When you visit Paley Library these days, remember to bring your mobile phone. Several new important services are now available via your cell phone.

Self-guided audio tour

Have you ever had a question about Paley after hours or just been curious about what the Urban Archives have to offer?

A self-guided audio tour of Paley Library provides listeners with essential information about Paley departments and services. The tour covers everything from how to obtain books from other libraries to what is stored in Paley’s Special Collections or Media Services Department.

“Students always seem to have their cell phones with them. Offering the self-guided audio tour via cell phone enables us to provide library users with information they need when they need it — even when there is not staff on duty,” said Gretchen Sneff, head librarian for science, engineering and architecture.

Just call 215-525-1543 and enter a tour stop number (listed below), followed by the # key. There is no charge for the call, just usage of your cell minutes. You can leave your feedback about the tour by pressing 0, followed by the # key.

Tour stops are posted throughout the library and a list of stops and a floor plan is available at the Circulation/Reserve Desk, the Reference Desk and from the information rack at the Bell Tower entrance.

The current tour stops are:

1 Dean’s Welcome

2 Paley First Floor

3 Reference Services

4 Circulation/Reserve Desk

5 Computer Workstations in Paley

6 Special Collections

7 Paley Second Floor

8 Paley Third Floor

9 Media Services

10 Urban Archives

Call number locator

Have you ever had trouble locating the book you want among all of Paley’s floors and stacks?

A new feature designed to help is the Call Number Locator. Just call 215-525-1543, (same as for audio tour) enter 0, the keypad number corresponding to the first letter of the call number, and then the # key. Recorded directions will guide you to your destination.

Text message feature

You finally found that book you've been wanting to read or the DVD that the rental shops don't stock right there in the library catalog... and it's available! Now, all you have to do is find a piece of scrap paper, hunt down a pen that has ink, and write down the call number to take with you to the book stacks or Media Services desk.

Or, you could text it to your phone!


Save yourself time and save trees with the latest feature in Diamond, the library catalog. While viewing any item, click the "Send via Text Message" button. A new screen will appear. Enter your mobile phone information, click "Send" and in seconds you'll receive a text message with the location, call number, and title of the item. Normal carrier charges may apply.


“Texting is a primary form of communication for our students. Our new text message feature enables our users to get the information we offer in a format that fits in with their lifestyle,” said Steven Bell, associate university librarian for research and instructional services.

For more information about the new cell phone audio tour of Paley Library, contact Gretchen Sneff at gsneff@temple.edu or 215-204-4724. For information on the text message feature, contact Steven Bell at bells@temple.edu or 215-204-5023.