degrees with the Iraqi and Arabic Boards. The Medical College has 142 staff, and the total number of graduates from the college in the years to 1992 was well over 6400. Sports and athletic facilities Mosul University has several athletic facilities, including the College of Physical Education, a multi-purpose arena and home to the Mosul basketball teams. It also serves both as the university's primary recreation facility and as a satellite location for several varsity sports. The college also has cardio rooms, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a smaller pool for aquarobics and other activities, a mezzanine where classes are held, an indoor cycling studio, weight rooms, and a gym floor for basketball. The college also holds sports such as volleyball, fencing, and wrestling. The offices of women's field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, and men's soccer are also in the college. Mosul takes part in inter-university competitions in a wide range of sports. Research centers The university houses a number of scientific research centers, which reflect the university's orientation towards technological and practical developments. These centers conduct research, develop and update the university departments. Computer Center Environment and Water Resources Center Regional Studies Center Mosul Studies Center Remote Sensing Center Non-Irrigated Agriculture Research Center Academic Teaching and Training Improvement Center Library system After being one of the finest in the Middle East, The Mosul University Library System, during the invasion of Iraq in March 2003, was physically damaged and its holding either removed by staff for protection or looted by others. Many library employees took home many books to protect them from the looters, and the protected books were eventually returned to the library. Many other books were looted or were damaged. Reconstruction has been slow due to corruption in ministries and the violence that has plagued the city and much of the country. Undergraduates continue to use the library, particularly because of its easy access as it is central to most locations within the university. The Medical College Library is the primary repository for Mosul University's rare books and manuscripts. Iraq's oldest collections of maps, gazetteers and atlases both old and new are stored in the university's Central Library and is open to the public. The library holds collections of Arabic and foreign literature. The Central Library is the main source of information at the university and plays an important role in facilitating research and enhancing the teaching process. It