Organization at a Glance

Mission

The University Libraries inspire intellectual discovery and learning through robust information resources and academic collaborations in teaching and research that connect the Penn State community and citizens of Pennsylvania to the world of knowledge and new ideas.

Vision

We are a world-class research library with a global reach, providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for learning, collaboration, and knowledge creation. As partners in research and education, and leaders in delivery and preservation of library collections, we will leverage technology and reward innovation to ensure the University Libraries are a destination of choice.

Dean's Welcome Message, 2023 - 2024

Head shot of Dean Chadwell with the Collaboration Commons in the backgroundFaye A. Chadwell

Dean, University Libraries and Scholarly Communications

 

The new academic year has begun. We are looking forward to seeing you in our spaces, whether collaborating in our group study rooms, seeking a book in our stacks, or participating in a F2F or virtual workshop or class. All across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Penn Staters are able to gain access to excellent services, programs, and collections and enlist the expertise of library employees. At any one of Penn State University’s library locations, we are ready to help you succeed in your course of study or in your pursuit of research.

As a top research library, we make tens of thousands of library resources (books, journals, databases as well as streaming media) available to users no matter the device they elect to use. If you don’t have the device you need, we might be able to lend it to you or introduce you to technology that will meet your diverse needs. The Eberly Family Special Collections Library is the largest of our special collections, showcasing unique and rare materials like those items in the Black History and Visual Culture collection or the Toby and Betty Bruce Collection of Ernest Hemingway. Every day we seek to connect our distinctive holdings and make them available across the globe and on your computer via our digital collections.

We take student success seriously beginning with the creation of vital and vibrant spaces that welcome all students. With our study spaces, we aim to foster collaboration and interaction for groups or provide quiet, individual work. We partner with other University units to make higher education affordable by decreasing the cost of textbooks and advocating for more open and affordable educational resources. The University Libraries also have a critical role in the University’s teaching and learning environment. When a faculty member partners with one of our librarians to request course-related instruction (no matter the campus), both students and faculty benefit from the instruction sessions, workshops and learning activities that library faculty design and deliver. If you aren’t sure where to start with your research, what kind of technology we make available onsite or through our lending programs, or what services we offer, feel free to ASK. We are your question authorities!

Our hundreds of loyal supporters, both friends and alumni, also take your success seriously. Their philanthropic generosity advances our top priority: to connect you with a robust, unparalleled set of resources that inspire intellectual curiosity, foster creativity and dialogue, and support well-being as you pursue your own research, teaching, and learning activities. Welcome all new and returning students, staff, and faculty to your Penn State University Libraries. We wish you an engaging and successful academic year.

Faye A. Chadwell
Dean of the University Libraries and Scholarly Communications