XV INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
ON PATRISTIC STUDIES
BODLEIAN LIBRARY ACCESS
Instructions for obtaining a reader’s card August 2007
Oxford University Library Services
There are almost a hundred libraries in Oxford, with differing subject coverage, admission policies and opening times. The largest is the Bodleian Library, the central research library of the University. The Bodleian covers all subject areas and is spread over a number of different sites. The Bodleian offer access to in-depth research level collections on a reference-only basis. The extensive printed and manuscript collections in the Bodleian have developed over the centuries and cover all subject areas. As a Copyright Library the Bodleian receives a very large proportion of UK material through legal deposit.
Alongside the Bodlein Library, there exists a system of faculty and departmental libraries. Many of the faculty libraries are closed during August and offer restricted access at other times. Admissions policies to college libraries vary depending on the individual college.
Obtaining a Bodleian card:
A letter of recommendation or a completed admission form is normally required to gain admission to read in the Bodleian. A copy of a standard admissions form, and further details of the Bodleian’s location, opening times, and payment options, are available for printing in a ‘pdf’ file linked to Website: www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/services/admissions and click on to ‘Admissions’ on the bottom left hand side of the screen.
The letter should, if possible, be signed by someone who knows you well and include brief descriptions of the topic of your research and/or category of material you wish to consult (making clear whether this includes any unique manuscripts, pre-1800 printed books, or other rare material). If you are not able to print out the form, a formal letter of recommendation is equally acceptable if it is addressed to the Bodleian, and contains the same details as are required on the form, including descriptions of the applicant’s academic/professional status, and of their research interests and/or library requirements.
When you come to the Bodleian Admissions Office to apply for admission, you will be expected to bring with you:
- a detailed recommendation, signed by someone who knows you well (perhaps by an academic or professional colleague in the institution in which your normally work)
- basic evidence of identity, e.g. passport, driving licence, signed bank card
- payment in British currency, e.g. 5 pounds for up to 7 days, or 12.50 pounds for up to six months’ access (sterling cheque drawn on a British bank, credit card or cash is acceptable)
The Bodleian Admission Office is in the Clarendon Building, on Broad Street between the Sheldonian Theatre and the traffic lights, normally open Monday to Friday 0930-1630, Saturday 0930-1230. The admissions procedure is likely to take about half an hour.
Admissions@bodley.ox.ac.uk
Tel. +44 (0)1865 277180
Fax +44 (0)1865 277105
Catalogues and requesting material
While the Bodleian’s collections are extensive, the vast majority of the material is located on closed access shelving. Users of the collections are encouraged to search for material using the Library’s online catalogue, OLIS (www.lib.ox.ac.uk/olis). Once relevant material is located, users can request the material to a specific reading room where the books/journals will be kept for consultation.
Users can read material in any of the Central Bodleian Reading Rooms but the Lower Reading Room in the Old Library (BOD Lower Res) and the Lower Reading Room in the Radcliffe Camera (BOD Lcam Res) both contain theological material on the open shelves. The Lower Reading Room in the Old Library contains open shelf material relevant to Patristics.
If you already know which documents you want to see in the Bodleian, and especially if any of them are unique or unpublished or similar rare material, please sent precise details in advance, as soon as possible. This should help you to avoid or at least to obtain advance warning of any initial difficulties and delays. Material requested from the bookstack will take a couple of hours to arrive in a reading room.
Contact addresses
For further information on theology collections within OULS please contact the Theology Librarian, Kate Alderson-Smith (kate.alderson-smith@ouls.ox.ac.uk, (tel. 01865 270732)
Opening hours
Full details of the Bodleian Library’s opening hours are available on the web pages – http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk
Please note that the Bodleian will be completely closed on Saturday 25th and Monday 27th August, which will be a public holiday weekend in England. Oxford libraries outside the Bodleian system may be closed for longer periods in August and early September.
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