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East Asian Studies Research Guide for Undergraduate Students

A guide for interested undergraduate students on East Asian studies research (primarily English language resources). Created in 2023

Finding and Requesting Items

Request Options in Franklin

The Franklin Catalog provides access to a number of request features to secure available materials as well as get copies of materials not at Penn.

To see the Request options available in the Franklin Catalog, login at the top of the screen.

Then click the Options icon for a specific record


"Available"

When an item is "Available" in the Franklin Catalog, it should be in the location specified.  In many cases, you may visit the library and check out the item directly.  To use the request options, click on the

  button

  • Request - Choose this option to request an item owned by Penn and have it delivered to a Penn Library. This includes Libra Storage items. Patrons can request a total of 5 books per day for paging services. See: Penn Library Delivers and FAQs about LIBRA Storage
    • Exception: Rare Book & Manuscript Library and LIBRA Special, LIBRA Rare, or LIBRA Limited - click the "Request to View" link provided in the Status/Location portion of the record, in order to create a Special Collections research account and request items for viewing.
    • Exception: Visitors who do not hold a PennCard or Library Courtesy Card must use the library's LIBRA request form to make a request for items from LIBRA (see above for LIBRA Special, Rare, and Limited locations).
  • Books by Mail - Penn faculty and graduate students living outside a 75 mile radius of Philadelphia may register for and use this service.
  • Digital Delivery - Use this service to obtain scans of book chapters and journal articles.
  • Faculty Express - delivery service for standing, tenure-track faculty.

"Unavailable"

When an item is "Unavailable" in the Franklin Catalog it is not available for use. The item is usually on loan to another borrower. It may also be on order, lost, or being processed for use.  Materials not owned or unavailable through Penn can be requested through these services:

Connect to BorrowDirect (BD) and E-ZBorrow (EZ)

  • Borrow print books and videos not available at Penn.
  • Keep for 12 weeks, no renewal, recorded on your Franklin Catalog account.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) 

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