Up to 15
Vitale II Media Lab for Book History + Digital Humanities
Today's Hours:
Closed | Library Hours
The Vitale II Media Lab is the Book History and Digital Humanities (Book+Digital) lab in the Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books, and Manuscripts, located on the sixth floor of Van Pelt Library. We are interested in the Long History of Text Technologies. Vitale II is directed by Dot Porter, Curator of Digital Humanities in the Schoenberg Institute for Manuscript Studies, and Whitney Trettien, Associate Professor of English and Faculty Director of the Price Lab for Digital Humanities. We are assisted by Emily F. Brooks, Associate Director of the Price Lab, and Julia Pelosi-Thorpe, Vitale II Graduate Assistant and PhD student in Comparative Literature.
Vitale II welcomes scholars of all levels who are working on projects at the intersection of BH+DH, providing space for collaboration and learning, for experimentation and creation. We host two sets of open hours every week, and many workshops that are available to everyone.
What can I do in Vitale II?
Visit Us!
We have open hours two times a week:
9:30am-11:30am Tuesdays
2pm-4pm Wednesdays
The door is open and you are welcome to come and find out more about the work of Vitale II.
Look at things
Because Vitale II is in the Special Collections department, we have direct access to the collections. If you are interested in working with materials from Special Collections, you can display objects in the room, on the large screen with the document camera, on the two side monitors with the ceiling camera, and to virtual audiences via video conferencing.
Courtesy of Professor Trettien, we have a Text Technologies Petting Zoo, which includes historical equipment for making text (e.g., typewriters, computers). You are welcome to come to Vitale II on Tuesday mornings, 9:30am-11:30am, to meet with Emily Brooks from the Price Lab for Digital Humanities and find out more about the Petting Zoo.
Image things
We have a document camera, so you can take you own videos and photos of special collections objects. In Spring 2026 we will be offering access to a Multispectral Imaging System for Historical Artifacts (MISHA) for experimental use.
Of course, cell phone cameras are also welcome.
Make things
We make things – facsimiles, zines, other creative objects – inspired by Penn's collections, and you can too!
We experiment with practices over the long history of the book, from writing in clay and on parchment, to paper circuitry
We collaborate with the Common Press, the Price Lab for Digital Humanities, and the Education Commons in our making.
Accordion List
Water is allowed in spill-resistant containers, if there are no special collections in the room. Food and other drinks are not allowed.
- 4' x 6' movable whiteboard
- 60" display screens & integrated computer system suitable for in-room and virtual events
- Document cameras for displaying rare materials on the screens
- Digital projector
- Six reconfigurable tables
- History of text technologies "petting zoo", including model books and typewriters
- A variety of materials for scribal exercises (including quills, ink, parchment, paint)
Questions? Contact the lab manager at dorp@upenn.edu
Location
623 Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center, 6th floor
Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts
Upcoming Public Events in Vitale II
Nov
11
- Workshop
Open to the Public
Reimagining Illumination: Be Creative with Illuminated Manuscripts
On Tuesday, November 11, Program Coordinator of Technology and Play Christine Kemp and SIMS Curator for Digital Humanities Dot Porter and will lead a workshop where we will investigate the playfulness of manuscript illumination through hands-on making, including stickers, buttons, and plushies.
- November 11, 2025
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Nov
12
- Workshop
Open to the Public
Manuscript Studies Interest Group: Receiving the Classics
In honor of the 18th Annual Lawrence J. Schoenberg Symposium on Manuscript Studies in the Digital Age, which is happening the week after, the theme for November is Receiving the Classics and will include manuscripts containing copies, translations, and reinterpretations of classical literature and philosophy.
- November 12, 2025
- 2:00pm - 3:00pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Dec
03
- Workshop
Open to the Public
Manuscript Studies Interest Group: Manuscripts as Data
On December 3, we'll look outside of the box and talk about manuscripts as data, including digitization and using digitized manuscripts as text and as images.
- December 3, 2025
- 2:00pm - 3:00pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Dec
09
- Workshop
Open to the Public
Origami Star Book Workshop
Welcome the holidays by making your own origami star book!
- December 9, 2025
- 2:00pm - 3:00pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Dec
09
- Workshop
Open to the Public
Origami Star Book Workshop
Welcome the holidays by making your own origami star book!
- December 9, 2025
- 3:30pm - 4:30pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Dec
10
- Workshop
Open to the Public
Fun With Medieval Manuscripts
Come by the Vitale II Book+Digital Lab (623 Van Pelt Library) on Wednesday, December 10, between 2 and 4pm for FUN WITH MANUSCRIPTS. You'll color your own decorative medieval illustration and make it into a button.
- December 10, 2025
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Jan
20
- Workshop
Open to the Public
Reimagining Illumination: Light in Artist's Books
On Tuesday, January 20, we'll look at the many ways that modern artists make use of light in their book creations - including transparencies, reflections, and electric light.
- January 20, 2026
- 2:00pm - 4:00pm
- Kislak Center Vitale II, Rm 623, 6th Floor
Location and Accessibility
Accessibility
For Wheelchairs
- Sufficient doorway & hallway clearance
- Clearance to approach table
Orthopedic Accessibility
- Chairs have adjustable height
Nearby Bathrooms
The women's and men's bathrooms have one accessible bathroom stall each. The bathrooms are located off the curator's corridor, north of the Kislak elevators. The nearest gender-neutral bathroom is on the 5th floor, west of the Kislak elevators. (see floor plan)
