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I’m always a little disappointed with threads like these because they don’t actually differentiate between sections of the Bod. https://twitter.com/JoaquimCampa/status/1294529398390099969
So, to explain: this here is Duke Humphries, part of the rare books and archives section. But the Bodleian is actually a bunch of interconnected libraries, many of which are incredibly beautiful!
I spent a lot of my writing time in the upper Radcliffe Camera because it’s absolutely gorgeous there (and a few of the books I needed were there).
Much of my department’s work was housed in the Taylor Institute’s library, which was likewise absolutely gorgeous, though it was sometimes hard to find a seat there.
I also spent a lot of time at the Vere Harmsworth Library at the Rothermere American Institute for research for my dissertation. It’s one of the modern libraries at Oxford and is pretty in a different way.
In addition, each college has their own library. My college, St. Anne’s, was an independent women’s college before Oxford went co-ed, which means it has one of the most extensive libraries of the colleges in Oxford. I was there pre-building of the new library, too.
I also spent a lot of time in what is probably the ugliest part of the Bodleian system: the Gladstone Link. It’s underground. You can’t get a phone signal. You have to go through this oppressive tunnel to get there. I was not a fan.
Also, since the Bod is a copyright library, there are literally millions of books stored off site. As a student you can basically order a book up and have it sent to a specific library and you go in and use it for that day. Not a lot of browsing.
There are of course collections on shelves where you can go in and use the book in the library there, but in the Bod itself, you can’t check out the book, so you have to use it there. Thus why I spent time in the Gladstone Link.
In addition to the college library and the main Bodleian, each subject - faculty - at Oxford has their own library collection, and you have to register with the library to use it. So, for example, I had to register to use the English faculty library while I was there.
The Bod itself consists of about 30 libraries. Then each college and permanent private hall has their own library. And then each faculty/department. And then there are museum libraries, etc etc. All told, Oxford has over 100 individual libraries.
I hope I eventually can get back there to do more research, as even with doing a degree there, I only visited about 10-15% of the available libraries.
Anyway, you understand now why I love Oxford.
Anyway, you understand now why I love Oxford.
