Changes coming to Books by Mail: Starting in fall 2025, Books by Mail items will only be shipped to addresses in the contiguous United States 50 miles or further from campus. We will make exceptions for students, faculty, and staff with disabilities. Learn more.

On Monday, August 11, the main entrance to the Fisher Fine Arts Library will be closed so restoration work can take place. The accessible entrance will remain open. See map and directions to the accessible entrance or get more information about this important restoration project.

Home Link Icon

Upcoming Events: Kislak Center

View all upcoming events

Aug 14
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Coffee with a Codex: The Voynich Manuscript (Facsimile)

On August 14, Curator Dot Porter will bring out a facsimile of Beinecke Library MS 408, aka The Voynich Manuscript. This is a realistic facsimile that looks exactly like the real thing!

  • August 14, 2025
  • 12:00pm - 1:00pm
  • Online
Photo of a page opening from the Voynich manuscript facsimile
Sep 04
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Coffee with a Codex: Italian Herbal

We'll celebrate the start of the semester by bringing out a favorite, first introduced to CWAC in 2022. On September 4, Curator Dot Porter will bring out LJS 419, a 15th century Italian herbal containing a variety of illustrations, accompanied by notes on medicinal properties and preparations of the plants.

  • September 4, 2025
  • 12:00pm - 12:30pm
  • Online
Photo of a manuscript page, in the center is an illustration of a large blue beet with a human-like face and three large green leaves sprouting out of its head
Sep 04
Open to the Public

Made (By Hand): Reflections on Running a Press

Celebrate the opening of the new exhibit Made (By Hand) in the Midwest: The Contre Coup Press, 1979-2019 with a talk by Jessica Peterson, Director of the Common Press.

  • September 4, 2025
  • 4:30pm - 7:30pm
  • Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, sixth floor; Main Lobby and Kamin Gallery, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, first floor
Timothy Hawley printing on a letterpress machine
Sep 09
  • Workshop
Open to Penn Students, Faculty, and Staff

Meet the Curators

Five curators from across several different Penn collections will share insights into navigating the rich set of resources available to Penn faculty and instructors.

  • September 9, 2025
  • 12:00pm - 1:00pm
  • Kislak Center Class of 1978 Orrery Pavilion, 6th Floor, Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center
Three people are seated at a table; in the foreground, one is using a specialized camera mounted on a stand to photograph a large, open book
Sep 11
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Coffee with a Codex: Maḥzor for Yom Kippur

For Coffee With A Codex on September 11, Judaica Special Collections Cataloging Librarian Louis Meiselman will bring out CAJS Rar Ms 491, a manuscript of the Yom Kippur Maḥzor for the rite of L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue written and signed by Eliyahu Delpuget. It was written in Provence in 1663.

  • September 11, 2025
  • 12:00pm - 12:30pm
  • Online
Sep 12
  • Symposium
Open to the Public

Making the Medieval Archive: Celebrating Elizabeth A. R. Brown at Penn

This day-long symposium will commemorate Elizabeth (Peggy) A. R. Brown’s extraordinary legacy in the field of Medieval Studies and will mark the official launch of the Elizabeth A. R. Brown Medieval Historians’ archive.

  • September 12, 2025
  • 10:00am - 7:00pm
  • Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts & Online
A black and white photo of a person wearing glasses retrieving a book from a shelf in a library.
Sep 16
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Reimagining Illumination: Illuminated Manuscripts

On Tuesday, September 16, Schoenberg Curator of Manuscripts Nick Herman will talk about the practice of illumination in premodern manuscripts, showing us a variety of manuscripts from Penn's collections.

  • September 16, 2025
  • 2:00pm - 3:00pm
  • Kislak Center Vitale II (Room 623), Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, 6th Floor
Photo of a manuscript page with gold letters shining in the light
Sep 17
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Manuscript Studies Interest Group: Contemplating the Cosmos

The theme for September is Contemplating the Cosmos and will include manuscripts focused on cosmology, astronomy, and astrology.

  • September 17, 2025
  • 2:00pm - 3:00pm
  • Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Photo of a manuscript page containing several astronomical diagrams
Sep 18
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Coffee with a Codex: Prayer Book & Processional

For Coffee With A Codex on September 18, Curator Dot Porter will bring out Ms. Codex 141, an illuminated prayer book with a processional, and a prayer added in German. Written in Germany ca. 1450.

  • September 18, 2025
  • 12:00pm - 12:30pm
  • Online

Maps and More

Campus Libraries Map

Staff Information

Resources for Staff Committees