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December 6, 2007
Free Coffee, Friendly Staff—24-hour Service in the Libraries
University Park, PA—Free-flowing coffee, cozy seats, helpful staff and a service that stays open all night—where better place to study for finals than the University Libraries? The Extended Hours Area, on the ground and first floors of Pattee Library, is open
24 hours a day from noon on Dec. 9 through Dec. 21, when it closes at 7 p.m. for the holidays.
"Our primary service during extended hours is providing a comfortable and inviting space where students can study all night, either alone or among friends and classmates," says Evening Reserves Supervisor William Harnish (pictured right).
"We're constantly brewing fresh pots throughout the night and often have a waiting line right at midnight," he adds. Libraries spill-proof mugs are sold at the desk, and the unit will be getting ample supplies of biodegradable/compostable cups for the upcoming finals and study days.
The ground floor of Pattee houses the News and Microforms Library, while the first floor is where the Reserve Reading Room is located. There are a good number of soft seats, tables, and secluded corners for students to take a break in both areas, although the rooms do fill up fast during midterms and finals.
"I think the atmosphere is the biggest attraction. Our users tend to determine what the atmosphere will be like on a night-to-night basis. Some nights we're filled up with people quietly, determinedly cramming for exams, other nights, the room can be pretty lively.
"It seems like a lot of students don't like to study alone, and the Reserve Reading Room is a place where they can study in a room full of people, most of whom are also pulling an all-nighter for a paper or exam. During finals or midterms there are times that the whole room seems to collectively take a break and look at something funny on YouTube. The free coffee doesn't hurt either," says Harnish.
Services include circulating reserve books and laptops and help with printing, using Libraries laptops and the wireless and VPN client. An ITS attendant is in the computer lab (on the first floor) until midnight, and the News and Microforms desk is staffed until 2 a.m. The overnight staff in the Reserve Reading Room, while not offering specialized reference assistance, is able to help with some library reference-related questions and will provide referrals if necessary.
In addition to the 24-hour service, other areas of Pattee and Paterno Libraries are open longer hours during the study days and final exams period. For complete information on extended hours in the Libraries, please go to http://www.libraries.psu.edu/hours/up.html, or call (814) 865-3063.