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Courtesy Borrowers

Visitors who are interested in borrowing books may apply for courtesy borrowing privileges for a fee. The Library's Courtesy Card carries with it borrowing privileges and evening/weekend/holiday access to all libraries except the Biddle Law Library. Please see detailed information for access policies, hours and Franklin tools available to courtesy borrowers.

Registered courtesy borrowers must show their Courtesy Card and valid photo ID to enter. Please see individual library access policies for further details.

There is an annual charge for these privileges in order to partially recover the costs of services to non-Penn borrowers. Privileges are not granted automatically. The Library reserves the right to withhold privileges, or to withdraw them, if they are abused. With the exception of the Corporate Courtesy Card described below, courtesy privileges are granted to individuals and are not transferable. Interlibrary Loan services and most electronic resources are not available to courtesy borrowers.

Renewal Limit: Courtesy borrowers may renew books online for up to one year (12 renewals).

Borrowing Limits: Courtesy borrowers are limited to 20 books total, from all libraries, at a time.

Alumni
Annual Fee $200 cash, credit card or check* payable to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Application Process Present your Alumni PennCard at the Van Pelt Circulation Desk
Includes
  • Courtesy Borrowing privileges (see Borrowing for details).
  • Recall of charged materials.
  • Weekend/evening/holiday access to all Penn Libraries except Biddle Law Library.
Excludes
  • Restricted databases
  • InterLibrary Loan and Borrow Direct
  • Access to and borrowing privileges at Biddle Law Library
Other Privileges are non-transferrable.
Individual Courtesy
Annual Fee $400 cash, credit card or check* payable to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Application Process Come in to the Van Pelt Circulation Desk
Includes
  • Courtesy Borrowing privileges (see Borrowing for details).
  • Recall of charged materials.
  • Weekend/evening/holiday access to all Penn Libraries except Biddle Law Library.
Excludes
  • Restricted databases
  • InterLibrary Loan and Borrow Direct
  • Access to and borrowing privileges at Biddle Law Library
Other Privileges are non-transferrable.
Corporate Courtesy
Annual Fee $800 cash, credit card or check* payable to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Application Process Contact Andrea Loigman
Includes
  • Courtesy Borrowing privileges (see Borrowing for details).
  • Recall of charged materials.
  • Weekend/evening/holiday access to all Penn Libraries except Biddle Law Library.
Excludes
  • Restricted databases
  • InterLibrary Loan and Borrow Direct
  • Access to and borrowing privileges at Biddle Law Library
Other One contact person is responsible for privileges which may be shared by up to 10 individuals.
Reciprocal Courtesy
Annual Fee Complimentary
Eligibility
  • Drexel Graduate Students, Faculty, and Librarians
  • Bryn Mawr Faculty
  • Haverford Faculty
  • Swarthmore Faculty
Application Process Please bring institutional photo ID and application letter from your home library to the Van Pelt Circulation Desk.
Includes
  • Courtesy Borrowing privileges (see Borrowing for details).
  • Recall of charged materials.
  • Weekend/evening/holiday access to all Penn Libraries except Biddle Law Library.
Excludes
  • Restricted databases
  • InterLibrary Loan and Borrow Direct
  • Access to and borrowing privileges at Biddle Law Library
Other Borrowers must be in good standing at their home institutions in order to receive Reciprocal Courtesy borrowing privileges.
Retired Penn Staff
Annual Fee $200 cash, credit card or check* payable to the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania
Application Process Present your Alumni PennCard at the Van Pelt Circulation Desk
Includes
  • Courtesy Borrowing privileges (see Borrowing for details).
  • Recall of charged materials.
  • Weekend/evening/holiday access to all Penn Libraries except Biddle Law Library.
Excludes
  • Restricted databases
  • InterLibrary Loan and Borrow Direct
  • Access to and borrowing privileges at Biddle Law Library
Other Privileges are non-transferrable.

* activation of borrowing privileges will be delayed by 10 business days when payment is made by check

*