Distance Education FAQs

• What does the Combined Arms Research Library offer distant learners?
• Who is a distant learner?
• How do I find out what the library owns?
• How can I find magazine and journal articles?
• How do I access resources?
• How do I get a library card PIN?
• How can I get full text resources?
• What if I need help with my research?
• Where can I get library instruction?

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What does the Combined Arms Research Library offer distant learners?

The Combined Arms Research Library supports the academic, research, and service programs of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and Fort Leavenworth. To meet individual and lifelong learning needs of the college and the Fort Leavenworth community the library provides access to resources in print, multimedia, and electronic formats. Distance students also have access to the CARL Online Catalog and other Online search tools like our Databases.

Who is a distant learner?

Those students who are enrolled in the Department of Distance Education (DDE) (formerly SAdL) courses or who attend classes at the Satellite campuses. If you are not enrolled - but you have access to AKO - you can get to reference and research information through the Army Library Program - HYPERLINK http://www.libraries.army.mil - from here click on the "Library Reference Center" which is located on the left hand side bar. Log on to AKO - there you will see references and database links.

How do I find out what the library owns?

The library’s Online Catalog is used to find out what materials are owned by the CARL.  There are Online Tutorials available to assist you in using the online catalog.

How can I find magazine and journal articles?

If you are a CGSC student, faculty or staff member off-campus access to resources is provided by the library. This access includes general information databases along with many subject specific databases in a variety of areas. The electronic resources may be located through Blackboard via the Combined Arms Research Library tab or on the CARL's Home Page. To access some of the library databases you will need to have a library card PIN. Otherwise you can log in to our databases through Blackboard without a pin. To do this, log in to Blackboard, click on the Combined Arms Research Library tab (along the top of the Blackboard screen), click on our Find Articles link near the top of our tab. From there you can access our databases without using a PIN.

How do I access resources?

To access some of the library databases you will need to have a library card PIN. Otherwise you can log in to our databases through Blackboard without a pin. To do this, log in to Blackboard, click on the Combined Arms Research Library tab (along the top of the Blackboard screen), click on our Find Articles link near the top of our tab.  This will provide you with seamless access to many of our databases. If you are Army there is also access to library resources on AKO -- Army Knowledge Online.

How do I get a library card PIN?

If you happen to be at Ft. Leavenworth come in to the CARL and get your library card PIN.  For electronic resources see our How do I access resources FAQ above. If you are Army there is also access to library resources on AKO -- Army Knowledge Online.  Not sure where to access?  Contact the CARL by emailing ASK A LIBRARIAN or by telephone at 913-758-3053.

How can I get full text resources?

Several of the databases available through the library are either partially or completely full-text. This means that articles may be retrieved online. The CARL database listings indicate which electronic resources have full text articles available.

Our online resources include Finding Aids to many of our archival and special collections; Bibliographies and Special Lists; our Microforms and Periodical lists; and Pathfinders designed to introduce some of the resources available at CARL. The Combined Arms Research Library is also creating a digital library collection where many of our publications, to include CSI and CGSC Press publications, CGSC Annual Reports from 1882-1936, Infantry and Cavalry School Lectures, digitized books from our Special Collections and primary source documents are available in full-text. These collections may be found in the CARL Digital Library via a commercial vendor, ContentDM, which showcases several subject collections in an exciting format.

The library also subscribes to NetLibrary, a resource that provides electronic access to books. Books can be either browsed online or checked out for up to three days through NetLibrary. Students need to register with NetLibrary to use the resources. E-books may be found by searching the Online Catalog and limiting the search by “Full Text E-Collections” to Ebrary or Netlibrary.

What if I need help with my research?

Email -- Ask your question by emailing Ask A Librarian. Questions will be answered within 24 hrs during Monday – Friday. 

Phone -- Call 913-758-3053 during our Open Hours to speak with a librarian. 

In Person -- Happen to be at Fort Leavenworth and need to speak with someone? Stop by the Reference desk located on the 1st floor of the Combined Arms Research Library and ask for assistance.

Where can I get library instruction?

The Library is continually adding resources to support students at a distance. Some of these are tutorials that teach students how to use library resources.

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