The Penn Museum Library is the University's branch library for archaeology, archaeological sciences biological and physical anthropology, cultural anthropology, linguistic anthropology, medical and public health anthropology, business anthropology, environmental anthropology, most non-historical Native American and Indigenous Studies materials, and museology. It welcomes all members of the Penn community to use its resources and spaces. It is also open to interested members of the public for independent, college-level research, but all K-12 students should be accompanied by an adult.
Winter intersession and Summer hours:
Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm except major holidays
Normal academic term hours:
Monday-Thursday, 9 am - 9 pm
Friday, 9 am - 5 pm
Saturday, 12 - 5 pm
Sunday, 12 - 9 pm
Location:
The entrance to the Museum Library is on the 3rd level of the Academic Wing, opposite the doors to the Rooftop Terrace.
Access and assistance:
The library is open to members of the public for independent college-level research. Patrons can receive a quick introduction to the library catalog (Franklin), library-provided equipment, and wayfinding within the library stacks by asking for assistance at the circulation desk near the entrance to the library. Advice on scholarly research is available by appointment with Deb (browndeb@upenn.edu) as her schedule allows. The library's collections and reference services are not geared towards K-12 students, but children accompanied by an adult are welcome to use the library.
Manage your Library Account by using the Login button in the upper right corner of the Penn Libraries Homepage with your PennKey. For more information, see this guide.
Due dates
Some materials, such as journals and DVDs, may be governed by different loan policies. For more information, see Loan Policies.
Don't want to go to the shelves to collect something yourself? If an item shows in the library catalog as AVAILABLE or BY REQUEST, click on the record, then the REQUEST AN ITEM (requires logging in with your PennKey) to find the following options:
Pick up - use to request a library book, DVD, or other format be delivered to the Museum Library's (or another library location - be forewarned: if you do not select properly, the default location is the Van Pelt Library circulation desk). You can use this option even when the item is currently unavailable (in which case it will be marked "By Request - "); this will automatically send your request through Interlibrary Loan. You will receive an e-mail when the item has arrived as your preferred pickup location. After receiving the e-mail, you have 7 days to pick up the item before it is returned, but, if you are unable to meet the pickup deadline, please contact muselib@pobox.upenn.edu .
Email me a chapter or section - use to request a .pdf of 1 book chapter, 1 article, or 1 reasonably-sized section of text. Penn Libraries cannot scan too many pages for reasons of limited staff time and copyright. You will receive an e-mail with a link to the .pdf.
Mail it via Books By Mail - this option will take longer than on-campus pickup, but it is a great option if you are unable to come to campus for a period of time. Be sure to double-check your mailing address; if it is incorrect, follow the "Change your delivery address..." link. Your address displays only to you and to the library staff who will handle shipping.
Schedule visit - "Available in person indicates a rare book or similar special collections item. Click "Schedule visit" in order to register in AEON system and request an appointment for viewing a rare book or manuscript that is housed in the Museum Library's Locked or Brinton Collections, Fisher Fine Arts Rare, Kislak Center for Special Collections, or special collections materials from the Library at the Katz Center. Registration in AEON is now required for anyone viewing materials in Penn Libraries' special collections!
Among your options:
If a record appears in the library catalog but is marked currently "BY REQUEST," this means that Penn's copy is checked out or otherwise unavailable. You can still follow the Request An Item options described above in order to enter Interlibrary Loan request instead. Be sure to select your preferred pickup location and add any other information you think is pertinent.
If not in Penn's library catalog, go to the Interlibrary Loan/Resource Sharing Request Page. After logging into your Penn account with your PennKey, select the "Article or Chapter" or "Book or other item" button at the bottom, which will take to a form to enter the information about what you need.
Contact Deb, browndeb@upenn.edu, to suggest Penn Libraries consider acquiring a copy.
Deborah Brown Stewart, Head of the Museum Library
Jason de Medeiros, Library Specialist
Ainsley Hume, Library Assistant
General contact at the Museum Library: muselib@pobox.upenn.edu or 8-7840
Recommendations of materials to purchase in support of anthropology, archaeology, cultural heritage management, museum studies, and related topics: Deb at browndeb@upenn.edu
Recommendations of materials to purchase for other Penn libraries or for general questions go to LibAnswers
