LIBRARIES AT PENN

A world of social work, social welfare, and policy knowledge at your fingertips

From the large Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center to special collections in social work, social policy, and nonprofit leadership, the University of Pennsylvania offers extensive library resources for students and scholars.

Books in library

Search the Penn Library System

The Library’s online catalog, Franklin, is searchable both on and off campus.

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Headshot of Tamara Cadet

Planning ahead in an age of longevity

Tamara J. Cadet of the School of Social Policy & Practice discusses strategies for preparing—financially and physically— for an extended lifespan.

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Caster in the snow

SP2 at SSWR 2026: Leading for Transformative Change

Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice (SP2) is proud to participate in the 30th Annual Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Conference, taking place January 14 –18, 2026, in Washington, D.C. 

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Professor Desmond Patton in his office

Centering joy in AI development and implementation

PIK Professor Desmond Upton Patton and collaborators introduce a joy-informed framework designed to initiate conversations among engineers, designers, and researchers.