Business Library

Kevin Harwell is the subject specialist for business law, economics and intellectual property resources at the Schreyer Business Library. He holds the rank of Associate Librarian. He joined the faculty of the University Libraries in October 1990 as a documents librarian. He holds a Master of Library and Information Science from the University of Texas at Austin.

Mr. Harwell's focus has been to make legal information resources and processes understandable and approachable to non-specialist users through reference service, library instruction, resource demonstrations, and user guides. One of Mr. Harwell's primary responsibilities is to manage patent and trademark resources and services. As the official liaison from the University Libraries to the U. S. Patent and Trademark Office's Patent and Trademark Depository Library (PTDL) Program, he is sought out by persons from all across the University system and from all corners of the state. His primary objective is to minimize obstacles in accessing patent and trademark resources and services. He coordinates a service system that attempts to maximize the user's independence and self-confidence in conducting research. He is an active member and past President of the Patent & Trademark Depository Library Association. As a member of the Special Libraries Association, he recently taught (with Michael White) "Patents 101, an Introduction to Patents for the Non-Patent Librarian," a continuing education course presented at the Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas.

His publications include a chapter on legal resources for a forthcoming 3rd edition of "The Social Sciences: A Cross Disciplinary Guide to Selected Sources" (Libraries Unlimited). Other recent publications include "Resources for Searching Common Law Trademarks", in Reference and User Services Quarterly (2000), "Legal Issues Relating to Patent Searching in Publicly Accessible Libraries," Journal of Government Information (1998), and with Lynne M. Stuart, "LEXIS-NEXIS Instruction at Penn State." Journal of Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery and Information Supply (1997).

Mr. Harwell is married to Joyce Harwell, a member of the Interlibrary Loan Coordinating Team at the University Libraries. They have two sons and live in the State College area.

Gary White is Head of the Schreyer Business Library with the rank of Associate Librarian. He joined the faculty of the University Libraries in August 1992 as business reference librarian at Penn State Harrisburg and began his present position in April 2000. He holds a Master of Library Science from Kent State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Akron. White's subject specialties include accounting, finance, investments and international business.

White is editor of the Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship , editor of The Core Business Web: A Guide to Key Information Resources (Haworth, 2003) and is co-author of Using Microsoft PowerPoint: A How-To-Do-It Manual for Librarians (Neal-Schuman, 1998). He has published numerous book chapters and articles, including publications in College & Research Libraries, Journal of Academic Librarianship, Reference & User Services Quarterly, Reference Librarian, Collection Building, and The Journal of Marketing Management . In addition, he has published proceedings and made presentations at many national conferences including National Online, Internet Librarian, Computers in Libraries, Online World , and Integrated Online Library Systems.

White is an active member of the American Library Association, especially in the Business Reference and Services Section (BRASS) of the Reference and User Services Association of ALA, serving as Chair 2003-2004.

His current Curriculum Vitae is available here. (downloadable 60k word document)

Diane Zabel is The Louis and Virginia Benzak Business Librarian (an endowed position) at the Schreyer Business Library at Penn State University 's University Park campus. She holds the rank of Librarian. She serves as the subject specialist for management, marketing, and hospitality and tourism studies. Prior to this she served as a behavioral and social sciences librarian at Penn State. Diane has been with the University Libraries full time since 1986. She holds a Master of Urban Planning degree and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois.

She is the co-author (with Christine Avery) of The Flexible Workplace: A Sourcebook of Information and Research (Quorum Books, 2001). She also co-authored The Quality Management Sourcebook: An International Guide to Materials and Resources (Routledge, 1997) with Ms. Avery. In addition, she is the co-editor (with Nancy Herron) of Bridging the Gap: Examining Polarity in America (Libraries Unlimited, 1995). She has written several book chapters and articles relating to the literature of psychology and sociology, hospitality and tourism education, and total quality management. She has also written on library instruction and trends in reference and public services librarianship. Her recent interests relate to professional development, specifically mentorship. She is the guest-editor of a forthcoming special issue of the Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship entitled “Career Paths and Career Development of Business Librarians.” This double thematic issue is in production (to be published as Volume 13, Numbers 3/4 2008).

Ms. Zabel is an active member of the American Library Association (ALA). She served as elected President of the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA), one of the largest divisions of ALA for the period 2005-2006. In addition, she has chaired many committees relating to continuing education, information literacy, and building library collections. On July 1, 2006 she assumed the editorship of Reference & User Services Quarterly , the peer-reviewed, scholarly journal that is the official publication of RUSA. She also serves on the Editorial Board of the Publications in Librarianship series, a monographic series that has been published by the Association of College and Research Libraries since 1952. Ms. Zabel is also a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Academic Librarianship . Additionally, she serves as a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Business & Finance Librarianship . Other professional memberships include the Special Libraries Association and International CHRIE (Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education).

Diane is married to Craig Zabel, Head of the Art History Department at Penn State University. They have a son and live in State College.

3rd Floor, Paterno Library
University Park, PA 16802
Reference Desk:
814-865-6369