HIST 1551: The History of U.S.-China Relations

Explore the following links to get more experienced with using the libraries at Penn. 

• Log in to your Penn Libraries account to reserve materials or get them delivered, access interlibrary loan, and view the status of anything you’ve checked out. 
• Search the catalog for books, journal articles, databases, CDs and DVDs, and more. 
• Pick up books at any library location, or use contactless lockers at Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center or Levy Dental Medicine Library. 
• Request scans of articles or book chapters for quick delivery directly to your inbox.
• Visit our borrowing and circulation guide to find more information.
• Need a book that's not in Penn Libraries? You can request books from other schools, through BorrowDirect, EZBorrow, or Inter-Library Loan (ILL).
• Need a book that's at Penn but designated as rare? Request to view it through your Research Account for Special Collections.

Penn Libraries has a new catalog! 

The 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 Catalog, login at the top of the screen. 

When you locate a book in the catalog, and it is available, click on the Green button "Request an Item."

"Available"

When an item is "Available" in the 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

• 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.

Multiple options: 

In some cases, we have more than one copy of a book. In the case highlighted here, there is a copy in the East Asia Seminar room and at Libra. Toggle between the tabs to select the book you prefer (or the one that is available). 

"Unavailable"

When an item is "Unavailable" in the 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.  The Catalog will give you options to request the same book from another institution. Select where you want to pick up from and click "Place ILL pickup request" (green button). 

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) 

• Use this form to request print books or media not available from Penn or BD/EZ.
• Use this form to request journal articles and book chapters not available at Penn.