University Park Libraries
Reserve a Study Room
Select your location and room. Rooms may be reserved for up to 3 hours within a given time frame. For assistance, contact Ul-study-rooms@lists.psu.edu.
Please visit the Group Study Rooms policy page for room use guidelines.
Media Commons
The Media Commons in Pattee and Paterno Libraries' Knowledge Commons, features two One Button Studio spaces, multimedia production suites with easy access to Pattee and Paterno Library collections.
Housed in the Media Commons and run by Media Commons staff, the Maker Commons Innovation Center provides access to 3D printing for all students, faculty, and staff at all campus locations. The Maker Commons also features the Invention Studio, an academic makerspace where individuals can explore rapid prototyping using materials and devices such as LittleBits, Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and LEGO®.
One Button Studios
Starbucks Cafe and MacKinnon's Lounge
The Starbucks Cafe, located on the first floor of Paterno Library, offers a wide selection of food and beverage options, including sandwiches, salads, snack items, pastries, beverages, and bottled items. It is a cashless store, meaning that no cash transactions are accepted. Payment options include Visa, Mastercard, Starbucks gift cards, LionCash+, and Meal Plan/Commuter Mean Plans. MacKinnons Lounge is located in 128 Paterno, adjacent to Starbucks.
Central Atrium
The Central Atrium connects West and Central Pattee on the ground floor, creates direct access to the Donald W. Hamer Center for Maps and Geospatial Information, and provides several seating areas with tables and desks for individual study space, and for informal student activities. The Center for Immersive Experiences is also located in the Central Atrium.
Please note that the Center for Immersive Experiences is available by appointment only, for research purposes, and classes will not be assigned VR projects. Inquiries and requests for appointments should be directed to immersive@psu.edu.
Collaboration Commons
The Collaboration Commons is located on the ground floor of West Pattee. This "bring your own device" space provides ample electrical outlets, with access to bar-height table seating, open seating with desks and tables, and access to study rooms. This area's furniture is mobile and modular to support a variety of configurations. The space also provides plenty of natural lighting, as it faces the West Pattee Terrace, an entrance/exit area, a welcome desk, and a video display wall.
Sensory Room
Located in W027 in the Collaboration Commons, our sensory space, part of a project pilot manged by the Libraries' LibWell initiative, offers a dedicated place for quiet comfort to assist students with sensory impairments and neurodiversity. Visit the Penn State news article and Sensory-Friendly Libraries Project website for details and room features.
The Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Garden Terrace (West Pattee Terrace)
Located outside the Collaboration Commons, the terrace provides plenty of outdoor seating and gathering space, an accessible entrance to West Pattee, exterior wireless connectivity, improved lighting, and green space.
Tombros McWhirter Knowledge Commons
The Knowledge Commons houses a suite of group study rooms in West Pattee Library (Rooms W120 – W128). Rooms include whiteboards as well as large screen displays for wireless projection via Penn State’s Solstice application. Students can make a reservation for any of these spaces; an email confirmation for the reservation is required.
Penn State Information Technology provides the services offered at the Mary O’Neill March Help Center located in the Knowledge Commons. IT Lab Consultants are available to assist with any problems with computers and printers in this area. At the IT Service Desk, peer consultants are trained to assist users with their personal devices. Hours and contact information are available on the Get Support website.
Quiet Study Areas
Quiet study areas and spaces are available on floors 2-5 in Paterno and on the basement level and floors 2-3 in Pattee. Note that talking and talking on a mobile device in quiet areas is not permitted.
Pattee Library Carrel Application
Carrels are lockable compartments found on desks located in the central stacks of Pattee Library. Library carrels may be used to store research and study materials.
Lactation Rooms
Lactation Rooms are available in two locations in West Pattee:
- 040 Collaboration Commons
- Room W-336
More information about this University-wide service is available on the Office of Human Resources Breastfeeding Support program page.
Campus Libraries
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