What is LIAS/The CAT?
LIAS (Library Information Access System) is now known as The CAT, with its online catalog, The CAT, is used to identify and locate Penn State materials. It also provides access to full-text services, Internet gateways, World Wide Web, and numerous specialized databases, including library catalogs from other institutions around the world.
How do I find an item that I need?
The CAT, Penn State University's online catalog, provides access to books, journals, government documents, music resources, maps, special collections, and archives in the Penn State University Libraries. The Penn State collections total around 5 million items statewide. More than 80,000 volumes are added annually.
What is the loan period for items at the library?
The standard period for regular loans is four weeks. Faculty, graduate students and honor students are given semester loans. Videos are a one week loan. All loaned materials are subject to recall.
How many items can I borrow at once?
Undergraduates can borrow 200 items at any one time. Graduate students, University Scholars/Honor students, and faculty may borrow 500 items. The general public may borrow 100 items.
How do I request a book from another Penn State location?
From a full display citation screen on the CAT, click the "I Want It" button and enter the information requested.
How can I renew my books?
Go to the My Library Account link.
Where can I find citations for journal or magazine articles?
Use a database on the Libraries Databases By Title (A-Z List) to search for articles. If you don't know which database to use, try ProQuest Direct or LexisNexis Academic for broad subject coverage.
How can I tell if a journal is full text?
Some databases include full-text articles, others utilize a service called Get-it! which includes either a link to the full-text in another database or the option to request an article through ILLiad. Or, search for the journal title using the Find E-Journals page.
What is ILLiad?
ILLiad is the interlibrary loan service. ILLiad is used for requesting Books not owned by Penn State; articles from journals not located at the York Campus Library; and articles, bound journals and non-circulating items from the Libraries Annexes.
How long does it take to receive books and periodical articles from other Penn State locations?
Generally, about one week.
How is the library arranged?
Penn State York, like most college and university libraries, is arranged according to the Library of Congress Classification System. This differs from the Dewey Decimal System, which is used by most high school and public libraries. For a detailed description of the Library of Congress system, read this.
