Libraries

Pigment and parchment

Undergraduate and graduate students were paired with visiting scholars during a Penn Libraries workshop to paint illustrations like those in centuries-old illuminated manuscripts.

Louisa Shepard

She did it herself

The Penn Libraries exhibition “OK, I’ll Do It Myself” with selections from the collection of alumna Caroline Schimmel features 145 books, photographs, manuscripts, artwork, and memorabilia on women in the American wilderness, even Annie Oakley’s trunk.

Louisa Shepard

Stains Alive

For Libraries fellow Erin Connelly, stains are some of the most exciting discoveries in her study of medieval manuscripts. She is part of a national team analyzing stains in medieval texts using modern multispectral imaging. An exhibition at Van Pelt-Dietrich Library displays the researchers’ discoveries.

Louisa Shepard , Louisa Shepard

Public libraries can influence public health

The Healthy Library Initiative, a partnership between Penn and the Free Library of Philadelphia, works to expand the role of public librarian to serve the public health needs of patrons and the community.

Penn Today Staff

Reclaiming a fragmented history

Digital humanities scholars are orchestrating an epic crowdsourcing effort to sort and transcribe handwriting on thousands of documents discarded hundreds of years ago, known as the Cairo Geniza.

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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