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The article explores the connections between information science, national security and area studies through a history of the overseas collections of U.S. research libraries, particularly from the Middle East and South Asia. Topics discussed include the growth of research libraries during World War II, the changing role of librarians as providers of open-source intelligence during the Cold War, and on how national security priorities influenced the production of academic knowledge. Also mentioned are the work of anthropologist Ann Laura Stoler and sociologist Manuel Castells, the wartime demand for actionable information, and the increased collaboration between librarians and intelligence agencies.