Library offers services for Marines, families

The three Camp Pendleton libraries and Bookmobile don’t just cater to the literary needs of Marines and sailors.

Families also use these facilities to further enhance their careers and to spend time with their families in a safe environment.

Kim Basile, the technical services and reference librarian at the Patrick J. Carney Library here, said they have such a large selection of books and resources because of how many different people check out

the materials.

“We get visits from active-duty military, their families, DoD members and veterans. That’s why we have such a wide variety,” said Basile.

For Marines who have the drive to obtain the competitive edge in their job field, Professional Military Education courses are held in the conference room, Marine Corps Institute correspondence courses are available along with the Commandant’s Reading List.

Study guides for the SAT, ACT, LSAT, CLEP, GED, and GMAT are available in addition to the 15 computers to make meeting educational goals easier.

More than 30 online databases are available. Pamphlets with a list of sites and passwords are available at all three libraries.

“A lot of Marines come in to do research last minute,” said Basile. “The fact that they can use these databases at home, as often as they like, takes the stress of wondering where you’re going to find your information out of last-minute work.”

Even those who have diligently served their time in the Corps can find something of interest since the libraries here have military history selections and out-of-print material. The library also keeps an online record of The Camp Pendleton Scout, the base newspaper, due to high interest.

“A lot of the retirees that come in for a specific thing are looking for photos of themselves or of colleges,” said Basile. “This is one of the biggest sources they have for their history.”

From retirees reminiscing, to teens looking to escape to new words, CDs, DVDs, and audio books are items every age group can enjoy.

Barbara Giberson, the children’s librarian at the Patrick J. Carney Library, said that libraries are traditionally the best deal in town.

“Libraries are a free place where young parents can encourage their children to read and let their imaginations guide them to new places,” Girberson said.

“The hardest part of the whole process is getting the books back,” said Basile. “Because we don’t charge late fees, people tend to forget they have books checked out.”

The libraries only ask that people return the books after reading them so other people can enjoy them too.

For location specific information, call the Patrick J. Carney (Mainside) Library at (760) 725-5669, the South Mesa Library at (760) 725-2032 or the Seaside Square Library at (760) 725-7325.

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