The University Libraries is a strategic partner and essential infrastructure advancing Penn State’s teaching, research, and student success.
Through sustained investment in collections, expertise, and services, the University Libraries advances Penn State’s mission by strengthening the research enterprise, preparing students for academic and professional success, and reducing the cost of attendance. Across these areas, the Libraries delivers measurable impact at scale—expanding access, increasing visibility and use of Penn State scholarship, and ensuring that financial barriers do not limit learning or discovery.
ImageThe University Libraries’ commitment to advancing Penn State’s land-grant mission is reflected in the impact we make every day through scholarly research, instruction, services, and resources supporting the University’s success.
Supporting Research
The University Libraries plays a critical role in strengthening Penn State’s research enterprise.
The University Libraries supports Penn State researchers by ensuring access to essential research materials, reducing the cost of publishing, and expanding the reach and impact of scholarly work. Together, these efforts increase the return on the University’s investment in research by accelerating discovery, visibility, and reuse.
99.97%
$3.4M
4 in 10
40%
How we support Research
We ensure reliable, University-wide access to research critical materials.
Through a collection exceeding 11 million volumes and a 99.97% fulfillment rate of research material requests filled, the Libraries ensures dependable, timely access to the information Penn State researchers require, regardless of local ownership.
We reduce the cost of research by lowering financial barriers to publishing and sharing Penn State scholarship.
In 2025, the Libraries saved Penn State researchers $3,431,657 in publishing costs. Cumulative savings since 2023 reached $8,555,352, reducing the financial barriers associated with publishing and sharing Penn State research.
We expand the global reach and visibility of Penn State research.
Roughly four in ten Penn State publications are now openly available (free to read), allowing researchers, students, policymakers, and the public worldwide to read and build upon Penn State scholarship without access barriers.
Penn State publications that were openly available received 40% to more than 130% citations than comparable research behind paywalls, demonstrating that broader access directly increases research impact.
Reducing Costs for Students
Reducing costs for Penn State students ensures access to required course materials.
The University Libraries partners with faculty to reduce cost for students by making required course materials available to students at no cost through course reserves, Open Educational Resources (OER), and library-licensed ebooks used in the classroom.
$100K
$187K
$221K
How we are reducing costs
We provide equitable access to course materials.
Through course reserves, the University Libraries ensures that high-cost textbooks and required readings are available to students at no charge, reducing out-of-pocket expenses and supporting academic progress. The Libraries invests in course reserve materials annually, including $100,303 in fiscal year 2026, to provide required readings across disciplines at no cost to students.
We expand the use of affordable course content through Open Educational Resources (OER).
Librarians partner with faculty to adopt and create OER—free and openly licensed course materials that replace commercial textbooks while maintaining academic quality. Based on documented course adoptions, these efforts generated approximately $187,914 in direct student savings in academic year 2024-2025, contributing to $367,962 in documented savings over the 2023-2024 and 2024–2025 academic years.
We support online learners through the World Campus Ebook Program.
The World Campus Ebook Program provides online students with free access to required digital textbooks and course materials, ensuring parity of academic support regardless of location. In academic year 2025-2026, 501 ebooks were provided to World Campus courses, saving online students $221,903 in textbook costs.
Advancing Student Success
We advance student success through experiential learning, undergraduate research, and career preparation opportunities available across Penn State.
As one of the University's most heavily used academic environments, with nearly 3 million visits annually, the University Libraries creates opportunities for students to engage in research, develop professional skills, explore new technologies, and produce original work. Through instruction, employment, experiential learning, and access to distinctive resources, the Libraries supports student success across Penn State.
We enable students to use advanced creation technologies at scale, across disciplines.
In 2025, 21,593 students, faculty, and staff used Media Commons, Maker Commons, and Immersive Experiences Lab services across the Commonwealth, with activity embedded in 554 classes spanning nearly every discipline at Penn State—demonstrating that creative and technological fluency is integrated into the curriculum, not confined to specialized programs.
We provide high-impact learning and employment experiences that prepare students for success after graduation.
In 2025, the Libraries employed 368 students across the Commonwealth. Since 2002, the Libraries has provided more than 200 undergraduate internships and 238 graduate assistantships, while donor-supported scholarships help students achieve their educational goals. Together, these opportunities advance student success through professional experience, academic achievement, and career preparation.
We connect students with distinctive research experiences through rare and primary source materials.
Through course-embedded instruction and collaborative exhibitions, students work hands-on with rare books, manuscripts, and archival materials, developing research skills through direct engagement with collections that cannot be replicated elsewhere.
We support student success by embedding essential research skills throughout the Penn State curriculum.
In 2025, the University Libraries engaged 39,379 students in instruction embedded in 749 courses across the University, helping students develop the research and information literacy skills needed for academic success, informed decision-making, and lifelong learning.
We create opportunities for student-led creativity, public scholarship, and experiential learning.
Through the Evanisko Project—a multiyear partnership between the University Libraries and the Department of Graphic Design—students transform a central campus library space into an interactive exhibition venue for original, socially engaged design work. Supported by a philanthropic investment by the Evanisko Family, the project illustrates how the Libraries amplifies student creativity while enhancing visibility, interdisciplinarity, and donor aligned impact.
Make Your Impact
There are a number of ways to support the University Libraries, and your choice to make a gift is much more than a financial transaction; it’s personal. Your donation is an expression of encouragement and it gives students greater access to the knowledge and resources they need to succeed. Gift opportunities reflect our core priorities: Community, Commons, and Collections. Your support for these priorities helps us cultivate these priorities. Thank you for making a difference.
Stay up-to-date
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