Library cataloging first step to on-line access

National Guard, Jun 2001

With the help of a diligent intern, the Martin Library in the National Guard Memorial Building in Washington, D.C., is almost completely catalogued.

John Sterne, who holds a Masters Degree in Library Science from the University of Maryland, began the effort last fall. The library-named after Maj. Gen. Edward Martin, NGAUS president from 1940 to 1943-has more than 10,000 titles.

The National Guard Educational Foundation's goal is to register the library with the national Library of Congress and to have a system similar to that of the Pentagon or the Army War College-an on-line catalogue through which visitors can see library's collection.

Ultimately, on-line patrons will be able to borrow articles via an inter-library loan through local libraries.

The foundation is currently researching ways to make the database available on the Internet as well as a way to develop a virtual tour of the library collection and a way to make books and records available for interested parties to read on-line.