In selecting materials for storage, librarians weigh both circulation and in-house use, along with the needs of Penn's academic programs. They also seek faculty input on transfer decisions and work to ensure no academic program is disproportionately affected. The shift to electronic publishing and information storage will allow for the transfer of journal back runs and other print materials.

Unlike a warehouse, the LIBRA facility has a dynamic function. As new academic programs and research initiatives raise the demand for stored items, the Library will repopulate on-campus collections from its reserves in storage. If a given item circulates from the Facility multiple times, it will become a candidate for transfer back to a campus collection. Use of materials on campus and from storage is continuously monitored to help ensure the most appropriate location for collection items.