Accessibility Information for Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center
Assistance
Accordion Column of Lists
Staff are pleased to conduct orientation sessions as needed. Email requests to
ALT@upenn.libanswers.com.
Patrons with disabilities who need assistance with photocopying should contact the Accessibility & Learning Technologies group at
ALT@upenn.libanswers.com.
Accordion Column of Lists
Staff are available to assist patrons with disabilities in using materials and equipment in this department. Please contact Jonathan Segal for assistance.
Staff are available to assist patrons with disabilities in retrieving materials that are on reserve.
Facilities
Workstations
Wheelchair-accessible computer workstations are located in the Goldstein Undergraduate Study Center on the ground floor
See the ground floor plan.
Carrels
Carrels are study desks located on the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors of the library. Carrel holders may charge books to a carrel for an academic year. These easily accessible carrels are available to graduate and undergraduate students with disabilities. To arrange for a suitable carrel, please fill out the registration form.
See more about carrels in the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center
Bathrooms
Wheelchair-accessible restrooms are located on the east side of the building on the ground, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th floors and in the third floor west elevator lobby.
See floor plans
Phones
There are no pay phones in the library. There is a free campus phone in Mark's Café on the ground floor which can be used to dial University 417, 573, 746 or 898 numbers.
See the Ground Floor Plan with Mark's Café.
Butler Assistive Technology Room
This room (G 101.11) is located in the Goldstein Undergraduate Center near the bank of elevators. It is restricted to Penn Card holders and is always locked.
Available Hardware and Software:
We have technology for all kinds of needs and our aim is to offer accommodations to support student learning. In order to get the best and latest equipment for our users we often wait for a potential user to request the type of equipment needed rather than purchasing equipment that no current student wants. Please contact Student Disabilities Services with your equipment needs (voice: 215-573-9235 | TDD: 215-746-6320).
Services
Books by Mail
For a summary of this service, please see the Books by Mail guide.
Alternative format materials requests
If you need any library materials converted into an accessible format, please send an email request to ALT@upenn.libanswers.com and include the item information and type of remediation needed (i.e. accessible pdf, captions, transcription, image description, etc.).
SensusAccess
SensusAccess is an easy-to-use OCR tool that allows users to transform documents into many formats, including MP3, DAISY, EPUB, and digital Braille. Penn now has a subscription for all university students, faculty, and staff:
https://www.sensusaccess.com/web3/upennlib/
Procedures
Fines
All patrons are responsible for returning library materials on time. For more information, visit the Fines and Fees guide or contact the circulation desk.
Accessibility
The accessible entrance of Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center opens into the Goldstein Undergraduate Study Center. This entrance is on the ground floor of the building facing Blanche P. Levy Park and College Hall. A wheelchair-accessible doorbell is located on the railing leading toward the door.
More images of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center accessible entrance and book drop
