Available Library Services, Spring 2021

This semester, the Penn State Harrisburg Library will be open for on-site and remote services. We welcome everyone back, whether you are connecting remotely or for in-person instruction.

Safety Guidelines

  • All library users must wear a mask, adhere to social distancing, and practice good hand hygiene 
  • Returned library materials are subject to a 96-hour quarantine between checkouts 
  • Headphones will not circulate this semester -- please bring your own
  • The stacks are CLOSED; request library materials via libraries.psu.edu, and they will be paged to the circulation desk for contactless pickup
  • For the latest updates, visit the University Libraries COVID19 Updates page.

Library Hours and Events

  • The Penn State Harrisburg Library is open for in-person library services. Hours are subject to change; please see the Library Hours calendar for the latest information. 
  • The Morrison Gallery and the Lion Study Space will be open 24/7 for socially-distanced use.
  • For information about monthly virtual events this semester visit PA Forward Events at Penn State Harrisburg Library

Study Spaces

Quiet study space is available 24/7 in the Morrison Gallery and the Lion Study Space, both located in front of the entrance to the Library.

The Library’s first and second floors feature socially-distanced study carrels for study or to connect to a remote course through Zoom. You must bring your own headphones or earbuds, and you are encouraged to bring your own device if possible.

The Library supports quiet study throughout the second and third floors. In addition to the computer workstations, there are over 250 seats in the library: some open seating, some at study carrels, and some at tables. Library study rooms are not available this semester. They will be temporarily used for adjunct faculty offices. The ASC for each academic school will be responsible for scheduling the faculty usage of the rooms and for providing room keys to them.  

Borrowing/Returning Materials

Stacks are currently closed for browsing. Materials are available using the “I Want It” feature of the library’s online catalog. Due to a mandated 96-hour quarantine of print materials, not all items may be available right away. Instead of the “I Want It” feature, you may see “Check out digital copy though HathiTrust” in the catalog. Over 48% of the Penn State University Libraries print collection is currently available to Penn State students, faculty, and staff digitally through the Emergency Temporary Access Service. Please be aware that if a text is available digitally through HathiTrust, we are not able to check out the physical copy due to licensing restrictions. 

Dues dates for all books borrowed by students, faculty, and staff are extended to August 30, 2021. Different dates may apply for other user groups and for specific materials. Check your library account for current due dates. 

Course Reserves

Textbooks that are part of our Course Reserves are available for checkout from the main desk in the library. Usage of print course reserves will be very limited this semester, due to a mandated 96-hour quarantine between checkouts. 

Students: Please let your instructor know if you are having difficulty finding the material you need for your class and we will work with them to investigate all options for you.

Faculty: Complete our e-reserves request form or contact your librarian for assistance. 

Research Consultation

The Reference Librarians will be available for reference and research consultation via phone, email, and Zoom. To make an appointment, contact: [email protected] or see the library directory.

University Libraries' Ask a Librarian service is also available. In order to accommodate increased usage, librarians will be double- and triple-staffing the Ask a Librarian chat service during peak hours (9am-5pm, Monday-Friday). When emailing the Harrisburg Library or individual librarians, please provide the course you need research assistance with, and brief description of your project and research need to help us better assist you. 

Information Literacy Instruction

If you have already scheduled in-person information literacy instruction, we will be in touch about alternate synchronous and asynchronous options. If you would still like to schedule information literacy instruction for your class, please contact the librarians to discuss options: [email protected] or see the library directory.

Additionally, you may find information literacy modules from Credo a useful supplement to your courses.

Media Technology

The One Button Studio and the Media Commons are closed this semester. 

Zoom can function as a nice remote alternative to the One Button Studio for recording. It can be used in either a synchronous class setting, or students can record themselves and share the video after recording. Zoom recordings that students create can easily be turned in to Canvas or taken into a video editor for further refinement. Video editing software is available to the Penn State community through Adobe Creative Cloud. 

Remote Resources

The Penn State University Libraries provides a rich collection of online resources including streaming video, electronic books, databases, and electronic journals. Library staff are happy to help you find the materials you need, and all Penn State students, faculty, and staff may use these resources regardless of their physical location.

The following links may also help: