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Q: What are the PA Photos and Documents Collections?
A: These collections are digitized photos and documents that are made available online by participating institutions throughout the State of Pennsylvania.
Q: How can the collection be accessed?
A: Access to PA Photos and Documents is available for free, without the need for a library card or other form of authentication, and is available at:
https://powerlibrary.org/collections/
For collections of the PA State Archives, please visit:
https://powerlibrary.org/psa/
Q: What is POWER Library?
A: Pennsylvania’s Electronic Library brings together in one place access to the collections and resources of libraries across the state.
Q: What E-Resources are Available?
A: The subjects covered include, but are not limited to: Biography, Business, Children’s Resources, Education, Find a Book, General Reference, Health and Science, Literature, and Newspapers and Magazines. To view the full list of e-resources, visit your local library website and look for POWER Library or go directly to POWERLibrary.org and select E-Resources.
Q: Why aren’t the Collections from my Library, Museum, or Historical Society Included?
A: Local institutions decide if they are going to contribute collections to PA Photos and Documents. The POWER Library does not determine which collections are included in PA Photos and Documents.
Q: What if I find an item I would like to borrow?
A: Ask your local library for the item and they will use the interlibrary loan system to obtain the item for you.
Q: How do I access the E-Resources?
A: You might have direct access to the e-resources when you are inside a library or you can access the e-resources from anywhere using your public library card or POWER Library E-Card. Visit your local library website and look for POWER Library or go directly to POWERLibrary.org and select E-Resources.
Q: What Types of Photos and Documents are Included?
A: A wide variety of materials are available across the collections. There’s lots of Pennsylvania history including soldier’s diaries from the civil war. There are yearbooks, newspapers, and much, much more. The collections can be browsed by subject or by the name of the institution contributing the collection.
Q: Why should I use POWER Library rather than just surfing the web?
A: POWER Library gives Pennsylvanians access to authoritative, subscription-only information that isn’t available through free search engines or web directories. Publishers of the e-resources in POWER LIBRARY have carefully checked them for accuracy.
User Comments
This project 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.
The views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website
do not necessarily represent those of the U.S. Institute of Museum
and Library Services or the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
