The library occupies approximately 32,500 square feet in Waesche Hall, a three-story building on the north side of campus, which opened in 1974. The building is shared with the Coast Guard Museum, the Admissions Office, and the Hewitt Writing and Reading Center. A Cadet Watch is assigned to oversee building security on evenings and weekends during the Academic school year, which allows the library to be open 103.5 hours per week. Library resources include nearly 178,000 print and audiovisual items and over 100,000 e-books. Subscription access is provided to more than 65,000 periodicals with 950 print titles housed in the library. Subject areas of emphasis include: Electrical and Computer Engineering; Civil Engineering; Mechanical Engineering; Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering; Politics, Policy, and Law; Security Studies; International Relations; Operations Research and Computer Analysis; Marine and Environmental Sciences; and Management. The CGA Library also continues to build its leadership collections, to support the Leadership Development Center based at the Academy, as well as the professional military studies curriculum.
A wireless network is available throughout the library. All cadets are required to purchase a laptop with a standard configuration, ensuring universal access to productivity software and online library resources from anywhere on campus. Furniture arrangements throughout the library are designed so that cadets have flexible space for individual or group work. There are 6 individual rooms for private and/or group studying. There are white boards for use throughout the library as well as a collaborative media table. Additionally, the library provides five public workstations, two workstations connected to the military network, a color laser printer, a wireless printer, and a photocopier that also serves as a printer and scanner. The library website is the primary means of delivering services and library information and is accessible through the campus intranet 24/7. Cadets can also request items from other libraries through the interlibrary loan service. Full access to the library resources is now available off campus to the Academy community through a proxy server.
The library provides orientation to all cadets during their first year at the Academy. A 30-minute library visit is provided during Swab Summer, when cadets are undergoing basic training prior to the start of their Fourth Class (freshman) year. During the first semester, all new cadets enroll in a “first year experience” course, which is intended to develop the basic skills required for college success. This course includes assignments on integrating basic information literacy, hands on experience using the library website, the library catalog, and research tools.
The G. William Miller Reading Room, complete with a book swap, popular magazines, games, and daily newspapers is a popular place for study in the library. Mrs. G. William Miller provides funding, through the CGA Alumni Association, for a self-service coffee machine as well as an ongoing supply of coffee, hot chocolate, cappuccino, and tea. Snacks and soda are available from vending machines.
Library Staff
Library Hours
Academic Year:
Sunday: 1000-2300
Monday-Friday: 0730-2300
Saturday: 1000-2300
Holidays: 1000-2300
Summer:
Monday-Friday 0730-1630
Federal Holidays: Closed