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{{Short description|Library of the US Central Intelligence Agency}}
[[Image:library cia.jpg|thumb|275px|The CIA Library]]{{Commonscat|CIA Library}}
The '''CIA Library''' is a [[library]] available only to [[Central Intelligence Agency]] personnel, contains approximately 125,000 [[book]]s and archives of about 1,700 [[periodical]]s.<ref name="cialibrary" /><ref>{{cite book |last=Hamilton |first=John |date=2007 |title=CIA: Defending the Nation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kR17AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA14 |location= Minnesota |publisher=ABDO Publishing Company |page=14 |isbn=978-1617847233}}</ref> Many of its information resources are available via its Digital Library, which include [[CD-ROM|CD-ROMs]] and web-based resources.

==History==
The library was created in 1947.<ref name="cialibrary4" /> During the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956|Hungarian Revolution]], the CIA librarian reviewed tapes of broadcasts by [[Radio Free Europe]] two other Hungarian speakers who worked for the agency,{{clarify|date=February 2025}} and provided answers to questions posed by the Agency's International Organization Division.<ref>"Memorandum from the CIA Librarian to the Chief of the International Organizations Division, 'Personal Comments on RFE Broadcasting to Hungary, 24 October-4 November 1956' [Approved for Release, March 2007]," January 10, 1957, History and Public Policy Program Digital Archive, CIA Mandatory Declassification Review, MORI #1426220. Obtained and contributed to CWIHP by A. Ross Johnson. Cited in his book 'Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty,' Ch3 n82. https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/208858</ref><ref> "CIA Librarian, 'Report on a Review of Radio Free Europe Broadcasts Beamed to Hungary, from 24 October to 4 November 1956' [Approved for Release, March 2007]," January 14, 1957, History and Public Policy Program Digital Archive, CIA Mandatory Declassification Review, MORI #1426219. Obtained and contributed to CWIHP by A. Ross Johnson. Cited in his book 'Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty,' Ch3 n82. https://digitalarchive.wilsoncenter.org/document/115004</ref> In later years, names of two librarians would be revealed: Alexander Toth who worked as a librarian in the 1950s, and Evelyn C. Chen, who received a [[Master of Library and Information Science|masters degree in library science]] from [[Columbia University]], working as a librarian from 1961 to 1972.<ref>{{cite book |last=Baker |first=Nicholson |date=2002 |chapter=Original Keepsakes |title=Double Fold: Libraries and the Assault on Paper |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k8LIgJBnKY8C&pg=PT40 |location=New York City |publisher=[[Random House#Acquisition by Bertelsmann|Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group]] |page=40 |isbn=1400033047}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59314-2004Feb20_5.html |title=Obituaries: Evelyn C. Chen CIA Librarian  |last= |first= |date=February 20, 2004 |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |access-date=August 15, 2021 |quote= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827083133/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A59314-2004Feb20_5.html |archive-date=August 27, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1994, [[Harold Weisberg]] told CIA Director [[R. James Woolsey]] that a librarian that used to work at [[Hood College]] had once worked for the Agency as a librarian.<ref>{{cite letter |first=Weisberg |last=Harold |recipient=[[R. James Woolsey]] |subject=CIA Matters |language=en |date=October 17, 1994 |url=http://jfk.hood.edu/Collection/Weisberg%20Subject%20Index%20Files/C%20Disk/CIA%20FOIA%20Not%20Filed%20Elsewhere/Item%2012.pdf |access-date=August 15, 2021 }}</ref>

In February 1997, three librarians working at the institution spoke to ''[[Information Outlook]]'', a publication of the [[Special Libraries Association]] (SLA), noted the importance of the library in disseminating information to employees, even with a small staff, and how the library organizes its materials.<ref name="cialibrary4">{{cite journal|last1=Wright|first1=Susan L.|title=50 Years of Silent Service: Inside the CIA Library|journal=[[Information Outlook]]|publisher=[[Special Libraries Association]]|date=February 1, 1997|volume=1|issue=2|pages=33–35|url=https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=sla_io_1997|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520004327/https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=sla_io_1997|archive-date=May 20, 2018|url-status=live}} Also available [https://web.archive.org/web/20080119152306/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FWE/is_n2_v1/ai_19579694 here]</ref>

Peggy Tuten, chief of the CIA library from 1999 to 2006, revealed in 2020 that staff at the library were some of the first users of the internet, in 1999, at the Agency.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Tuten |first1=Peggy |year=2020 |chapter=What's a Librarian Do at the CIA? |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EYzvDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA15 |editor1-last=Mickolus |editor1-first=Edward |title=More Stories from Langley: Another Glimpse inside the CIA |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EYzvDwAAQBAJ |language=en |location=[[Lincoln, Nebraska]] |publisher=University of Nebraska Press |pages=19–24 |isbn=978-1640123779}}</ref> She also noted that in 2001 the library moved from being part of the [[Central Intelligence Agency#Directorate of Analysis|Directorate of Intelligence]] to under the [[Foreign Broadcast Information Service]], a subdivision of the Agency's [[Central Intelligence Agency Directorate of Science & Technology|Directorate of Science and Technology]], annoying staff. Tuten also noted that following [[9/11]], the library was renovated as the Agency began to hire new staff, and that she left the library in 2006 to join the [[Open Source Center]] of the [[Director of National Intelligence]]. In later years she recruited students in library schools to join the Agency for their careers.

In August 2000, Kimberley W. Condas of library was awarded the 2000 International Special Librarians Day (ISLD) Award, which is given to a member, or members, of the SLA who use the International Special Librarians Day to "promote their own libraries and the profession."<ref>{{cite journal|title=CIA Librarian Recognized for Promoting Librarianship|journal=[[Information Outlook]]|publisher=[[Special Libraries Association]]|date=August 1, 2000|volume=4|issue=8|pages=6|url=https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=sla_io_2000|access-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520003435/https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1007&context=sla_io_2000|archive-date=May 20, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Condas chaired a committee which promoted ISLD to Agency employees, with more than 500 attending the event.

In May 2007, it was reported that the Agency was looking for "trained, innovative, customer-service oriented librarians" who had [[East Asian languages|East Asian]], [[Chinese language|Chinese]], and [[Arabic]] language skills, and had various library skills.<ref>{{cite web|last=Liu|first=Jing|url=http://blogs.ubc.ca/chinese/2007/05/23/cia-library-chinese-non-ref-positions/|title=CIA Library Chinese Non-Ref Positions|website=Chinese Canadian Library Weblog|publisher=[[University of British Columbia]]|date=May 23, 2007|access-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210815143053/http://blogs.ubc.ca/chinese/2007/05/23/cia-library-chinese-non-ref-positions/|archive-date=August 15, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

In March 2016 it was reported that the Agency was hiring a librarian, with a salary of "$50,864 to $118,069 a year".<ref>{{cite web|last=Long|first=Heather|url=https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2016/03/05/the-cia-is-hiring-a-100000-librarian/|title=The CIA Is Hiring A $100,000 Librarian|website=[[CBS Philly]]|publisher=[[CNN]]|date=March 5, 2016|access-date=August 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804175725/https://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2016/03/05/the-cia-is-hiring-a-100000-librarian/|archive-date=August 4, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The job notice also stated that librarians have opportunities to serve as embedded "information experts" within the Agency and play an important part in "intelligence gathering and managing CIA materials."

In an April 2019 [[Twitter]] thread, the Agency said they had full-time librarians, with library cards only available to those with [[security clearances]].<ref>{{Cite tweet |author=CIA |author-link=Central Intelligence Agency |user=CIA |number=1116407487450755075 |date=April 11, 2019 |title=When most people think of CIA & the officers who help keep our country safe, a #librarian is probably not what comes to mind. Maybe it should. Some heroes wear cardigans. #AwesomeCon 2019. ~ Molly #NationalLibraryWeek #AskMollyHale |language=en |access-date=August 15, 2021 |link=https://twitter.com/CIA/status/1116407487450755075 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507111012if_/https://twitter.com/CIA/status/1116407487450755075 |archive-date=May 7, 2019 |ref=}}</ref> An accompanying blog post said that the library might appear like modern public libraries, but has a mostly [[declassified]] collection, even with DVDs of "[[spy movie|spy movies]] and documentaries," and noted that some librarians are even recruited by other parts of the Agency due to their research and [[information science]] skills.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/news-information/blog/2019/ask-molly-april-11-2019.html|title=Ask Molly: April 11, 2019|website=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|date=April 11, 2019|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190601184102/https://www.cia.gov/news-information/blog/2019/ask-molly-april-11-2019.html|archive-date=June 1, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In April 2020, the Agency promoted the library's resources during [[National Library Week]], noting the roles of libraries at the CIA, sharing declassified and [[unclassified]] resources about the Agency.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/news-information/blog/2020/find-the-library-at-your-place-cia-resources-for-national-library-week.html|title=Find the Library at Your Place: CIA Resources for National Library Week|website=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|date=April 29, 2020|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620021053/https://www.cia.gov/news-information/blog/2020/find-the-library-at-your-place-cia-resources-for-national-library-week.html|archive-date=June 20, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[American Libraries]], the flagship magazine of the [[American Library Association]], entitled a post "Find the CIA Library at your place," quoting and linking to the Agency's post.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/latest-links/find-cia-library-place/|title=Find the CIA Library at your place|website=[[American Libraries]]|date=April 2020|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815033958/https://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/latest-links/find-cia-library-place/|archive-date=August 15, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

In May 2021, an unnamed [[gay man|gay]] librarian, who worked for the library, was shown in a [[Recruitment of spies|recruitment video]] for the Agency.<ref name="cialibrary2">{{cite web|last=Maurice|first=Emma Powys|url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/05/11/cia-woke-recruiment-advert-gay-librarian-humans-of-cia-video/|title=Gay CIA employee 'stunned' by rainbow in another cringe-inducing recruitment ad|website=[[PinkNews]]|date=May 11, 2021|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514130219/https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/05/11/cia-woke-recruiment-advert-gay-librarian-humans-of-cia-video/|archive-date=May 14, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="cialibrary3">{{cite web|last=Borger|first=Julian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/04/cia-woke-recruitment-ad|title=CIA forges unity in diversity: everybody hates their 'woke' recruitment ad|website=[[The Guardian]]|date=May 4, 2021|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728235110/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/04/cia-woke-recruitment-ad|archive-date=July 28, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Collections==
The Library maintains three collections: Reference, Circulating, and Historical Intelligence. New material for these collections is selected around current intelligence objectives and priorities.<ref name="cialibrary">{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/legacy/headquarters/cia-library/|title=CIA Library|website=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318232002/https://www.cia.gov/legacy/headquarters/cia-library/|archive-date=March 18, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> 

The reference collection includes core research tools such as [[encyclopedia]]s, [[dictionary|dictionaries]], commercial directories, atlases, diplomatic lists, and foreign and domestic [[phone book]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/|title=Library|website=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201003533/https://www.cia.gov/library/|archive-date=February 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[CD-ROM]]s and extensive commercial database services round out the collection.<ref name="cialibrary" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Swenson |first1=Allan A. |last2=Benson |first2=Michael |date=2002 |title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to the CIA |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Kj1m9KUps8C&pg=PA35 |pages=34–35 |location=London |publisher=[[Penguin Group]] |isbn=0028643968 }}</ref> At one time, the CREST, otherwise known as the Central Intelligence Agency's Freedom of Information Act Electronic Reading Room, was under the library, along with other historical publications, and current ones like [[The World Factbook]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/collection/crest-25-year-program-archive|title=CREST - 25-Year Program Archive|website=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201080614/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/collection/crest-25-year-program-archive|archive-date=February 1, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/collection/crest-25-year-program-archive|title=Historical Collection Publications|website=[[Central Intelligence Agency]]|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120129092432/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/historical-collection-publications/index.html|archive-date=January 29, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>  In 1994, the collection was described as a "centralized  library reference file," with documents retained in paper and microform.<ref>{{cite report |url=https://www.archives.gov/files/records-mgmt/rcs/schedules/independent-agencies/rg-0263/n1-263-93-003_sf115.pdf |date=February 4, 1994 |title=Request for Records Deposition Authority |publisher=[[National Archives and Records Administration]] |page=1 |access-date=August 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415033604/https://www.archives.gov/files/records-mgmt/rcs/schedules/independent-agencies/rg-0263/n1-263-93-003_sf115.pdf |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The circulating collection consists of [[monograph]]s, [[newspapers]], and [[Academic journal|journals]]. Many information resources, such as CD-ROMs and web-based resources, are available to customers via the Digital Library.<ref name="cialibrary" /> The library also participates in inter-library loans of circulating items with other domestic libraries.<ref name="cialibrary" /><ref>{{cite book |last1=Martirosyan |first1=Tigran |last2=Maretti |first2=Silvia |last3=Starr |first3=S. Frederick |date=2016 |title=Scholars' Guide to Washington, D.C. for Central Asian and Caucasus Studies: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eSW3DAAAQBAJ&pg=PA279 |location=[[Milton Park]], [[Abingdon-on-Thames]], [[Oxfordshire]], England, UK |publisher=[[Routledge]] |page=279 |isbn=978-1315497563}}</ref>

The Historical Intelligence Collection is primarily an open-source library dedicated to the collection, retention, and exploitation of material dealing with the intelligence profession. Currently there are over 25,000 books and an extensive collection of press clippings on that subject.<ref name="cialibrary" /><ref>{{cite book |date=1995 |title=Factbook on (Government) Intelligence |chapter=CIA Library |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v8V6ibn4G-YC&pg=PA27 |location=Darby, PA |publisher=DIANE Publishing Company |page=27 |isbn=0788123874}}</ref> This likely includes documents which detail the "CIA's role in Indochina during the Vietnam War," and about the launching of [[Sputnik]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://carlcgsc.libguides.com/c.php?g=1028347&p=7457145|title=CIA - Vietnam War|website=Ike Skelton Combined Arms Research Library|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210815034356/https://carlcgsc.libguides.com/c.php?g=1028347&p=7457145|archive-date=August 15, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Bradley|first=Michelle Cadoree|url=https://guides.loc.gov/sputnik-and-the-space-race/primary-resources|title=Sputnik and the Space Race: 1957 and Beyond--Primary Sources|website=[[Library of Congress]]|date=July 10, 2019|access-date=August 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210723100935/https://guides.loc.gov/sputnik-and-the-space-race/primary-resources|archive-date=July 23, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[A-Space#LNI|The Library of National Intelligence]], part of the CIA's [[A-Space]] project

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book |author=Central Intelligence Agency |author-link=Central Intelligence Agency |date=1960 |title=CIA Library Subject Headings and Classed Schedules for Law, Communism and the Communist Parties, Intelligence and Security |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P-Z74P8oY6IC |location=Langley, Virginia |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Central Reference }}

* {{cite book |author=Central Intelligence Agency |author-link=Central Intelligence Agency |date=1959 |title=Subject Headings and Classed Schedules for Law, Communism and the Communist Parties, and Intelligence and Security in the CIA Library |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MiWAGwAACAAJ |location=Langley, Virginia |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Central Reference }}

==External links==
*[https://www.cia.gov/legacy/headquarters/cia-library/ Official page on Central Intelligence Agency website]
*[http://www.fas.org/irp/cia/product/facttell/library.htm Factbook on Intelligence]

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[[Category:Installations of the Central Intelligence Agency|Library]]
[[Category:Libraries in Virginia]]