Libraries

A meeting of medievalists

More than 500 medieval scholars from the U.S. and Europe will be on campus for the annual Medieval Academy of America conference. Dozens of panels, workshops, and lectures about the Middle Ages will convene, many led by Penn faculty.

Louisa Shepard

Treasures revealed

It has taken nearly a decade for the Penn Libraries to sort and catalogue the contents of the Gotham Book Mart, the legendary New York City bookstore and publisher. A new exhibition, now on display through May 20, showcases a select 300 items.

Louisa Shepard

Leafing through the pages of medical library history

Rare gems, anatomical and botanical volumes, and the original library catalog are all housed in the Historic Medical Library at Pennsylvania Hospital, the first of its kind in the country.

Penn Today Staff

Walt Whitman up close

As part of the Penn Manuscript Collective, students transcribe rare documents and original works by Walt Whitman in the University’s collection. Their discoveries will be included in an international symposium at Penn this spring, Whitman at 200, led by the Penn Libraries marking the anniversary of the poet’s birth.

Louisa Shepard



Media Contact


In the News


Philadelphia Tribune

Preparing the archives: Sun Ra comes to Kislak Center

Samantha Hill of Penn Libraries discusses the recent acquisition of two collections of archival materials by Sun Ra, a prolific jazz musician and forefather to the Afrofuturist movement.

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Cleveland Jewish News

University of Pennsylvania buys medieval Hebrew manuscript collection

Penn has acquired a collection including scrolls and scroll fragments, manuscript leaves and manuscript fragments, complete and partial books, birth records from a Yemenite family and tefillin.

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Pennsylvania Capital Star

Universities, nonprofits step up to aid depleted Philadelphia public school libraries

Gina Pambianchi discusses the Penn Libraries’ efforts to support Philadelphia public school libraries.

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Philadelphia Inquirer

The life and work of acclaimed Black children’s author and illustrator Ashley Bryan is honored in a new Penn exhibit

Lynne Farrington of the Kislack Center comments on a new Penn Libraries exhibit celebrating the late Black children’s author and illustrator Ashley Bryan.

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Broadway World

The University of Pennsylvania Libraries acquires archives of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Academy of Music

Penn Libraries has acquired the archives of the Philadelphia Orchestra and the Academy of Music, with remarks from President Liz Magill and Constantia Constantinou of Penn Libraries.

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WHYY (Philadelphia)

The history of the Philadelphia Orchestra now lives at Penn

Vice Provost Constantia Constantinou of Penn Libraries describes how Penn is equipped and staffed to give the Philadelphia Orchestra's archive the attention it deserves.

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