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Featured Books and DVDs

Native American Heritage Month

Celebrate Native American Heritage Month by exploring some of the great works in our collections that were created by people indigenous to the United States and North America.

See our picks
A multicolored stack of books sits next to a stack of DVDs on a rock surrounded by fallen leaves. A few of the titles include books American Indian Stories, Warrior Poet, and Sound Relations; and DVDs Smoke Signals, Rabbit-Proof Fence, and Skins.

Using the Library

Quick Start Guide

Search the Franklin Catalog

Use Franklin to find books, journal articles, databases, CDs and DVDs, and anything else in the Penn Libraries collections.

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Get Off-Campus Access

Need to access subscription materials like journals, databases, and ebooks when you’re not on campus? Check out our cheat sheet.

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Request Scans

Our library staff can scan book chapters and articles for quick delivery directly to your inbox.

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Receive Books by Mail

When you register for Books By Mail, you can request to have books sent to your off-campus address anywhere in the United States.

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Ask a Question Anytime

Explore our archive of Frequently Asked Questions. Can’t find the answer you’re looking for? Submit your question anytime, and we’ll respond within 24 hours.

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Book a Consultation

Book an in-person or virtual consultation with a librarian or technology consultant with expertise in your field of study, copyright, digital fabrication, or statistical and design software.

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Browse our spaces

Explore our array of flexible and innovative spaces, from collaborative or quiet study spots to classrooms designed for active learning and equipped with the latest technology.

People studying by the felt wall of the Reading Room. Cushioned seats and reading lamps line the long wooden tables.

Reserve a room

Already know exactly which room you need? Head directly to our room reservation system.

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Explore our library locations

Like to study in the middle of the night? Need specialized databases at your fingertips? Looking for a location close to your classes? Find out how to visit all our library locations across campus—and beyond—and discover which one suits your needs best. 

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Featured Collections

The Penn Libraries' global collections encompass hundreds of languages and scripts across a broad range of subject areas, preserving the rich cultural and scholarly record from Africa, East Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and South Asia. Read about some of our unique recent acquisitions.

A pile of colorful books. Visible titles include "Reconciliation: Journey of Solidarity Through A Wounded India," "My Days In the Underworld: The Rise of the Bangalore Mafia," and "Queen of Hearts."

The Legacy of Westland Books

In the last year, the Penn Libraries purchased more than 400 volumes published by the recently-shuttered Indian publisher Westland Books.

Books on a shelf. Legible titles include: The Usual Suspects, Belles, Sea Winter, Dream Country, and The Last-Last Day of Summer.

Award-Winning Books

Discover books in the Penn Libraries collections that have won awards for their depictions of or significance to marginalized communities.

Eye chart printed with Hebrew letters in various sizes.

Yiddish-Language Collections

The Penn Libraries' Yiddish-language holdings document the story of Yiddish language, literature, culture, and history.

Upcoming Events

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Library patrons using computers in the Electronic Lookup Center.
  • Workshop
November 29, 2023

Academic Autumn Workshop: Where to Publish in the Health Sciences Community

This workshop will outline current scholarly communication practices, explore resources at Penn to review publishing options, and consider strategies for selecting journals in which to publish for research in the health sciences. 

  • 12:00pm - 1:00pm
  • Online
Open to Penn Students, Faculty, and Staff
Cartoon of a cat at a sewing machine, the Embroidery Machine 101 logo.
  • Workshop
November 29, 2023

Embroidery 101

Learn the 101 basics, safety and troubleshooting by making a tea towel or patch in order to gain reservable access to the digital fabrication machine.

  • 2:00pm - 5:00pm
  • Education Commons TinkerLab
Open to Penn Students, Faculty, and Staff
Cover, The Prisoner and the Writer
  • Lecture
  • Kislak
November 29, 2023

Children and Prejudice

A panel discussion with Heather Camlot and Fashina Aladé, moderated by Jonathan Zimmerman, exploring the role of literature and the media in helping children overcome prejudice and become sensitive and critical consumers of information.

  • 6:00pm - 7:30pm
  • Zoom
Open to the Public