Penn Libraries (original) (raw)

Design courses with collections and research resources

Set up a meeting with a subject specialist or curator to talk about creating assignments, finding relevant scholarly resources and services, connecting with experts across campus, and using special collections in the classroom.

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Design courses with digital tools and technology

Interested in using VR and AR technologies in the classroom? Need advice on the best way to create educational materials in formats like videos or podcasts? Our instructional technology specialist can help.

VR in the EC

Place resources on course reserves

Set aside books, films, or sound recordings for class use through our Course Reserves service and make articles or book excerpts available electronically on Canvas.

The circulation desk, located near the main entrance to the library.

Book a classroom or seminar room

We make a variety of spaces available to faculty and instructors for semester-long courses and one-time reservations. See room descriptions to find out which space offers the setup and technology for your needs.

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Borrow textbooks

Many required texts are in the Libraries’ collections, and you can borrow books for the entire semester. Additional resources are available to students who participate in Penn First Plus or identify as first-generation students.

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Library tours and orientations

Work with a librarian to arrange a library orientation for a cohort of students, faculty, or staff, either for a general introduction or to focus on specific, disciplinary resources. We offer tours and orientations throughout the year.

People studying by the felt wall of the Reading Room. Cushioned seats and reading lamps line the long wooden tables.

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Find a study space

Our library locations offer large tables in quiet study areas, lounges with soft furniture, reservable rooms and booths for groups, assigned study carrels, and more. Explore spaces with a variety of seating and technology to suit your needs.

Study pods in the Penn useum Library

Tools for research and writing

We make a variety of tools available that facilitate the process of writing research papers at any level. Platforms like NoodleTools, PowerNotes, and LaTeX can help you organize your notes, create outlines, and more.

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Manage citations

Find information, support, and workshops on citation management tools, which help you keep track of articles and books as you find them, tag and annotate them, and easily create citations and bibliographies in Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or other writing software.

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Bioinformatics support

Bioinformatics leverages computational tools and methodologies to decipher the complex language of biological data. Through the Penn Libraries, researchers can get individualized support and access biological data repositories, data visualization software, and secondary literature.

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Analyze research impact

Identify how your research shapes policy, patents, and the work of your peers with guidance from a librarian. This influence can be measured via references in citations, social media, legislation, and more.

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Get support in understanding open access, copyright, citation best practices, Creative Commons licenses, choosing a journal or other publication venue, preprints, publisher contracts, author profiles, and plagiarism.

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Understand Open Access

Investigate options for making your research publicly accessible by working with a discipline-specific subject librarian, attending workshops in the Support for Publishing workshop series, or reading online materials created by the Libraries.

The orange lock is open.

What is copyright and how do you get it for your own work? What does it mean when something is under copyright, and how does that affect your teaching and scholarship? We can help you understand copyright law and related topics like fair use, the public domain, and open access.

DVDs are lined up in rows on shelves.

Publish your dissertation

Find resources to guide you through the process of revising your dissertation for publication, choosing a publisher, copyright, and more.

A staff member helps a patron in the WIC

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Borrow musical instruments

Our collection includes loanable electronic musical instruments accessible to novice and master musicians alike. Find synthesizers, mixers, a laptop preloaded with digital audio software, and even a theremin to fuel your creative projects.

Close-up of a person's hands playing a keyboard that is hooked up to music recording and sampling equipment.

A box of letterpress stamps.

Scan and print 3D objects

3D print or scan objects for an academic project—or just for fun! When you submit your scanning or printing request, staff will review your project to make sure it will scan or print correctly and will work with you to choose file format and material options that best suit your needs.

Image of 3D printed pollen models in various colors