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.