Service and Assistance Animals on Premises
Purpose
The University of Pennsylvania and its Libraries recognize that Emotional Support and Assistance Animals (ESAA) provide individuals who have disabilities enhanced autonomy and independence. Penn Libraries will comply with all University rules and guidelines pertaining to the use of ESAA on library premises. Pets not assisting people with disabilities or otherwise recognized by Penn Equal Opportunity Programs are restricted on University property. The purpose is to insulate library users from pest-born allergies and other health risks; destruction of University property; and disruption of operations and service continuity required by users and library staff. The Libraries adhere to the following University guidelines regarding Emotional Support and Assistance Animals.
Terms of Access
When and after approval by the Penn’s Office of Equal Opportunity Programs and in order to provide reasonable accommodation and in compliance with federal law, library users may access Library locations in the company of Emotional Support and Assistive Animals (ESAA) .
An ESAA is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability, including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, or other mental disability.
An ESAA provides comfort to an individual with a disability upon the recommendation of a healthcare or mental health professional. An ESAA does not assist a person with a disability with activities of daily living but rather its role is to alleviate the symptoms of an individual’s disability and provide equal opportunities to use and enjoy campus facilities. ESAAs must remain under the owners supervision and control at all times.
Service animals may accompany owners throughout the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, unless users in shared spaces object on health or safety grounds. In addition, access policies may bar or further limit admittance of ESAAs in buildings, other than Van Pelt-Dietrich, where Libraries occupy spaces under the general management of one of Penn’s schools, for example the Holman Biotech Commons, Fisher Fine Arts Library, and many library satellites on campus. The ESAA policies of those building administrators supersede the policies governing use of the Van Pelt-Dietrich facility.
The ESAA must comply with all applicable laws, as well as all PA licensure and vaccination requirements. A current license and vaccination record for your ESA may be required. . Owners are responsible for all damages or injuries to either property or person(s) resulting from their ESAA.
The Libraries reserve the right to exclude or remover animals that pose a threat to the health or safety of others or create an unreasonable and unmanageable disruption of services. Appeals will be arbitrated by the Office of Disability Services.