FORT RUCKER, Ala. (July 7, 2014) -- Many people driving down Ruf Avenue might pass the Aviation Technical Library and the Aviation Learning Center in Bldg. 9204 and think that the facility is only for flight school students, but officials there want people to know that is "simply not so."
Beata Moore, chief of the facility, strives to help out every person that uses the library, whether they are an Aviator or not.
"The library and learning center serve as a place for students, and all Soldiers, to come and learn and study about Aviation. It is a place where they can focus and get free information," she said, adding that the library and learning center are open to all military ID card holders, although, to use the computers people need a common access card.
The library's focus is military history, military science and Aviation, so many flight school students do choose the facility as a place to learn, and, with the large amount of study material out there for students to fully grasp, it makes for a heavy workload for Moore.
"I do a little bit of everything. I wear many hats," she said. "I process all of the materials (DVDs, books, magazines, online databases, catalogs, publications, e-Books), I catalog all of the materials, I order all the materials, I handle reference, and I answer questions and help students with anything they might need. I update our reading lists and publications, and I go around post to different learning institutions to brief as well as help the students on their research.
"I can help Soldiers write historical papers or a battle analysis, or order some books," she continued. "I do it all."
There are also a lot of administrative responsibilities, such as taking care of her five employees and the facility's budget that Moore is in charge of, as well. And that is just on the library side.
"On the learning center side, I have to take care of the cockpit trainers. Meaning I have to make sure we have the types of trainers, equipment and training material people need," Moore said.
Moore has been at the facility since 2007. Before that, she was a librarian at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville.
"We help save people money by having this available, and the library can't stay open without the librarians and me to keep things running smoothly," she said. "There is always someone in the background pulling the strings and that is my job -- to make sure that this invaluable source remains open for the Soldiers to take advantage of."
Moore has a normal 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. schedule, but she doesn't have a typical day. Every day is unique for her, she said.
"I love working here because I don't ever have the chance to get tired of my job because there is so much to do and everything is different," she said. "There is something new to learn every day for me, as well, because the military is always changing. I like that."
Moore said, contrary to popular belief, she does not sit at her desk and read books all day.
"I wish I had a job where I could do that," she joked. "I am here for training, to help prepare Soldiers for whatever they might encounter after they leave here. We are always a resource no matter where they are that they can use."
Moore said that Soldiers can email or call her no matter where they may be in the world and she can try to help them with whatever their needs might be.
"When Soldiers don't know where to find the answers, they can come to us and we can help them. That is what we are here for," she said, adding that she has received many calls from Soldiers on deployments.
Moore continued by saying that she loves helping Soldiers and that the library is a great place to work.
"I love helping Soldiers find the answers, and I love knowing that they are walking away with what they need and I was able to help," she said. "(Everyone here is) an important key when it comes to education and training on the installation."
Moore thinks military library positions are one of the Army's best kept secrets of federal work because library workers get to help people and have the challenge of trying to meet the needs of their specific military community.
"The field has been very good to me. I look forward to years to come serving this community," she said.
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