Circulation: Penn Library Delivers

Contact us at the Van Pelt Library Circulation Desk:

Email Us:

For library account concerns or questions about building and database access, please e-mail us at: vpcircdk@pobox.upenn.edu

Call Us:
215-898-7566

What is Penn Library delivers?

The Penn Library offers a delivery service as a convenience to its faculty, staff and students. You may ask to have items delivered from one Penn library to another Penn library of your choosing.

Any Penn faculty, staff, medical staff or student may submit online requests to have an item delivered from one Penn Library to another (except Biddle Law Library). Patrons whose records are blocked will be unable to place requests.

What materials are eligible Penn Library delivers?

Books, videos and CD-ROM's that normally circulate are available for delivery. The following are examples of materials NOT eligible for delivery:

• Journals
• Reference materials
• Reserve materials
• Rare books
• Other non-circulating items

This service does not include photocopies. Items listed as lost, missing, charged, renewed, at bindery, in transit, etc., are not available and cannot be delivered.

Please note: Books housed at the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center may be requested for pick-up at Van Pelt Circulation with a limit of 5 books per day, per patron. Books in library stacks continue to be available for checkout to walk-in patrons. If another patron comes in person to the library stacks for the book you have requested, that patron WILL be able to check out the book. If you urgently need something, the best way to ensure that you get it is to come to the library as soon as possible.

How do I request a delivery?

1. Search Franklin, the online catalog, for a specific item.
2. Display the individual record.
3. Click on the "Request it (PennKey)" option on the right of the screen.
4. From the Request menu, select "Get from LIBRA or a Penn Library"
5. Follow the instructions on the form.

Requests will be processed twice daily Monday - Friday. Deliveries are made daily Monday - Friday on the Penn campus, and once Monday, Wednesday, and Friday to and from the Library at the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies and Pennsylvania Hospital libraries; twice daily from LIBRA.

Please allow up to three working days from the time you submit your request until the item is available for pickup at your selected library.

You will receive a notice via email when the item you requested arrives at the pickup location.

If the requested item cannot be delivered, you will receive an email message explaining your options.

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