by Geoff Rushton

Penn State University Libraries and Schlow Centre Region Library have announced a new partnership to save costs and expand access and convenience for Penn State and local community members.

Patrons of University Park libraries and Schlow can now return checked-out items at any campus or Schlow drop-off location.

University Libraries materials have, on occasion, been accidentally returned at Schlow drop-off sites, and Schlow staff approached Penn State about finding a way to avoid shipping costs to return them to University Park. A group representing both libraries began meeting and decided to turn the issue into a new service.

The partnership could be a model for town-gown partnerships to increase access to library materials for communities statewide, according to a university news release.

“The reciprocal materials-return service is the latest example of Penn State Libraries’ and Schlow Library’s growing number of creative collaborations. Libraries are known as organizations that support partnerships, and when we can find innovative and especially cost-effective solutions that help all our patrons as well as our library colleagues, we are interested in developing them,” said Ann Snowman, University Libraries’ head of access services. “We hope to increase our partnerships as other mutually beneficial opportunities that also benefit our communities present themselves.”

University Libraries receiving room staff have expanded their delivery route on campus and three times a week stop at Schlow to deliver Schlow’s materials and pick up Penn State library items returned to Schlow and its drop-off locations.

Materials borrowed from Schlow or Penn State that are dropped off by their due dates at any of the other library’s locations or remote book drop sites will be considered returned on time.

Borrowed items from Schlow and Penn State libraries can be returned at 14 locations on campus and around Centre County. The full list can be found here.