What is Basic Literacy?
"We envision a Pennsylvania with one of the highest Literacy Rates in the country, a trained and skilled workforce, and a growing economy, tax base, and population."
Improving Basic Literacy
Basic literacy is the ability to read and write effectively. It is the foundation of a productive community and society. A core mission of college education is to develop citizens who can communicate appropriately through reading and writing. In addition to the writing, reading, and speaking skills you learn in your degree programs, you can enhance and practice these skills by participating in campus programs like Penn State Harrisburg Reads, by checking out books from the library, and using our ebook collections online.
Library Resources
- Library CatalogSearch for books and other resources in all of Penn State's libraries. Our collections contain a wide variety of subjects and reading levels ranging from child to expert.
- Remote Library ResourcesAn overview of library resources available anywhere with an internet connection.
Other Community Reading Programs
- Penn State Harrisburg Commission for Women Book ClubA monthly book club for members of the Penn State Harrisburg community. Open to all.
- One Book, One CommunityA regional reading program for South Central Pennsylvania supported by many area libraries and organizations. One book is selected per year, with several events related to the book throughout the year.
- Pennsylvania One BookA statewide reading program aimed at early literacy for children aged 3-6.
Book Club Boxes for Students, Staff, and Faculty
Interested in hosting a book club with your friends, department, or student group? Check out a Book Club Box from the Library! Created through a grant from Barnes and Noble Education, each box features up to 15 copies of one book, discussion questions, a guide for hosting a book club, and a sign out log. Learn more about the titles available and borrowing a box here.
| Bad with Money by Gabe Dunn | Breathing Fire by Jaime Lowe | The Broken Ladder by Keith Payne |
| Evicted by Matthew Desmond | Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel | What the Eyes Don't See by Mona Hanna-Attisha |
| Apples Never Fall by Liane Moriarty | Redeployment by Phil Klay | The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead |
| When the Apricots Bloom by Gina Wilkinson | The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi | Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles |
| The Secrets We Keep by Kate Hewitt | Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid | Once Upon a River by Diane Setterfield |
| The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah | Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner | Why Fish Don't Exist by Lulu Miller |
| A Burning by Megha Majumdar | Disability Visibility Edited by Alice Wong |
2022-2023 Monthly Book Clubs (Funded by SAF)
Click on the book to view our discussion questions. You can check PSU library availability for these books by searching the catalog for each title.
September: They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
October: In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Muchado
November: On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
December: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green
Winter Break Book Club: There's No Good Card for This by Emily McDowell and Kelsey Crowe
January: The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green
February: Somebody's Daughter by Ashley C. Ford
March: Disability Visibility edited by Alice Wong
Spring Break Book Club: Messy Roots by Laura Gao
April: Breathing Fire by Jaime Lowe
Past Penn State Harrisburg Reads Programs