Books can only be checked out when the front desk is staffed. You must have your Penn State ID card. No exceptions!
Loan periods vary depending on the material. For items from the Law Library:
You can renew items online with your My Library Account. See Checkouts/Renewals. Alternatively, we can do it for you at the Service Desk. Reference materials are among the items that can be renewed.
Carlisle: Please feel free to return materials at the Service Desk. This includes interlibrary loans and books from other Penn State campuses. Most items can be left on the counter on the book cart near the service desk. The procedure is different if you have a reference book because the loan period is only 2 hours. You should return these items directly to library staff to ensure prompt check-in. You will be charged overdue fines if you fail to return reference or reserve items on time.
You can also use the outdoor book return receptacle at the South Street entrance to the law school or even return items to another Penn State campus library.
University Park: Please return materials to the service desk during circulation desk hours. Outside circulation desk hours, or if you do not see anyone immediately located at the service desk or in the 217 office, please return material to the book drop located just outside the main entrance to the Law Library. Materials borrowed from Schlow Centre Region Library in State College, PA may be returned to any Penn State library at University Park, including the University Park Law Library. Please let the staff know the book is from Schlow Library. Additionally, material borrowed from any PSU library, including the law library, can be returned at any PSU Library location. More information can be found on the University Libraries' Borrow & Renew and Pennsylvania Resident pages.
The library has two contemporary collections of books: the Anti-Racist Collection and the Browsing Collection. You can find both on the library’s main floor.
A fluorescent orange star identifies books in the Anti-Racist Collection. Books in the Browsing Collection are marked with a pink star. The Browsing Collection includes items related to law school success. Both of these collections circulate for four weeks.
The School of International Affairs (SIA) Collection
In 2017, the graduating class collaborated with the Law Library to establish the SIA Collection. This collection is entirely comprised of books donated by SIA students. The SIA collection is located on the 2nd floor of the law library just outside the 211 and 212 study rooms. This collection can be browsed online and books may be requested using the I Want It button. This collection is marked with a yellow SIA dot sticker.
Anti-Racist Collection
This collection is located on the 2nd floor Law Library near the circulation desk. This collection is marked with a bright orange star.
Browsing
This collection is located on the 2nd floor Law Library close to the Wepa printing stations. The Browsing collection includes books on law school success, legal writing, and hot topics in the law. This collection is marked with a pink star.
Leisure
This collection is located on the 2nd floor Law Library close to the Wepa printing stations. This collection is marked with a blue dot.
As a Penn State Dickinson Law student, you have access to the vast resources of the Penn State Libraries system. To borrow a book from another location:
Usually, you will get an email notifying you that the item is available in five to seven days. Go to the Service Desk to check out the book. You will need your Penn State ID.
