The Penn Libraries

The more things change, the more things stay the same... Welcome to campus, @PennAlumni ! Here’s a look at some library spaces throughout the years, and what those same spaces look like today.

And just like that, the school year has come to an end. You made it, @uofpenn ! We’re proud of each and every one of you for all you have accomplished. Now go have a great summer!

The semester is nearly over, but there's still plenty happening at the Penn Libraries! Here's a look at everything happening between now and the end of May: MAY 11: Faculty and staff, get ready for the new year by learning the basics of Canvas. This virtual workshop will repeat on 5/21. MAY 13: In this session for Penn research support staff, learn how the Libraries can help with systematic reviews, research data management, copyright, bioinformatics, 3D printing for research, and open access publishing. MAY 14-16: Help the @commonpress hand-set metal type to help create a historically-accurate replica of the Declaration of Independence, then sign up to print your own Declaration! The Common Press will be hosting printing sessions all year long. May 14: Don’t miss this week’s Coffee with a Codex, where curators Dot Porter and Nick Herman will be showing off a newly-acquired manuscript! May 21: For those less into surprises, come to Coffee with a Codex and check out a Book of Hours from 1507. 5/27: Learn about the unique qualities of handmade Asian papers and their use in conservation treatment. 5/28: Hop online for Coffee with a Codex and take a look at Ms. Codex 869, a collection of treatises, bullae, and regulations of Franciscan interest.

May 3, 2026, marked the 557th anniversary of the birth of Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, the Florentine diplomat, politician, philosopher, and playwright of the Italian Renaissance, best known for writing The Prince. Along with selections of his work, the Penn Libraries houses over 700 works about Machiavelli and his theories of government and political leadership. Tap the link in our bio to read librarian Lonya Humphrey's thoughts on his influence.

Make it through finals with the Penn Libraries! We can help you: 📃Find the articles that unlock your research 👩‍🏫Track down sources your professor will trust 👯Get your friends together for a study session 🥳Stay motivated, energized, and ready to tackle whatever comes next! Visit one of our 12+ locations across campus or find us online at www.library.upenn.edu to discover all we have to offer.

Looking for a new study spot for finals? Don’t study alone! Whether you’re looking for a place to work on your group project, a quiet spot to help you think, or somewhere you might run into your bestie, one of our 12+ campus locations is sure to get the job done.

With the help of eScriptorium, a platform for the transcription of historical materials, @sims_mss research fellows Eleanor Webb and Priyamvada Nambrath are using manuscripts from our collections to build AI-driven machine learning models that can transcribe handwritten text. To make that happen, Ellie and Priya essentially ‘taught’ a computer to read a certain type of handwriting by presenting images of manuscript along with transcriptions of the text formatted in a way that the computer can interpret. Then the computer performed calculations and identified visual patterns in order to produce a 'model,' that can predict similar patterns in other texts. Tap the link in our bio to read more about what they discovered over the course of their project. #pennlibraries #aimonthatpenn #digitalhumanities #manuscriptstudies

📚✨ Reading Days are here! We asked two of our librarians to rate some popular study tips making the rounds online. Do your go‑to methods pass the test? 👀 #PennLibraries #PennStudents #StudyTips #FinalsSeason #CampusLife

Stop by Van Pelt Library on Friday, May 1 for Destress Fest to snuggle a therapy dog, make a craft, grab a snack, and more, or join us for one (or more!) of our events throughout Reading Days and Finals: THRU MAY 12: Visit the Virtual Study Break Canvas site for a collection of stress-relieving online activities. APRIL 27: Make a metal guitar pick in the Education Commons using a rolling mill, hydraulic press, stamping tools, and rotary equipment. APRIL 27: 4-5:30, swing by the business library to explore exciting food creations from Penn’s student entrepreneurs. APRIL 28: Have questions about AI or AI literacy, but you don't know who to ask? Join this month’s AI Literacy Working Group! APRIL 28: Learn about printing practices during the Revolutionary War at the @commonpress . APRIL 28: Look at some of Penn's manuscripts that have been cut up, remixed, rewritten, and rebound, then make your own manuscript-inspired collage. APRIL 28: 3pm-5pm, drop by WIC to grab a snack and join us for a community study session. A librarian will be on hand to answer questions. APRIL 29: Join a judgment-free environment where participants can openly engage in discussion on the topic of death and dying. APRIL 29: 2pm-4pm, come to the @commonpress to print a broadside reflecting on labor history during the early days of the United States. April 30: Put on your pajamas and come to the relaxation room at the Holman Biotech Commons for a restful study break. APRIL 30-MAY 1: Throughout reading days, visit the Holman Biotech Commons for a cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate, and write a note of thanks and encouragement to a friend! APRIL 30-MAY 3: Take an analog study break at the @fisherfineartslibrary ! We'll have coloring pages, sketching supplies, origami paper, puzzles, and letter-writing materials available. APRIL 30: At this week’s virtual Coffee with a Codex, get a look at Ms. Codex 869, a collection of religious treatises and other writings. MAY 1: 1pm-3pm, take a study break and come to the Weitzman Plaza to learn about handmade papermaking.

@dailypenn has named Van Pelt Library the best study spot on campus! So don’t study alone in your room—find your friends and find your vibe at the Libraries. What’s your favorite library study spot? Do you agree with the DP, or are you partial to one of our other locations across campus? #pennlibraries #nationallibraryweek #librarylove

Are you a Penn student who wants to work at the Penn Libraries? Here are some tips for making your application stand out. Tap the link in our bio to learn more about applying for a student job.

Here’s everything happening this week at Penn Libraries. Visit our website to learn more and register. MON: Hear from @sims_mss research fellows about their recent work with Handwritten Text Recognition technologies. TUES: Join us for a thought-provoking conversation with Penn faculty member Beans Velocci about their new book, Sex Isn't Real: The Invention of an Incoherent Binary. TUES: In this discussion co-hosted by @whyy and the @mcneilcenter , hear from a panel of community members and experts about the ongoing importance of the Haitian and American revolutions. WED: Learn how to make an online polished, professional scholarly portfolio using accessible, beginner-friendly web hosting tools. WED: Hear Dr. Christina Silver talk about the opportunities, risks, and future directions for integrating AI into qualitative research practice. WED: Sign up for this one-hour intensive studio use training, which will allow you to use the Common Press for independent projects. WED: In this workshop, learn the basics of AI use and how to be a more critical consumer of AI tools. WED: Explore the often-overlooked role of women in music from the 12th to the 14th centuries in this workshop. THURS: At this week’s Coffee with a Codex, Curator of Manuscripts Nick Herman will bring out Ms. Codex 688, a small, delicate book of hours from 16th century Italy. THURS: Join us for a scholar showcase, featuring Nakachew Amare, Penn Libraries' first Holman Africa Fellow for African Health and Medicine Research. FRI: Hear from Curator of Judaica Digital Humanities Laura Newman Eckstein about her project to reconstruct a broad network of Jewish families living in the Western Hemisphere prior to 1900. #PennLibraries #AIMonthAtPenn #PennAm250