UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Since 2017, Penn State University Libraries has provided students with wireless device charging using the Omnicharge power banks at stations throughout University Park. Recently the University Libraries expanded the service to Penn State Behrend’s Lilley Library and to the Penn State Lehigh Valley campus as well.
Omnicharge portable chargers provide charging for USB and AC-powered devices, including larger devices like laptops. Users download the Omni Power mobile app for iOS or Android to activate a charger at no cost for 24 hours. After the first 24 hours, users will incur a late fee of $10 per day until they return the charger to any power bank on campus.
“Not only do these devices charge anything requiring a standard AC outlet, but the service is provided at no cost to students,” said Chris Holobar, manager of access services systems, University Libraries, who first discovered the service.”Both of these distinguish Omnicharge from other services on campus.”
The University Libraries, which manages the service, initially installed seven charger stations at University Park. Most recently, stations were installed on the second floor of the EcoRE Building, where the Engineering Library is located, and at the Bellisario Media Center on the west side of Willard Building.
In addition, students at Penn State Behrend and Penn State Lehigh Valley now have the convenience of on-the-go device charging, thanks to the installation of Omnicharge stations at the two campuses.
Joshua Mathew, a senior studying electrical engineering at University Park, said that Omnicharge has come to his rescue many times.
“I tend to forget to charge my iPad for taking notes in class,” he said. “One day I saw one of the charging stations at Paterno (Library) and decided to rent a power bank for 24 hours. Now I rely on the portable chargers to power iPad, laptop, and even my phone for the entire day without worrying about finding an outlet to plug my devices in.”
Full instructions for using Omnicharge are posted at each charger station. For more information, contact Chris Holobar at jch4@psu.edu.