Introduction

The John B. Amos & Elena Diaz Verson Amos Library serves as a reference, research, and information facility for students, faculty, and staff at WHINSEC. It contains approximately 21,000 volumes, 90 percent in Spanish, including a comprehensive military collection with emphasis on historical subjects.

The collection covers subjects in the major disciplines of foreign affairs, national defense, management, education, human rights, country studies, and Latin American studies.

Library technicians and staff personnel are available to assist you during school duty hours, Monday through Friday, 0800 - 1730. The library is closed Saturday, Sunday and holidays.

The WHINSEC library was named in honor of the late John B. Amos and his wife Elena Diaz Verson Amos. Mr. Amos was a central figure in Columbus, Georgia's business and civic communities. Ms. Diaz Verson Amos was active in Latin American affairs and in the promotion of human rights throughout the region. Their selection pays tribute to the role Columbus, Georgia and the neighboring communities have played as friends and mentors to the Latin American and Caribbean students attending the WHINSEC.

CHDS Digital Library

CHDS launched a new digital library featuring current publications, message board, CHDS alumni, stakeholder and client outreach tool. The library contains faculty members' publications as well as approved Fellow research papers from their accredited advanced courses. The digital library is open to the public. To visit the library, please click here CHDS Digital Library

Resources and Research Services

Library collection is arranged by the Dewey Decimal Classification System, which is used to locate materials within the Library. Though many books dealing with a particular subject are located together, a book is seldom restricted to one subject, resulting in the possibility of it being shelved in one of several different places. Books located in special areas are identified by letters following the Dewey decimal classification number and can be easily located through the manual card catalog. To search the on-line card catalog use the automated cataloging system (SIRSI)

Library Research Orientation

The Library staff provides on-site research instruction to the Institute's instructors. The orientation is designed primarily for group seminars. Teaching the use of the automated and manual reference services are major goals in this initiative.

Periodicals

The Library subscribes to approximately 174 magazines and newspapers. Many of these are military journals, while a select number are general interest subscriptions. Current issues are alphabetically arranged by titles on shelves in the periodicals area of the library. Back issues are available in bound volumes and hard copies.

Periodical indexes are available to locate articles in magazines and newspapers. The Readers' Guide to Periodical Literature, Maxwell Air University Index to Military Periodicals, Book Review Index, and Biography Index are also available.

Data Banks

The Library subscribes to three computerized information systems, with access to more than two million technical studies and more than 300 databases. Searches are performed in conjunction with reference and research services. Once it is determined that a computer search is appropriate, you will be asked to identify your needs, providing key words and a narrative description. Searches may take a few minutes or several weeks depending on the challenge.

Online Computer Library Center (OCLC)/ILL

Through this nationwide interlibrary loan service network, the Library has access to 22 million books and periodicals. To view the materials available in the John B. Amos Library use the automated cataloging system (SIRSI)

Library materials that are not available in the John B. Amos Library may be obtained through the interlibrary loan on-line system. It takes approximately two to three weeks for the requested materials to be delivered.

Additional online library resources feature the Dag Hammarskjold Library the "World Catalog," The University of Texas Library's "LATIN AMERICAN NETWORK INFORMATION CENTER," and at "Libcat: A Guide to Library Resources on the Internet."

Digital Information Retrieval Service

DIALOG provides on-line searching of more than 300 databases. Databases include Historical Abstracts, American Statistics Index, GPO Monthly Catalog, Educational Research (ERIC), Conference Papers Index, and U.S. Political Science Documents.

If you need assistance contact the JLibrary staff. For research, inter-library loans, computer searches, call (706) 545-4631.

Audiovisual Services

The Library has one copier for patron and staff usage. The copier is limited to library materials and to support instructional requirements.

Computers: There are twenty Desktop computers with word-processing capability for use in the Library. Software programs installed on the computers are Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Excel, Microsoft Word, and Internet Access. Computers have printers and scanners for patron use.

Circulation

Registration: Authorized personnel must register and obtain their library borrowers' cards at the Circulation Desk, which will enable them to checkout library materials. An automated circulation system is used to checkout materials and track patron usage.

Loans: Books may be checked-out for a maximum of 2 weeks. Official publications can be checked-out for 2 days.

Reserves: If a title is in circulation, the library user may request the title be placed on reserve by filling-out a Reserve Card at the circulation desk. The user will be notified when the title is returned. Instructors, too, may reserve blocks of books to support course requirements.

Renewals: Library materials may be renewed in person or by telephone. A two-week renewal is permitted if there is no request on file for the same book.

For more information, contact the Circulation Desk at (706) 545-4631.

Acquisitions

The Library regularly purchases materials for the library collection in support of instructional requirements and patron requests. If you desire special information, please contact the Technical Services Section at (706) 545-1247.