Alliance News and Updates

The Colorado Alliance of Reserach Libraries is pleased to announce that the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) has joined the Alliance as of October 2017.

USAFA, located just north of Colorado Springs, Colorado, is an undergraduate institution that awards the Bachelor of Science degree as part of its mission to educate, train, and inspire men and women to become officers of character, motivated to lead in the United States Air Force and in service to our nation. The student body consists of approximately 4,000 men and women representing every state and several foreign countries. The Academy faculty is an integrated group of military and civilian educators. The curriculum includes core academic and professional courses, and 27 disciplinary and interdisciplinary majors.

The McDermott Library plays an integral role in sustaining the teaching mission of the institution as well as a robust faculty/student research program. The staff of 14 professionals and 20 technicians serves approximately 4,000 cadets, 530 faculty, staff, and authorized researchers by providing an environment conducive to study, research, and collaboration in which stewardship of library materials meets the most exacting of national standards and legal requirements. The library operates on a 12-month calendar with 80 hours per week during the academic year; 50 hours per week for summers and holidays. The McDermott Library is housed on four floors, contains over 800,000 print volumes, and provides access to more than 110 databases. The distinctive Academy Archives and Special Collections Branch of the Library include a wide variety of primary-source materials on the history and heritage of flight, the Academy, and the Air Force.