Your Donation at Work
"We enact our values through the decisions we make and the actions we take. The value of access, especially access to higher education and access to a public research library’s resources, motivates and energizes me as a library leader. It's clear that this value also motivates and energizes our supporters because of the actions they take. We celebrate their generous philanthropy as it enables Penn State Libraries to reach the highest levels of excellence in our services, collections, and personnel."
- Dean Faye A. Chadwell
The Library Discovery Hour (LDH) is an exciting program that gives you an inside look at today's Penn State University Libraries, a top 10 research library in North America. These programs offer the opportunity for you to hear from experts and students, while learning more about the University Libraries and its primary priorities: Community, Collections, and the Commons. This series also showcases how your philanthropy has a positive impact and connects you with other passionate Penn Staters.
Schedule and Recordings
LDH 2024
May 16: A Celebration of Excellence: Honoring the Madlyn L. Hanes Library
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Hybrid event; in-person is invite-only but anyone can join online via Zoom. Register to participate online.
Join us for an enriching evening celebrating the Madlyn L. Hanes Library, recognized as the 2023 Library of the Year. Enjoy a reception where we will celebrate the Library's well-deserved recognition. Meet Faye A. Chadwell, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications, and David M. Callejo Pérez, interim chancellor of Penn State Harrisburg.
June 21: The We Are Weekend Edition
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.
Register for this event
Hybrid
Curious about what a 21st-century library looks like? Come hang out with the Teaching and Learning with Technology (TLT) crew and dive into our mission to revolutionize education with tech like immersive experiences and AI. After that, we'll take a stroll through Pattee and Paterno Library to see what's new and what's stayed classic. Heads up: it's a bit of a hike, so comfy shoes are a must!
September 19: Exploring Expertise: The Early Career Librarian Showcase
Time: 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Registration TBA
Hybrid
This session presents a unique opportunity to hear directly from our Early Career Librarians as they share insights into their research endeavors. You'll gain valuable perspectives on the evolving landscape of library services. These emerging professionals play a crucial role in advancing scholarship, pushing the boundaries of knowledge, and shaping the future of library science.
October 17: An Evening in Penn State's Archive: A Love Letter to Philadelphia
Time: TBA
An Evening in Penn State's Archive: A Love Letter to Philadelphia
Registration TBA
In-person
We will head to Penn State Abington for a special program that is dedicated to celebrating notable Philadelphian Penn Staters whose contributions have left an indelible mark on history, including Dr. Guion Bluford, Charles L. Blockson, and Dr. V.P. Franklin.
November 19: Behind the Campaign: GivingTuesday at the Libraries
Time: TBA
Behind the Campaign: GivingTuesday at the Libraries
Registration TBA
Virtual
This year marks the Libraries' tenth GivingTuesday, a decade-long journey of philanthropy placing the needs of our students front and center. We invite you to join us in November to learn more about this year’s Library GivingTuesday priorities.
March 27: Penn State Special Collections Spotlight: An Evening with Secretary Barbara Hackman Franklin
Time: 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Watch this session
(Contact Gretchen Little at grl5147@psu.edu to be added to the invitation list)
A memorable experience awaits during Women's History Month as we celebrate a distinguished Penn Stater whose efforts in the early 1970s led to women in the workplace as we know it today.
January 30: The Dean's Corner
Noon - 1:00 p.m.
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Dean Faye A. Chadwell presents the 2024 Library Discovery Hour schedule and an inside look at today's Penn State Libraries, a top 10 research library in North America.
LDH 2023
November: GivingTuesday: Students 1st
Together, we embraced the spirit of giving with "GivingTuesday: Students 1st." This event showcased our commitment to prioritizing students through our campaigns to promote our Student Well-Being Initiative and the PSU Press Unlocked: Opening Access to Scholarly Publications. It was a powerful reminder of the collective impact we can have in fostering a positive and supportive environment for our students. This year, GivingTuesday raised more than $77,000 for our initiatives!
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October: Dangerous Books: Smoke, Mold, and Poison
We enjoyed haunting tales of mystery that only occur in a library at the Conservation Centre, by the Judith O. Sieg Chair for Preservation, Sue Kellerman, and Senior Book Conservator, Bill Minter. This event revealed the hidden perils that can affect our collections – mold, smoke, water, creatures, and others! With 104 participants, we not only identified potential dangers but also learned about proper treatment and preservation techniques.
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Sep
tember: Drawing Our Worlds Together: Graphic Mundi and Penn State University Press
A showcase of the Penn State University Press and our signature imprint called Graphic Mundi – graphic novels for adults and young adults. Editor-in-Chief, Kendra Boileau, explained how and why Graphic Mundi came to be, what it takes to create a graphic novel, and shared some of the challenges and successes of Graphic Mundi so far.
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June: The Toby and Betty Bruce Collection of Ernest Hemingway: LIVE!
We celebrated the heart of our Penn State family during We Are Weekend. The Libraries offered tours of Pattee and Paterno Libraries, the Conservation Centre, and a live exploration of the Bruce collection of Ernest Hemingway. Forty-three alumni participated in activities on the University Park campus.
Note: No recording; on-site event
May: Meet Me at the Commons: Penn State Libraries in London
We took Library Discovery Hour across the Atlantic for an exclusive in-person event at the British Library in London in May. With the stunning King’s Library as our background and partnering with Penn State Global, guests were given private tours of the British Library’s “treasures,” and heard about the Library's priorities and services. Fifty-eight Penn Staters joined us for a memorable night that brought together this London-based alumni group, many meeting for the first time!
Note: No recording; on-site event
March 28: The Journey of the Toby and Betty Bruce Collection of Ernest Hemingway
Lexy deGraffenried, former Head of Collection Services for the Eberly Family Special Collections Library, took us on a journey “From Key West to Penn State – the Journey of the Toby and Betty Bruce collection of Ernest Hemingway.” This fascinating program detailed how we receive, process, document, preserve, and finally display a new collection, specifically this stunning collection of never-before-seen Hemingway archives.
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January: Dean Chadwell's Look into the University Libraries
Seventy-seven people joined Dean Chadwell to learn more about the Library Discovery Hour and our 2023 programs. This enthusiastic participation was not only indicative of the success of our future programs but also underscored a collective eagerness to learn more about the diverse and enriching experiences offered through the University Libraries.
Watch this session
Contact
Contact Gretchen Little at grl5147@psu.edu or 814-863-5854 for more information.