To aid in research, the subject divisions also give students access to staff, said Catherine Grigor, library spokesperson. Each subject library has a service desk equipped with personnel.
"They are familiar with the collection and the discipline the person is working on," she added.
There is a subject library on each floor of both libraries.
Paterno Library contains the maps library, the Eberly Family Special Collections library, the social sciences library, the William and Joan Schreyer Business library, the life sciences library and the education and behavioral sciences library.
Pattee houses the largest collection in the stacks, the George and Sherry Middlemas Arts and Humanities Library.
New names have been given to the stacks to help designate their locations. The stacks previously contained books on a variety of subjects but now just hold books on arts and humanities.
"The new designations are just to correspond with floor numbers, because everything has been renovated," Marshall said.
Students are encouraged to ask for help at the Arts and Humanities service desk on the second floor of central Pattee.
"There are a lot of stacks. Sometimes students are hesitant to ask for assistance but that's what they are there for," Marshall added.
Pattee features additional resources for students. The Paterno Family Humanities Reading Room is located on the second floor and resembles a reading room from a historical time period, Marshall said. The room will include long tables with old finishes, lamps and data ports.
"It looks historic, but it's equipped for the 21st century," she said.
The Samuel I. and Kate Sidewater Gateway Commons is about one year old and is a completely electronic library. It is the central location for online catalogs and resources, said Gwen Lougy, library assistant.
The Gateway Commons is the first step for new library users and it is used to teach students how to access digital resources, Marshall said.
"We welcome new users to our area. We love for them to come in and to explain our services to them," Lougy added.
With all the construction and renovation being completed, students should have no more excuses to avoid the library.
"As students discover the resources available within the library, they'll certainly come in more often," Grigor said.
The time left before the Paterno Library dedication on Sept. 8 will be used to put the finishing touches on Pattee. Construction is wrapping up on MacKinnon's Café in the basement of Pattee.
Also, the Lawrence G. and Ellen Foster Auditorium is almost complete. The auditorium will contain tiered seats and data ports in every chair for students to plug in their laptops. Librarians and students can use the auditorium for library presentations and instruction programs, Marshall said.
