Access and Visitor Information

General Information

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For Students, Faculty, and Staff Associated with the University of Pennsylvania 

Penn faculty, staff, and students need to show or swipe their PennCard to enter many of the Penn Libraries. It is important to carry your PennCard because you will need to show it when you borrow books, use reserve materials, use library computer labs, etc. 

Access policies vary by library and may change during reading and exam periods. Changes in access for a particular library may be due to seating limitations, reduced staffing levels, or reasons of security and safety. 

For complete information about access to individual libraries, visit the individual library's homepage.

For All Other Visitors

The Penn Libraries welcome visitors whose research requires use of our collections. Visitors may enter many of Penn's Libraries on weekdays without making prior arrangements. Presentation of a current, valid government or school-issued photo I.D. that contains an expiration date is required.  

Access is restricted on weekday evenings after 6:00 pm, weekends, and holidays to: 

• Members of the Penn community with a valid PennCard, Penn Alumni card, or Penn Fund Library Alumni Access card. 

• Patrons with an institutional ID from HUP, CHOP, Pennsylvania or Presbyterian Hospitals, or a hospital affiliate of the University of Pennsylvania Health System. 

• Library Courtesy Card holders. 

• Patrons with a valid photo ID from Bryn Mawr, Drexel, Haverford, Saint Joseph's, Swarthmore, Temple, Villanova, or a SHARES Partners. 

• Development officers (with valid Penn Card) and their guests (with valid photo ID). 

For complete information about access to an individual library, visit the individual library's homepage.

Borrowing for Non-Penn Patrons

The Penn Libraries participate in several reciprocal borrowing programs that permit members to borrow physical materials in person. These include:

• Faculty, staff, and students at Ivy Plus member institutions.
• Some faculty, staff, and students of PALCI member libraries.
• Faculty and graduate students from Drexel, St. Joseph’s, and Villanova.
• Faculty from Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore.

In most instances, you will be required to show your school ID and a borrowing letter from your home library to borrow materials, so plan before you visit.

Visitors interested in borrowing Penn Libraries' materials may also apply for courtesy borrowing privileges for a fee. 

Computing

Public look-up stations are available in some of the Penn Libraries. From these stations, the public can access the library's catalogs and the Internet. Most electronic resources, such as subscription databases and electronic journals, and the Penn Wireless Network are restricted to current Penn students, faculty and staff and require PennKey authentication. See our policy on use of electronic resources. 

For additional information regarding public use of the library's computers, please see the policy on use of library public workstations. 

Library Catalog

The Penn Libraries search tool includes the holdings of all of the Penn Libraries, excluding the Biddle Law Library. The Law Library maintains its own catalog. 

When searching the catalog, note the location, call number, and status of the item in which you are interested. The location indicates the library in which the item is held and the call number refers to a specific shelving location within that library. 

Public Access to US Government and UN Depository Documents

As a Federal Depository Library Program participant, the Penn Libraries make U.S. government documents received through the depository program available for the free use of the general public.  

LIBRA Requests 

LIBRA (Library Research Annex) is our off-campus storage facility for additional Penn Libraries materials. Within the library catalog, the location LIBRA indicates that an item is physically located at this facility and must be requested. 

Special Collections Research Account 

Visitors who wish to examine special collections held by Penn Libraries must create a Special Collections Research Account online before requesting any materials. 

Printing & Photocopying 

Public self-service printers and photocopiers are available in some libraries.