Circulation: Requests

Contact us at the Van Pelt Library Circulation Desk:

Email Us:

For library account concerns e-mail: vpcircdk@pobox.upenn.edu

For questions about building and database access e-mail: accessvp@pobox.upenn.edu

Call Us:
215-898-7566

See the Libraries' COVID-19 page for the latest updates on library services.

Who can make requests?

Penn faculty, staff, students, associates and courtesy borrowers may request library materials and services.

How do I make a request?

Once you locate a record for the title you need, make sure you are logged in to our library website. Please see the log in instructions on the “Your Library Account” tab. Locate the "Request Options" that correspond to your patron group. Select the request service that is available based on the descriptions below:

• Request – Choose this option to request an item owned by Penn and have it delivered to a Penn Library. Patrons can request a total of 5 books per day for paging services. This option is only visible if an item is “available” in our system. 
• BorrowDirect+ - use this option if you would like to request a book from another institution using BorrowDirect, E-ZBorrow, or Interlibrary Loan
• Books by Mail – If you are eligible, use this option to request that an item be delivered to your office or home. Please see the books by mail tab for more details.
• Scan & Deliver – Only need a certain number of pages from an item we or another library may own? Use this link to request those pages. Some restrictions apply.

Please be advised, Proxy Borrowing Patrons are permitted to pick up requested InterLibrary Loan, BorrowDirect and E-Z Borrow items for their Faculty counterparts. All required forms and agreements must be signed and processed prior to pick up. 

All requests must be picked up at one time:

Please be advised, due to limited hold shelf storage, the total number of requested books available for pick up must all be checked out at the same time. Any books left behind will be sent back to the home library immediately.

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