CHAPTER 3 TECHNICAL PUBLICATION LIBRARY As an AZ striker or AZ3 newly assigned to duties in a technical library, you may be impressed by the large amount of technical data that is received for the library.  Many  people  grossly  underestimate  the volume  and  complexity  of  work  involved  in maintaining  a  NAVAIR  Technical  Publications Library.  Nearly  every  mail  call  brings  several  packages or envelopes of publications that must be incorporated into the library files. Automatic distribution accounts for the bulk of the day-to-day publication receipts. The  technical  publication  library  serves  two important purposes. It provides a central source of up-to-date   information   for   use   by   all   aviation maintenance personnel in the performance of their work, and it is also an excellent source of reference information   to   improve   personnel   training   and individual  development.  To  perform  these  functions, the technical publication library must maintain at least one copy of every publication that pertains to assigned aircraft and related equipment. TECHNICAL  PUBLICATIONS LEARNING  OBJECTIVE:  Identify  the types   of   maintenance   and   operational publications. To  attain  a  satisfactory  state  of  readiness,  technical manuals are developed, published, (in paper and, more recently, in compact disk read only memory [CD ROM]  format)  and  distributed  concurrently  with aircraft and aircraft systems. Periodic changes and revisions are issued to ensure that manuals reflect equipment  configuration  and  current  operational  and support concepts and procedures. Technical manuals that are issued for aircraft and related systems are released under the authority of the Commander,   Naval   Air   Systems   Command (NAVAIR). Technical manuals that are concerned with flight personnel and training are issued under the authority of the Chief of Naval Operations and under the direction of NAVAIR. Technical manuals are also prepared and issued by other services, such as the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. Technical manuals are divided  into  two  major  types—maintenance  and operational. MAINTENANCE  MANUALS Maintenance manuals contain a description of the weapon  system  from  a  viewpoint  of  upkeep  and  repair. Maintenance manuals include the following types of manuals: Maintenance instruction manuals (MIMs) Component and equipment manuals Work Unit Code (WUC) manuals Planned  Maintenance  System  (PMS)  publica- tions Structural  repair  manuals Illustrated parts breakdown (IPB) listings Weight and balance manuals The  information  provided  by  maintenance  manuals include   operation,   troubleshooting,   installation, removal, repair, and IPB. Maintenance  Instruction  Manuals  (MIMs) Each MIM usually consists of a series of volumes specifically numbered for identification of a given aircraft  or  weapons  system.  These  manuals  provide both general and specific instructions required for maintenance of organizational, intermediate, or depot levels of maintenance on aircraft, weapons systems, equipment, and components. Component and Equipment Manuals Component  and  equipment  manuals  cover  all  types of aircraft accessories and related equipment. Some of the most common are accessory, instrument, armament and ordnance, electronics and avionics, tools, test equipment,  and  support  equipment  such  as  test  and shop equipment and ground handling equipment. 3-1