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Libraries and Research

Penn's library and research universe is always expanding to stay at the forefront of computing trends, with more wired and wireless services available than ever before. The University library system offers extensive resources for students, including more than a dozen general and specialized libraries, more than 4,500 electronic journals, hundreds of electronic databases, the Schoenberg Digital Archive Center, dozens of special collections, and 450+ public computers.

Franklin, the online catalog for all Penn Libraries, places a comprehensive, searchable catalog of the Library system's holdings at the fingertips of anyone with a current web browser. Franklin also provides convenient, personalized patron account services for members of the University community, including the ability to place renewal, recall, hold, and interlibrary loan requests electronically. When Penn patrons request off-site materials, an automated e-mail system assures that they will be immediately notified when the materials are ready.

In addition to extensive electronic services, the University's Library system also includes excellent physical facilities. The University's largest library, Van Pelt, has many new workspaces: a Film Studies Lab and the Goldstein Undergraduate Studies Center, which includes music labs, wired electronic classrooms with video and DVD access, and wireless network access. An Assistive Technologies room, with special capabilities such as voice dictation, optical character recognition, and Braille printing, extends computing to the widest possible audience. The David B Weigle Information Commons, a joint project of Penn Library and the School of Arts & Sciences, provides three separate but complementary facilities: the College Technology Center, the Digital Media Lab, and the Academic Consulting Services office. Information Commons is designed to link programs from across the university to create a one-stop shop for students seeking support.

Van Pelt Library consistently explores the best that technology has to offer by piloting new knowledge management tools for students and web research topic profiles for faculty, by crafting the Mellon journal archive, by researching hundreds of digitally archived electronic books for both portability and usefulness, and by inaugurating new ergonomic renovations. Van Pelt Library also offers a free laptop lending service; students may use these laptops, which come equipped with a full complement of useful software, to connect to the wireless network in the library.

Digital Library. The University of Pennsylvania Library has built the framework for an ever-growing digital library that will revolutionize the way students work, learn, create, and collaborate. Using digital technology to collect, preserve, and provide access to information, the Library's goal is to seamlessly integrate digital, non-digital, and print resources with the expertise of the campus librarian community to develop a rich repository of knowledge.

Penn has created new collections, archives, services for scholars, and community-building structures. With Penn's digital library, students can already perform a wide range of activities:

• read both contemporary and rare historical books

• access thousands of journals, research manuscripts, and magazines

• create personal accounts to manage Web-based research with ease

• explore the online image, art, and regional planning libraries

Penn Library staff conduct ongoing research to develop and adapt new digital library technology to serve the Penn community. By carefully selecting sustainable, robust technologies that will preserve their integrity over time, the Library staff ensure that our digital collections last for decades.