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Last Updated: 12/01/2023

• What’s changed as a result of the continued closure of the Perelman Building?
• What hasn’t changed?
• Updated Circulation Policies During the Perelman Building Closure
• Access to Non-Circulating Books
• FAQs

What’s changed as a result of the continued closure of the Perelman Building?

• No general building access for public researchers: We arrange on-site appointments on a case-by-case basis. Staff provide remote reference services while the Perelman Building and our reading rooms remain closed to walk-ins. The reference desk is not staffed. We continue to provide resources online. We’ll do our best to fulfill your requests in a timely manner, but please let us know if you’re on a deadline. Questions? Contact library@philamuseum.org.
• Contactless Pick Up and Return: We’ve set up book carts in the lower level of the Perelman Building (around the corner to the left when you get off the elevator) for pickup and return. See our FAQs for more detailed information.
• Bookeye scanner: Our Bookeye scanner is currently out-of-order, and our capacity for scanning limited at this time.
• Archives and Special Collections: The Arcadia Special Collections Reading Room is open for on-site appointments on a case-by-case basis. We are also providing remote services. Questions? Contact archives@philamuseum.org.
• The Martha and I. Wistar Morris Scholars Study: Carrels in this shared space are available to staff on a first-come, first-serve basis. Questions? Contact library@philamuseum.org. 
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL) requests: For information and instructions, check out our ILL page or contact ill@philamuseum.org.
• Reference Materials and Periodicals: Our Reference and Periodicals sections are not open for browsing, but these materials are findable in our online catalog.
• New acquisitions and purchase requests: You can request the purchase of electronic materials to support research; however, we have temporarily stopped donations of unsolicited materials and will rarely make new print acquisitions. We realize that this is a major disruption in library services, but please continue to send suggestions to library@philamuseum.org and we will do our best to fulfill your requests.

What hasn’t changed?

• Online access: Our eBooks, online journals, databases, and other streaming/electronic materials remain available as usual via LibGuides.
• Images: We are continuing to fulfill image and rights requests through library@philamusem.org. 
• Get help: Ask us about image, general, research or reference questions library@philamuseum.org. 

Last Updated: 12/01/2023

Library Circulation Policy

• Some books may be restricted to supervised use in the Library Reading Room depending on their size, condition, format, and/or uniqueness. After requesting a non-circulating item, you will receive instructions on how to schedule an appointment. Questions? Email library@philamuseum.org. 

Guidelines

• Please do not pass along books that are checked out to you to colleagues. Once the book changes hands the likelihood of retrieval and return diminishes.
• If you find yourself in need of a book that is checked out to another colleague, please let us know, and we will facilitate a recall or acquire an interlibrary loan copy on your behalf.

If you have any questions please send them to library@philamuseum.org 

Last Updated: 12/01/2023

Some books may be restricted to supervised use in the Library Reading Room depending on their size, condition, format, and/or uniqueness. After requesting a non-circulating item, you will receive instructions on how to schedule an appointment. Questions? Email library@philamuseum.org. 

Last Updated: 12/01/2023

1. Where do I pick up and return my library books?

You can pick up materials on the carts near the Media Room in the Lower Level of the Perelman building for pickups and returns. Books may also be returned via interoffice mail in a sealed, clearly marked box, mailer, or envelope.

2. What will be the average wait times between requesting a book and receiving it?

Paging for library materials is completed twice per day. Most materials will be ready by 10 AM, and again by 3 PM. Books will be available on pickup carts near the Media Room on the Lower Level of the Perelman Building. 

Books requested from departmental libraries (e.g. European Decorative Arts; East Asian Art, Prints, Drawings & Photographs; et al.) may take several days to be made available, as they must be delivered to the Library and Archives through interoffice mail.

Some books may require supervised use. After requesting an item with Reading Room Only access, you will receive an email with instructions on how to schedule an appointment.

Interlibrary loan fulfillment times vary depending on the lending library. Typically, books arrive between 2 and 10 days. Article and chapter scans might be completed within a few hours or in up to five days.

3. Can you buy a book at my request?

Please send any purchase requests to library@philamuseum.org. However, due to budgetary constraints we have temporarily stopped new acquisitions of most materials, including print books.