UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State University Libraries is piloting a new online service at Pattee Library on the University Park campus that allows for a single renewal of reserve material. This convenient service, now in place, extends the potential time on a reserve loan from two hours to a maximum of four hours per checkout of each reserve item at that library location.
Only reserve materials at Pattee Library’s Commons Services desk are eligible for one-time online renewal during this initial period. Reserve loan policies and procedures at other service desks will remain unchanged.
“Our goal is to assess the impact of this service over the next few semesters, particularly with high-demand textbooks, and report back to the University Libraries Access Services Council to determine the feasibility of expanding it to other locations,” Joe Salem, associate dean for learning, undergraduate services and Commonwealth campus libraries, said. “We feel this is a great opportunity to support student engagement with the library and explore better ways to provide this valuable service.”
Borrowers who have checked out reserve materials at Pattee Library can click on the yellow “Renew Books” menu item at the top of the University Libraries’ homepage and renew the items for an additional two-hour period through their library account. One online renewal is permitted per each checkout of each reserve item.
Representatives from the University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA) met with library staff in September 2015 to discuss possible enhancements to course reserves services that would benefit students. That discussion led to UPUA drafting Resolution #24-10, Support of Online Textbook Renewal for University Libraries, which was presented to Libraries representatives in February 2016.
University Libraries staff worked with SirsiDynix, the Libraries’ software vendor that provides library automation and electronic services, to make software configuration changes to test the service at the Commons Services desk in Pattee Library for fall 2016 and spring 2017.
Feedback regarding the online renewal service can be shared through the Website Feedback link at the bottom of the Libraries homepage.