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For Clarion Online Students

Attending Online may be the most convenient - and sometimes, the only - option available to further your education.  

The Libraries' faculty and staff are committed to helping all PennWest University students attain their academic goals. Distance Education students are no exception! 

The Library staff is committed to responding to your requests in a timely manner. While online technology makes many resources available in a very short time, Library staff sometimes need to send materials by mail or contact other libraries for the materials you need. To insure that materials reach you in time to support your projects, please request resources as soon as possible.


Call the Pennwest  Clarion Libraries...Toll-Free!

+1 866 272 5612, Then Press # 5 for Library

Each time you contact the Libraries, please identify yourself as a Online student. You will be asked to provide contact information so that resources may be e-mailed, scanned, or mailed to you.

Introduction To PennWest Libraries video

Take a few minutes to learn about the library services available to online students and how to access them.

Libraries' Website

Our website is your gateway to journal and reference databases, online reference services, Internet search engines, and online InterLibrary Loan (ILL) request forms. With only a few exceptions, resources are accessible from any location with Internet access.

Libraries' Catalog

The Libraries' catalog, which is called Primo, is the best way to check for the availability of books, journals, and other materials in the Universities' collections. The catalog also provides links to many Internet resources and detailed holdings information for journal titles.

Databases

Journals and magazine articles can be found through the A-Z Databases list or through OneSearch on the PennWest Libraries webpage.

Need Help Using The Library? 

Ask A Librarian

Ask a Librarian to find an answer or ask new questions of the PennWest University Libraries. Reference and Information Services faculty and staff will be pleased to assist with brief reference requests or provide counsel on appropriate resources for projects. Responses are usually posted within 24 hours.

Telephone

PennWest Clarion Reference and Research Help: +1 814 393 2490

Suhr Library: +1 814 393 1242    or   +1 814 676 6591 ... extension 1242

Online faculty and students may use interlibrary loan to request materials owned by Clarion.

Online faculty and students may use interlibrary loan to request items from other libraries.

Please note: Shipping of books is provided only to those who do not reside near one of the University's campuses.

Journal Articles

Begin your search with PennWest University's OneSearch. Here, you may find that the article is available in one of the full-text databases to which we subscribe.

If the article is not available online, use interlibrary loan to order it.

Tips for requesting that an article be sent to you using interlibrary loan: 
  • Make sure request forms are completed as accurately and completely as possible.
    If staff needs to verify the bibliographic information - or even your address - the process will take longer.
  • When you use ILLiad (interlibrary loan software), provide your University e-mail address.
    If we need to e-mail information you, the University system is better equipped to handle large messages - like articles - than many commercial accounts.
  • Be sure to keep your campus e-mail account "cleared" to ensure that articles sent to you are not rejected because of limited file space. Most of the time, however, articles will be delivered to you through the ILLiad software.
  • Request needed materials as early as possible.
    PennWest Clarion's Interlibrary Loan staff usually processes requests on the day received but turnaround time for filled requests varies considerably. Time frames depend on how readily available materials are elsewhere and the overall request volume at the lending library.

OCLC badgeThe University Libraries are proud to be part of OCLC's Express digital delivery program. We are committed to consistently delivering digital resources to users within 18 hours or less. As a member, we will continue to demonstrate our commitment to service, be an exemplary supplier of digital resources, and consistently meet or exceed delivery expectations.

PALCI (many libraries are closed to outside users, please call first)

PennWest University participates in the Pennsylvania Academic Library Consortium, Inc. (PALCI) which permits students to borrow materials directly from other academic libraries. The complete list of participating libraries in the consortium is available here ( https://palci.org/services/reciprocal-on-site-borrowing-program/). An authorization form is required.

Before visiting one of these libraries, contact ILL or Circulation (or call toll-free) to get a copy of the authorization form emailed to you. Present the completed form and your University ID to the PALCI member library when borrowing items.  You are responsible for returning all materials to the lending library by the assigned due date.

Interlibrary Loan Materials will be shipped to online Students/Distance Education Faculty Via UPS

Materials are sent to the address you specify.

The Interlibrary Loan Department will be providing a Pre-paid Returns UPS address label to Online students. If a UPS drop off location is conveniently located near you, return the item using the UPS label with no additional cost to you.

If using UPS causes a hardship, you are more than welcome to return the package using any delivery service, including priority mail, regular mail, or media mail.  The price of returns through the postal service will be your (the borrower's) responsibility.

Materials Not Available Through InterLibrary Loan

Occasionally, the Libraries are unable to fill your request. Each library determines its own lending policies. For example: reference books, media, and dissertations are usually unavailable for loan. Other restrictions may also apply.

If the Interlibrary Loan Department cannot fill your request, you will be notified as soon as possible.

 

 

 

Last Updated 3/22/23