Consisting of over 40,000 volumes, the Pritzker Military Library's book collection is made up of titles spanning all periods of history, countries, cultures/peoples, and branches of the United States military services. Materials and resources focus on the concept of the Citizen Soldier as an essential element for the preservation of democracy.
The concentration of military history titles is primarily 19th and 20th century works. Though the majority are non-fiction, the collection includes some fiction with military and political themes. The professional staff can assist with research and enjoyment of the Library in the selection of casual reading.
While all guests are welcome to peruse the collection,
Library members enjoy borrowing privileges, free admission, and other great benefits. There's a membership level to suit everyone, from students and educators to households.
Click here to learn more about Library membership.
Registered users are welcome to browse the
Online Catalog and
Digital Archives.
A growing collection of original military posters includes some of the best-known 20th century patriotic and recruitment art, including material from the United States and Europe. Contemporary art prints are also represented in the collection.
Visit the
Gallery Exhibitions page for a sampling of the art that you'll find on display at the Library.
Artifacts in the collection range from military medals and uniforms to swords and other memorabilia. Many are on display in exhibits such as
The Citizen Soldier.
The Library has a collection of audiovisuals including film, video (VHS and DVD), slides, and audio tapes. Over 300 of the Library's own
programs on military history are available on DVD and as webcasts.
The Library has over 100 periodical titles available for use. They vary from scholarly titles like
Military History Quarterly, Journal of American History, and
Civil War History to general interest magazines like
Armchair General and
World War II. Also represented are professional publications geared towards the different divisions within the Armed Services like
Army History and
Marine Corps Gazette. Please
contact the staff to check on the availability of specific titles and issues.
The Internet is accessible on the Library's computers and via WiFi. In addition, online subscription databases are available to research available literature. The formats available may be full-text or full-image articles or citation information to assist in the location of articles available at other libraries.
The Pritzker Military Library is a member of the Reaching Across Illinois Library System (RAILS) and the Consortium of Academic and Research Libraries in Illinois (CARLI). Therefore, many of the books in the collection are available for borrowing through your local public, school, private, or college librarian.