Purchase a Courtesy Borrowing Card
Even if you're not affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, you can borrow Penn Libraries print materials with a Courtesy Borrowing card. Anyone can purchase a card for one year of borrowing privileges. The card also provides evening, weekend, and holiday access which normally is only available to the Penn community.
Getting Started
Need help with your Courtesy Card? Email the Van Pelt circulation desk or see our detailed guide.
- Visit the Van Pelt Library circulation desk before 6 pm on a weekday. See Access and Visitor Information for more details about visiting.
- Bring a method of payment (cash, check, or credit card) to pay the annual fee: $400 for regular courtesy borrowing, $200 for alumni, or $800 for a Corporate Courtesy Borrower Card.
- For retired staff, Courtesy Borrowing is free; simply bring your Retired Staff PennCard to the circulation desk to open your account.
Things to Know
- Registered courtesy borrowers must show their Courtesy Card and valid photo ID to enter the library.
- There is an annual charge for these privileges in order to partially recover the costs of services to non-Penn borrowers
- The library reserves the right to withhold or withdraw privileges.
- With the exception of the Corporate Courtesy Card, courtesy privileges are granted to individuals and are not transferable.
- Interlibrary Loan and electronic resources are not available to courtesy borrowers.
- Courtesy borrowers are limited to 20 books total, from all libraries, at one time.
- Courtesy borrowers may renew books online for up to one year.
- See our Alumni Access guide for information about using an Alumni PennCard at the Libraries.
Service Category
Audience Groups