. The CML has been serving patrons for over 146 years and consistently ranks at the top of its class. The ranking is based on such categories as circulation of materials, customer visits per hour and number of volumes owned per capita. Last year, customers borrowed more than 17 million items, made 5.8 million visits to the library and asked 1.2 million reference questions. 

CML's mission is "to promote reading and guide learning in the pursuit of information, knowledge, and wisdom." They accomplish this mission through services to the public, including Summer Reading Clubs, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes, well-staffed homework centers, free access to extensive databases and much, much more.

The Columbus Metropolitan Library includes the Main Library, Outreach Services Division and 20 branches conveniently located throughout Franklin County. The Whitehall branch is located just a few short blocks from DSCC on 4371 E. Broad Street. Their hours are Monday-Thursday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday - Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on all that CML has to offer, call 614-645-2275.