Visiting Groups - Pattee & Paterno Library

Visits by non-Penn State Affiliated Groups

We welcome student groups and other visitors for tours or library programs! Please contact us to arrange a visit for your group to the University Libraries!

All visits must be arranged in advance by contacting the Department of Library Learning Services at (814) 865-9257 or instruct@psulias.psu.edu. Group visits should be scheduled at least two weeks in advance.

Remember: Pennsylvania residents are eligible to register as PSU Libraries borrowers.

Guidelines for Visiting Groups

Considerations
The Libraries need to know about your group
Prepare your students
If students will need to use library computers

Considerations

Please Consider:

The timing of your visit. Because of the volume of students and faculty that the Libraries serve during the school year, the best times for a student group visit are often when Penn State is not in session, such as over spring break. Study periods, Finals Week and Midterms are not available times to schedule a school group visit in the Libraries (check the University calendar). We will make every effort to accommodate your requests, but visits must be scheduled at an available and approved time.
The size of your group. Each library has limitations on the number of students it can accommodate at one time. Large groups require special accommodations; and, at some locations, a visit may not be feasible.

The Libraries need to know about your group

When contacting the Libraries to set up a student group visit, please provide the following information:

How many students will be visiting?
What grade(s) are the students in?
What are your goals for your students' visit?
When would you like to schedule your visit? Please list several prospective days?
On the day of your visit, what time will your group arrive, and how long will the group stay?
How many teachers and/or chaperones will accompany the group?
What type of research assignment will the students be working on? Please provide detailed information. We would be happy to assist with developing assignments appropriate to our collections, services and your students' needs.
What type(s) of library resources will your students be accessing?

Prepare your students

Preparing Your Students for Their Library Visit

Pennsylvania residents are eligible to register as PSU Libraries borrowers. Would your students like to check out books during their visit? In order to get a library card, they will need to bring a valid form of Photo Identification (school I.D., driver’s license or passport). Students who sign up for a library card are required to follow the lending code and are responsible for returning their materials by the due date.

Encourage your students to explore the Libraries’ website prior to their visit. It will be useful for them to browse the library catalog (The CAT) in advance, and make note of books and other resources on their topic. To do this effectively, you may want to assign your students to read through The Quick Guide to The CAT before their library visit — it will help them more readily understand how to search for and find materials in the Libraries.

If students will need to use library computers

If your students will need to use the Libraries' computers during their visit, they will need special authorization — which must be arranged in advance. This requires contact information and photo identification such as a photo driver's license for each student. An account will be issued for the day of the visit. Account users must agree to abide by Penn State's Computer policy AD-20.

Please be sure your students are familiar with Penn State Computer policy AD-20 and are aware of their agreement to use the Libraries' computers and internet access responsibly. A summary of the policy can be distributed to students before your visit.

At least three days before the visit, the teacher requesting a class visit will be responsible for providing information on each student who will be using a computer (please complete this Excel document).

The teacher may serve as "guardian" for any students who are minors and do not have photo ID.
When completing the form, include your information first (the responsible teacher), then provide complete information for each student on a separate line.
Please provide complete information for every visitor. Any missing information will result in the Library being unable to issue computer access accounts to the students.

Please send the completed list to instruct@psulias.psu.edu