Begin Main Content Area

POWER Library

POWER Library provides Pennsylvanians with:

    1. Statewide online catalog and interlibrary loan services that facilitate resource sharing among more than 1,500 Pennsylvania libraries. The catalog also serves as a source of cataloging and bibliographic records for participating libraries.
    2. E-resources that provide access to thousands of full-text periodical articles, newspapers, photographs, pictures, charts, maps, and reference materials for Pennsylvanians of all ages.
    3. PA Photos and Documents that permit the storage and retrieval of primary source digitized collections created by libraries and other entities in Pennsylvania. Its primary focus is on collections of interest to Pennsylvanians.
    4. Chat with a Librarian services that provide chat service with a reference librarian 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
    5. Email Distribution Lists. On behalf of the Office of Commonwealth Libraries, POWER Library maintains a variety of statewide email distribution lists for librarians and volunteer library leadership at public libraries, school libraries, academic libraries, and special libraries.  Vendors are not approved for list membership.

Public libraries, school and intermediate unit libraries, academic libraries, and special collection libraries/institutions are eligible to provide all or a portion of POWER Library services if they pay a technology fee and meet the guidelines as outlined in the Application for POWER Library Services.

In addition to its main user interface, POWER Library has portals for elementary students and portals for teens.

For more information about POWER Library services, contact POWER Library support

POWER Library is made possible in part by Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services and through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Library Access funds administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Office of Commonwealth Libraries.