Rare & Manuscript Library - Services

Rare & Manuscript Library - Services

Reference & Instructional Services
Library curators are pleased to provide a variety of reference and instructional services to individual students, faculty, and researchers, as well as for classes. For further information, contact rbml@pobox.upenn.edu by e-mail or phone (215-898-7088).

Reprographic Services
The Rare Book & Manuscript Library provides the following services for materials in its collections: photocopying, digital scanning, microfilming, and audiocassette duplication. All reprographic requests are subject to curatorial review in advance of processing. Because of the volume of requests received, patrons may experience some delays in filling orders. Payment is due on receipt of completed work.

Photocopying
Sizes available: 8 1/2" x 11"; 8 1/2 " x 14"; 11" x 17"
Unless otherwise requested, staff determine the appropriate size for the material being copied.

Costs: $0.35/page, regardless of size
Service fees for mail orders: $2.00 for orders up to 20 pages; $5.00 for orders up to 100 pages; $10.00 for orders over 100 pages

Digital Scanning of Single Items
The Rare Book & Manuscript Library provides 600 dpi files of prints, photographs, and leaves.

Costs: $1.00/scan + $2.00/CD or DVD
Service charge: $ 5.00/order (waived for PennCard holders)

Digital Scanning of Complete Works
The Schoenberg Center for Electronic Text & Image provides a variety of scanning options for patrons desiring electronically accessible facsimiles or PDFs of books and manuscripts. Files can be individually customized depending on patron needs and can be delivered on disk, or via ftp. We encourage scanning as a practicable and affordable alternative to microfilming.

Costs: $.50/scan + $2.00/CD or DVD
Service charge: $ 5.00/order (waived for PennCard holders)

Microfilming
Microfilming is done by an outside vendor, who provides cost estimates on request. Every order carries with it a service charge of $10.00. The Library retains the negative copy for its own files.

Audiocassette Duplication
Audiocassettes of recorded sound in the Library's collections can be provided by staff at a cost of $25.00/cassette. There is a $5.00 service charge on all orders.

How to Place Reprographic Orders
For tiff files of single items found on the Rare Book & Manuscript Library website, send an e-mail to Elton-John Torres (eltonjpt@pobox.upenn.edu). The e-mail must include the following information, or the order cannot be processed:

Name, mailing address, e-mail, and telephone number of the person placing and paying for order.

The exact url of each image requested.

For all other orders, contact rbml@pobox.upenn.edu by e-mail or phone (215-898-7088).

Permission to Publish
For most library holdings the Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania do not hold copyright. It is the responsibility of the requester to seek permission from the holder of the copyright to reproduce material from the Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Requests to publish the unpublished writings of Theodore Dreiser or unattributed photographs in any manuscript collection should be directed to Nancy Shawcross, Curator of Manuscripts (shawcros@upenn.edu or 215-898-2065).

Requests to publish material from the Edgar F. Smith Image Collection, the Furness Image Collection, or from printed books should be directed to Lynne Farrington, Curator of Printed Books (lynne@upenn.edu or 215-746-5828).