Pattee Library
The Penn State University Libraries will help you make the most of your learning experience at Penn State by providing millions of resources right at your fingertips! Our helpful faculty and staff are always available to answer your questions and assist with your research. In addition, the Libraries offer special classes focusing on how to use online resources to find books, articles, and other materials. We can also work with you one-on-one to ensure that you know how to find the resources most useful to your chosen major or area of interest. To learn more about times and dates of library classes, call 814-865-9257 or e-mail instruct@psulias.psu.edu.
Are you in the mood to win some prizes, have fun, and get firsthand knowledge of the Libraries all at once? We’ve got just the thing! The Libraries’ Open House provides a great opportunity not only to learn how to navigate the physical spaces of the library building, but also to discover the huge variety of resources you can find there. The Open House happens twice a year, at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters, and provides an opportunity for you to gain knowledge of the Libraries by taking a self-guided tour, learn about the resources most important to your major or area of interest, and win free prizes. Keep a lookout for Open House announcements in this program and during the first few weeks of the semester in your English 015 and Effective Speech (CAS 100) classes. You can also learn more about these and other opportunities by attending the University Libraries’ orientation session, listed in the Orientation Express.
We’re not kidding when we promise access to millions of resources! The Penn State University Libraries are ranked twelfth among research libraries in North America and also provide links to the collections in other Big Ten university libraries, allowing you access to countless other resources. In addition to books, journals, newspapers, and electronic resources, the Libraries’ collection also includes many films, videos, and sound recordings for student and faculty use. No matter what your major or field of interest, the Penn State University Libraries have something for you. Using the Libraries’ online resources couldn’t be simpler: with your Penn State access account and a Web connection, or at any of the Libraries’ computer terminals, you can access The CAT (the Libraries’ online catalog) and the E-Resource list (a collection of online databases) for a wide variety of information options!
Are you nervous about choosing a major with very specific research requirements? No need to worry—we’ve got what you need in one of our many libraries. At University Park, Pattee Library and Paterno Library house a number of collections, including the Arts and Humanities, Business, Education and Behavioral Sciences, Life Sciences, Maps, Special Collections, and Social Sciences Libraries. You’ll also find six additional subject-specific branch libraries right on the University Park campus as well! These include: Architecture (207 Engineering Unit C), Earth and Mineral Sciences (106 Deike Building), Engineering (325 Hammond Building), and Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library (230 Davey Laboratory). For those of you who like to get out and about to do your work, Pollock Laptop Library (Undergraduate Library on Pollock Road) offers 24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week free laptop use within the building. Laptops are also available in Pattee Library and Paterno Library for student, faculty, and staff use. Twenty-two college and campus libraries, the Penn State University Libraries have a strong physical presence throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
The University Libraries are also pleased to provide a variety of resources and services to those individuals with special needs and/or disabilities. Feel free to contact the coordinator of Library Services for People with Disabilities at 814-865-0284, or e-mail shh@psulias.psu.edu in advance of your visit to discuss accommodations.
We want all of our students to have a positive and productive experience at Penn State, and we will help you achieve that goal! Come into one of our libraries or visit us on the Web at www.libraries.psu.edu and let us know how we can help you!