Reading period access: From April 30-May 12, access to the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center and the Fisher Fine Arts Library will be limited to PennCard holders and other Penn affiliates. See our Service Alerts for more information.

Books on the move: Materials on the fifth floor of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center are being temporarily moved to our off-site storage facility. For your safety, please avoid browsing the fifth-floor stacks. See our Service Alerts for information about requesting books during the transition. 

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Upcoming Events

Apr 27 - May 12
Open to Penn Students Only

Virtual Study Break

Need a study break? Visit the Virtual Study Break Canvas site for a collection of stress-relieving online activities.

  • Apr 27 - May 12, 2026
  • Virtual
Line drawing of Penn's college hall and Broken Button sculpture
May 07
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Coffee with a Codex: Canon Law in Verse

On May 7, curator Dot Porter will bring out Ms. Codex 741, a verse summary of Raymond of Peñaforte's Summa de poenitentia et matrimonio; canon law on marriage, simony, usury, luxury, bigamy, etc., with a brief Bible dictionary, arranged in canonical order, not in alphabetical order.

  • May 7, 2026
  • 12:00pm - 12:30pm
  • Online
May 07
Open to the Public

Woodlands Walk with Nurses Tour

Celebrate Nurses Week with the Bates Center for a walking tour through The Woodland’s beautiful grounds to learn about the lives of some of Philadelphia’s most prominent figures in the history of nursing and public health.

  • May 7, 2026
  • 4:30pm - 6:30pm
  • The Woodlands Cemetery, 4000 Woodland Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
Mansion surrounded by green grass and trees with gravestones in foreground
May 11
  • Workshop
Open to Penn Faculty and Staff

Canvas 101 for Faculty and Staff

This workshop will introduce basic Canvas functions like navigating the Canvas interface, creating content for a Canvas site, posting files etc.

  • May 11, 2026
  • 12:00pm - 12:45pm
  • Virtual (link will be sent to registrants)
A portion of the Canvas logo depicting white shapes over an orange background, arranged to resemble a button.
May 14 - 16
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

The 12-Hour Declaration of Independence: Community Typesetting

To honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration, Common Press will host a 3 day community typesetting event during which all are invited to hand-set metal type to help create a historically-accurate replica. The final forme of metal type will remain available for printing on our 19th-century hand press through the end of 2026

  • May 14 - 16, 2026
  • Common Press, Fisher Fine Arts Library, Lower Level
May 14
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Coffee with a Codex: An Exciting NEW Acquisition!

On May 14, curator Dot Porter will be joined by Schoenberg Curator of Manuscripts Nicholas Herman to show you a very special and exciting new acquisition! What is it? We can't tell you, but we can promise that no matter what kind of manuscripts you're interested in, you will want to see this!

  • May 14, 2026
  • 12:00pm - 12:30pm
  • Online
photo of a box with a hand held over it. "What Could it Be?????" is written over the box.
May 18 - Dec 18
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Print the Declaration of Independence

Visit Common Press beginning in May 2026 to print a copy of the Declaration of Independence for yourself.

  • May 18 - December 18, 2026
  • Common Press, Fisher Fine Arts Library, Lower Level
declaration
May 21
  • Workshop
Open to the Public

Coffee with a Codex: Hybrid Book of Hours

On May 21, curator Dot Porter will bring out Ms. Codex 1531, a book of hours, use of Rome, printed ca. 1507 in Paris.

  • May 21, 2026
  • 12:00pm - 12:30pm
  • Online
Photo of a page of an early printed book with illustrations in the margin and small illuminated initials

Maps and More

Campus Libraries Map

Staff Information

Resources for Staff Committees