Access and Visitor Information for the Penn Museum Library
Address and Contact Information
3260 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-898-7840
muselib@pobox.upenn.edu
Accessibility information
General Information
The entrance to the Penn Museum Library is on the third level of the Academic Wing, which connects to the Penn Museum's Upper galleries.
For Students, faculty, and staff associated with the University of Pennsylvania
Penn students, faculty, and staff may enter the Penn Museum and its library for free with Penn ID. Please stop at the Penn Museum's Visitors Services desk, show your PennCard, and follow the staff's instructions on how to sign in for the Penn Museum. You do not need to show your ID when you enter the Penn Museum Library.
For All Other Visitors
The Penn Museum Library is open to members of the public for independent college-level research during Penn Museum hours. The Penn Museum Library's collections and reference services are not geared towards K-12 students, but minors accompanied by an adult are welcome to use the library.
During summers and the University's academic breaks (Fall Break, Spring Break, Special Winter Vacation, and January intersession), the library hours are usually reduced to weekdays only.
Graduate students and post-doctoral researchers from other institutions can request permission to have access to the Penn Museum Library on Mondays and during its evening hours by e-mailing the library staff in advance at muselib@pobox.upenn.edu.
Please stop at the Penn Museum's Visitors Services desk, show an official photo ID, and follow the staff's instructions on how to sign in.
Research services
Staff are usually available Monday-Friday from 9AM to 5PM at the circulation desk in order to assist patrons with an introduction to the library, the library catalog, or questions.
Appointments for advice on scholarly research with the Head of the Penn Museum Library are available by request or by email to muselib@pobox.upenn.edu.
You can submit any reference question right from your computer, too.
Access to Special Collections
The Museum Library houses two special collections: the Daniel Garrison Brinton Collection of Rare Books and Pamphlets and a miscellaneous collection of rare books and facsimiles. In the library catalog, these items will be listed as being held in "Penn Museum Library - Brinton Collection" or "Penn Museum Library - Locked Cases."
In order to see materials from the special collections, researchers must make an appointment in advance. You can make an appointment by searching for the book in the library catalog. When you find the catalog record, click first on the "Request an Item" button in the record, then follow the prompts for "Schedule Visit" in order to register and request an appointment to view these items in the Museum Library or the Kislak Center Reading Room.