Zilberman Family Center for Global Collections: Building a Hub for Interdisciplinary Engagement

A major, year-long renovation project at the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center will create a dedicated, state-of-the-art space for the Zilberman Family Center for Global Collections.

The facility will include a gallery to showcase global acquisitions and collections, a forum to host lively discussion and debate, and a variety of spaces for quiet and small group study. The renovated space will include six seminar rooms for teaching, research, and reference collections, each focused on a different geographic region, as well as offices for the Zilberman Center’s dedicated specialist librarians in African, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Latin American, Middle Eastern, Russian and East European, and South Asian studies.

By strengthening learning experiences and opportunities for interdisciplinary research and collaboration, the new facility will enhance Penn’s strengths as an interwoven and globally engaged university, sparking dialogue and forging connections across differences and divides.

While construction is in progress, the majority of the fifth floor of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center will be closed to visitors, including all Penn students, faculty, and staff. Circulating and reference collections will still be available. See below for more details on the different stages of this project and their impact on library patrons, including information on how to find and request books. 

What to Expect During the Renovation

The Zilberman Center renovation will involve a complete overhaul of the fifth floor of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center from summer 2026 to early fall 2027. While construction is in progress, the majority of the fifth floor will be closed to visitors, including all Penn students, faculty, and staff. Read on for details about each phase of the project and its impacts on library patrons.

Please note that all dates are approximate and subject to change. This site will be continually updated with the latest information.  

Phase 1: Circulating Collections (Stacks) Move

April - June 2026

What to expect:

• Materials in the fifth-floor stacks of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center will be temporarily moved to LIBRA, our off-site storage facility.
• All materials in the existing stacks and new arrivals will be available by request.

What we recommend:

• Need a book typically found on the fifth floor? Fill out our request form and we will find you a copy.
• To ensure everyone's safety and the smooth transportation of materials, please avoid browsing the fifth-floor stacks.

Phase 2: Seminar Room Collections Move

June 2026

What to expect:

• The non-circulating collections in the East Asia, Middle East, and South Asia Seminar Rooms will be temporarily moved to the fourth floor of Van Pelt for the duration of the renovation. These collections must be used in the library.
• Zilberman Center circulating collections will remain at LIBRA and can be requested through the library catalog.

What we recommend:  

• Check the Van Pelt fourth floor plan to see the temporary location of the Seminar Room Collections and use them while onsite. Their temporary location will also be listed in the library catalog.
• Browse the catalog to find books in the Zilberman Center circulating collections and request delivery to any Penn Libraries location.
• To ensure everyone's safety and the smooth transportation of materials, please avoid browsing the fifth-floor stacks.

Phase 3: Construction

Summer 2026 – Spring 2027

What to expect:

• Construction is scheduled to begin during summer 2026.
• While construction is in progress, the majority of the fifth floor of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center will be completely closed. Stacks and seminar rooms will be inaccessible.
• Two study areas on the fifth floor will remain open: the Reading Room for Graduate Students and the Kislak Study Hallway.

What we recommend:

• Browse the catalog to find books in the Zilberman Center collections and request delivery to any Penn Libraries location.
• Visit the fourth floor to find books in the Zilberman Center Seminar Room Collections.
• Browse the Spaces Finder to find quiet study spaces elsewhere in Van Pelt or in other libraries across campus.
• Check the staff directory to find the temporary office locations for Zilberman Center staff.

Phase 4: Reopening

Fall 2027

• Construction is scheduled to be completed and the new Zilberman Center space is expected to open.

Contact

As with any project of this size and scope, we anticipate that you may have additional questions. Please feel free to contact the Zilberman Center at zilbermancenter@library.upenn.edu for more information.