Penn State University Libraries

Curiosity led me to the Penn State University Library system.

On the website mainpage, a left side bar menu offers weather advisories, which alerts students to closings and hours adjustments due to inclement weather, and service advisories, which updates students regarding current happenings and news related to the library services.

A right side bar offers help links, including tutorials and Ask a Librarian. The library offers a service where students can IM or Live Chat with a librarian 24 hours a day Monday through Thursday, and for a limited time on Sunday evenings.

The name of the library’s online catalog is The CAT. Users can use a Quick Search or an Advanced Search. Also available is a Begins With (Browse) Search and a Call Number Search. A search box for the OPAC is available on the main page. However, with the drop down menu, the user is able to perform a variety of searches, such as Google Scholar or Penn State University.

During my search of the OPAC, I found a unique “oops” feature. Clicking on this link opens a new window with a form that the user can fill out to report any mistakes within the record. Makes me wonder if this was enough of an issue to warrant having to make this form available.

The search results immediately tell you which copies are available where, without having to click on the full record.

Users also have the option to search for materials not at Penn State using E-ZBorrow, which searches Pennsylvania Academic Libraries, CIC University Libraries (Big Ten), which allows users to search all the library catalogs of the Big Ten, and WorldCat (OCLC).

Of interesting note, when I searched for David Weinberger as an author, the first hit on the results page was Everything is Miscellaneous, of course. But the second hit was Steve Martin [video recording]: A Wild and Crazy Comedy Collection. Within the full record, the credits lists a David Picker as a producer, and the screenplay by Ed Weinberger. How strange.

On the website, I found a helpful tool called The Quick Guide to the CAT. In this Quick Guide you can "find information about different kinds of searching, accessing information in full text, how to find and access resources you need, and much more!" Along the top of this guide is the option to select a user group: students, faculty, visitors, and librarians. Clicking on each of these links brings you to instructional pages for each user group. The sidebar menu is available on each of these instructional pages, and offers additional resources such as classes, guides, tutorials, and guides.

Overall, however, this university OPAC seemed relatively standard. It didn't offer a particular array of dazzling features. But, it was easy to use and understand, which is an important aspect.