Picking up your library books has never been easier!
When requesting items in the catalog, choose to pick your items up from the library that is most convenient for you. Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center is generally the fastest way to get your materials, as it is the library with the largest collection and serves as a hub for many of our library services.
Two libraries, Van Pelt and Dental, also offer the option to pick up books via our new contact-free automated lockers. Van Pelt’s lockers are located in the Undergraduate Study Center which is open 24/5 during fall and spring semesters, so if you need to pick up your items outside of standard library operating hours, we’ve got you covered!
To pick up at a library: simply choose your preferred library when you place your request. When you find the item you want in our catalog, Franklin, just click the Get It button, Request In Print, and choose your preferred pickup location. Once you get an email notifying you that your request is ready, you will have seven days to pick it up.
To pick up from a locker: Request locker pickup by choosing Get It, Request In Print, and choosing your preferred locker location in our catalog, Franklin (note: only Dental students can use the Dental lockers). Once your item is in the locker, you’ll be sent an access code to retrieve it, and will have seven days to pick it up. The material will already be checked out to you, so you can just grab it and go!
Note: Because items in the lockers are already checked out to you, we cannot hold them once the seven days are up. If they are not picked up within a week, we will discharge the material and send it back to the shelf.
Frequently Asked Questions about locker pickup:
How do I request locker pickup?
Request locker pickup by choosing Get It, Request In Print, and choosing your preferred locker location in our catalog, Franklin (note: only Dental students can use the Dental lockers). Once your item is in the locker, you’ll be sent an access code to retrieve it, and will have seven days to pick it up. The material will already be checked out to you, so you can just grab it and go!
Can I pick up Interlibrary Loan / BorrowDirect / EZBorrow material from the lockers, or just Penn items?
All books, including ILL/BorrowDirect/EZBorrow, can be picked up from a locker. If we can put it on the hold shelf, we can put it in a locker!
Where are the lockers located?
Van Pelt's lockers are on the ground floor in the Undergraduate Study Center, behind the public service desk that's not currently in use.
Dental's lockers are on the ground floor of Evans, near the student lounge.
What hours can I pick up from a locker?
Books can be picked up from a locker whenever the Undergraduate Study Center is open, which is frequently 24 hours a day during fall and spring semesters. For the calendar of open hours, click here: https://www.library.upenn.edu/about/hours/vpusc
Can I extend my locker hold period beyond seven days?
We would prefer locker requests to be picked up within a week, since we have a limited number of lockers and many requests.
Can I return books to the lockers?
No; you can return books at any of the book returns on campus. However, fragile materials such as laptops or musical instruments may be returned to a locker; contact vpcircdk@pobox.upenn.edu to get a code for fragile item return via the lockers.
Who can use the locker pickup option?
Faculty, staff, and students are eligible to use the lockers for pickup.
Is there a maximum number of items that can be requested for the lockers?
If you items are ready at the same time, we can put them in the same locker. Requests that arrive at different times may be placed in different lockers, as space allows. Any items that do not fit in the lockers will be placed on the hold shelf at the corresponding library (Van Pelt or Dental).
I changed my mind and only want some of the items in the locker, what do I do with the rest?
On the way out of the library, simply put any unwanted items in the book return.
I need help with the lockers!
Head to the circulation desk to get help. If the circulation desk is closed, contact vpcircdk@pobox.upenn.edu or dentlib@pobox.upenn.edu and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
