Penn State University Libraries have consistently ranked among the best for North American research universities, and this year is no different.
The Penn State Libraries are No. 2 among public research universities and No. 7 among all research universities in the latest Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Library Investment Index.
The index gives an annual overview of ‘the size of each research library’s collections and its capacity to provide services to students, faculty and staff, as well as to visiting researchers,’ according to a university news release.
The University of Michigan Library was No. 1 for public universities and No. 3 overall. Harvard (1), Yale (2), Columbia (4), NYU (5) and the University of Toronto (6) are the other schools ahead of Penn State in the overall ranking of university libraries.
‘Our faculty librarians and staff at every Penn State location take great pride in being able to provide critical support for knowledge creation and student academic success at the university and in research collaborations with highly regarded peer libraries across the continent — and, increasingly, around the world,’ Barbara I. Dewey, dean of University Libraries and Scholarly Communications, said in a release. ‘This ranking validates our efforts to provide the highest level of scholarly resources, services and innovative spaces, across the University and online, for each student, faculty and staff member.’
The ARL ranking reviews data from the prior academic year for 114 colleges and universities and is based on total library expenditures, as well as salaries and wages, materials, and the number of professional and support staff.
