Libraries’ University Park open house to offer fun, tour, prizes Sept. 7-8

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State University Libraries’ University Park open house — scheduled for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 7-8 — is a fun, interactive, informative event held in Pattee Library and Paterno Library and all four branch library locations across campus. More than 3,500 students are expected to participate and learn more about the academic and leisure resources and services available through the University Libraries. The 15th annual fall event includes a self-guided tour, presentations, activities, giveaways and the opportunity to win prizes.

Penn State I.D. cards are required for students to participate in a self-guided tour of stations highlighting locations and services within the Libraries. The full tour includes 11 stops — seven in Pattee and Paterno Libraries — and one stop each at the Arts and Architecture Library, 111 Stuckeman Family Building; Earth and Mineral Sciences Library, 105 Deike Building; Engineering Library, 325 Hammond Building; and Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library, 201 Davey Lab.

Each tour stop engages students with activities or presentations to highlight the Libraries’ services, with additional options to tour the stacks, navigate a maze, and try some geocaching, origami and more.

Students who complete all 11 stops will receive a free Penn State University Libraries T-shirt, while supplies last. With the completion of seven stops, students receive a stainless steel water bottle, earn an emailed digital certificate shareable with instructors, and become eligible to win additional prizes. Grand prizes for registered graduate and undergraduate students include a chance to win $500 Penn State Bookstore gift cards, one of three Kindle Fires, a Fitbit Alta and $50 Amazon gift card, Beats Solo2 wireless headphones, and Beats Pill+ Bluetooth speaker.

University Libraries administrators, faculty and staff volunteer at the two-day event to help students as they learn more about the resources available to them both on site and online. One of the largest and most successful library orientation programs of its kind nationwide, the Penn State Libraries’ open house event began in 2001. In previous years, more than 95 percent of students participating in the open house said the event helped them to learn more about the Libraries' many resources and physical spaces and recommend the open house event to other students.

Sponsored in part by the Penn State University Bookstore, the event is free and open to the public, although eligibility for prizes is limited to Penn State students. Information and images will be posted during both days of the event on the University Libraries’ Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages at @psulibs. Individuals can include their content in the social media streams by tagging @psulibs and using the hashtag #openhouse.

For more information, including physical access and special accommodations, contact Megan Gilpin at mcg13@psu.edu or 814-867-0069.