Naval History and Heritage Command

Story by Petty Officer 1st Class Abigayle Lutz

WASHINGTON NAVY YARD – Naval History and Heritage Command (NHHC) announced the reopening of the Navy Department Library on the Washington Navy Yard, Sept. 9.

The Library closed for four months as it underwent a move into a new facility and is now located on the first floor of building 46/67, near the intersection of N Street SE and Harwood Street SE on the Washington Navy Yard.

“The Navy Department Library is eager to resume operations in serving the Department of the Navy, NHHC, Washington Navy Yard, researchers, and the public,” Dennis Wilson, Branch Head of the Navy Department Library. “The entire Navy Department Library is now located within one physical space, which enables greater efficiencies in workflow. The staff have access to retrieve materials from the Rare Book Room, from within the library space. In the previous location, both the Rare Book Room and Special Collections were in two separate areas outside of the library. The Rare Book Collection and Special Collections are now stored in a single, secured room, instead of two secured rooms on two different floors.”

In addition to increased benefits to library staff and patrons, the new facility provides advantages for the collection.

“The new space offers more consistent climate control, ensuring the collection will last longer,” said Dylan Beazer, Reference Section Supervisor. “We also increased our ability to comfortably grow the collection.”

The Navy Department Library is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday–Friday and can be reached at 202-433-4132.

Visitors without a DoD Common Access Card (CAC) or military ID must report to the Visitors Center at the Washington Navy Yard 11th and O Street gate with a valid photo ID to enter base. Vehicle registration and proof of insurance is also required for visitors wanting to drive on base.

Some of the key features of the new location include a Reference Room that includes a new book and NHHC publications display, as well as a General Collections area that includes the Periodical Collection, Reference Vertical File, and Cruise Book Collection. Additionally, the library has scanning devices, microfilm reader scanner, photocopier, ample tables and chairs with access to power, two network computers with CAC access, two non-network computers, and Wi-Fi will be implemented soon.

The new facility is home to a collection of more than 114,000 book titles, 374,000 manuscripts, and 189,000 periodicals, with a particular emphasis on naval, nautical, and military history from around the world.

Established by a directive from President John Adams to Secretary of the Navy Benjamin Stoddert in 1800, the Navy Department Library has now evolved into an institution that holds an array of naval and maritime history, customs, and traditions, serving as one of the few major military historical libraries accessible to the public. The Navy Department Library will have its 225th anniversary in March 2025.

To learn more about the Navy Department Library, please visit https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/about.html

NHHC, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is responsible for preserving, analyzing, and disseminating U.S. naval history and heritage. It provides the knowledge foundation for the Navy by maintaining historically relevant resources and products that reflect the Navy’s unique and enduring contributions through our nation’s history and supports the fleet by assisting with and delivering professional research analysis, and interpretive services. NHHC comprises many activities, including the Navy Department Library, the Navy Operational Archives, the Navy art and artifact collections, underwater archeology, Navy histories, 10 museums, USS Constitution repair facility, and the historic ship Nautilus.