Library

The Air Force Library Program offers resources for airmen, guardians, and their families in all locations and military stages.

Installation libraries play an important role in Air Force and Space Force professional life. They offer technical publications to support job requirements and opportunities for career development. You can earn college degrees and certifications, update promotion packages, prepare for transition or retirement, and more. Many resources are available online through the Air Force website.

Installation libraries also offer community programs such as story times and summer reading programs. There are author and book talks, as well as events to celebrate holidays and Air Force and Space Force heritage events. Most libraries also offer access to computers, internet, and basic office equipment like copiers and faxing services. Programs and services vary by location, so contact your local installation library for more information.

All Defense Department service members and their families can also use the online DOD MWR Libraries. The online libraries provide an array of 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 to learn more about the DOD MWR Libraries.

The Air Force Library Program has 91 libraries that serve more than 4.5 million customers. They circulate 3.5 million items annually and house more than 2.7 million print, audio, video and online resources. See what it can do for you and your family today.

The Navy MWR Digital Library is always open. With more than 25 online services, it gives sailors, their families, retirees and civilians 24/7 access to a wide variety of material. The Navy MWR Digital Library and ashore and afloat libraries provide academic, research and career-development resources. Sailors can earn college degrees and certificates. They can update promotion packages, prepare to transition or retire and more.

The Navy MWR Digital Library portal has e-books, audiobooks, newspapers and 10,000 full-text journals and magazines. It offers one-on-one tutoring, Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support tests, and College-Level Examination Program practice exams and study guides.

Ashore MWR libraries and resource centers are available on 31 naval bases. Eligible customers can check out a variety of print and audiovisual materials. The libraries provide free access to computers and Wi-Fi. Some have story hours, summer reading programs, classes and book clubs.

Afloat libraries include collections of print and audiovisual materials. They vary in size by vessel. Carriers may have collections as large as 15,000 volumes. Submarines may have collections with only a few hundred items. The fleet gets monthly shipments of paperback books. As a part of afloat library support, the Navy General Library Program provides an “opening day” collection for new ships entering the Navy's active fleet under an agreement with the Naval Sea Systems Command.

All Defense Department service members and their families have access to the DOD MWR Libraries. These free, online libraries are available 24/7 and offer an incredible collection for both adults and children. Access 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.

Joint Base Charleston has two full service libraries available for customers. The Air Base Library focuses on mission, education and quality of life support. It houses a full collection of the Air Force Chief of Staff Reading list books from both current and past years. It also houses the current and last Navy Professional Reading list titles. The Weapons Station Branch Library has the current and last Navy Professional Reading list titles as well as the most current Air Force Chief of Staff Reading list items.

Both Joint Base Charleston Libraries support continuing education for both military members and their families. Both libraries have a large collection of test preparation materials to include CLEP and Dantes, as well as materials on financial aid, scholarships and grants for students. In addition, we offer Interlibrary loan services which allow us to borrow books from a vast number of libraries including universities and other higher education libraries.

Both Joint Base Charleston Libraries support the leisure needs of military members and their family, servicing the Air Force, Navy as well as other branches assigned to Joint Base Charleston and the Naval Consolidated Brig. Leisure materials include popular new releases in adult fiction, adult nonfiction, audiobooks including our popular playaways, young adult fiction, children's materials, juvenile materials, music CD's, DVD's, Bluray's and videogames.

The libraries provide Internet access computers at no charge, all with CAC readers available, as well as wireless Internet throughout both facilities. Black, white and color printing is available at both libraries and there is a scanner available at the Weapons Station Branch Library. Both libraries also offer low cost copying in both black and white and color.

Both libraries offer a vast array of programs throughout the year for customers of all ages. Both libraries offer weekly toddler story hours, and the Air Base Library offers a special story hour for day care providers. Teen programs are offered periodically throughout the year at the Air Base Library, as well as free family movies nights. The libraries also offer a variety of family oriented programs. 

Both libraries also provide extensive online services for those that can't make it into the libraries often. Both the Air Force and Navy purchase extensive online resources for customers. Our most popular services include our online E-book services, online audiobook services and Zinio, our online magazine services. These services can be used with personal e-Readers, smart phones and tablets. Instructions for use of these services are available at each Joint Base Charleston Library.

In addition to the popular online content the libraries offer, there is also a large range of online databases for students of all ages to assist with their education needs. The Air Force and Navy both offer these services. The Library's website resources are available to all users as are the resources available through MilitaryOneSource. In addition, Air Force members who have access to the Air Force Portal have additional resources they can utilize as does the Navy through Navy Knowledge Online (NKO). Customers should inquire at either library for more information about portal services.