The majority of the fifth floor of the Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center is currently closed for construction. Learn more about this renovation to the Zilberman Family Center for Global Collections, including how to request materials.

Home Link Icon

Music Library Carrels

Today's Hours:

8:30am - 12am | Library Hours

Current Penn students and researchers can reserve carrels in the Albrecht Music Library for the full academic year. Priority is given to music students. 

Reservations typically open in mid-September and new reservations can be made until the following May. For the 2026-27 academic year, carrel reservations will open on September 8, 2026. Any requests made before that date will not be filled. 

A desk and chair in a library space with bookshelves on the right

The Music Library has nine carrels available, each of which can be shared by two people.

How to reserve a carrel

  1. Use our reservation form to search for available carrels.
  2. Choose a carrel from the list and click “Book Now.”
  3. Agree to the terms and conditions and submit your booking.

  4. Library staff will review your request in the order it is received. We will verify your information and then approve the booking. You will receive a confirmation email once the booking is approved.

Storing books in your carrel

To store a book in your carrel, you must bring it to the Van Pelt Library circulation desk and ask that it be checked out to your carrel number. You can then keep it at your carrel for the full semester, but will not be able to take it out of the building. 

The following items cannot be stored in your carrel:

  • Books borrowed from other institutions via interlibrary loan, BorrowDirect, and EZ-Borrow
  • Books you have not checked out to your carrel number
  • Personal items

Staff will remove these items if you leave them behind.

Additional carrels at the Penn Libraries

Carrels are also available in Van Pelt Library, Fisher Fine Arts Library, and Penn Museum Library. Learn how to reserve these carrels.

18

Accessibility

For Wheelchairs

  • Sufficient doorway & hallway clearance
  • Clearance to approach table
  • Table with accessible surface height, knee clearance, and leg clearance

Lighting

  • Natural and/or non-fluorescent light

Nearby Bathrooms

4 large gender-neutral, accessible bathrooms are located in the 4th floor west elevator lobby. (see floor plan)

Accessible Entrance

Accessible entrance on the ground floor. A brick walk leads from the north side of Levy Park to the accessible door. At the end of the walk are 2 doors. The accessible door is on the right.

Directions to the accessible entrance:   Word   |   PDF

Maps and More

Campus Libraries Map

Staff Information

Resources for Staff Committees