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Entrance to the Library, with the coats-of-arms of several Oxford colleges.
Entrance to the Library, with the coats-of-arms of several Oxford colleges.

The Bodleian Library, the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in England is second in size only to the British Library. Known to Oxford scholars as “Bodley” or simply “the Bod”, it is one of five copyright deposit libraries in the United Kingdom.

Contents

[edit] Early History

Whilst the Bodleian Library as we know it has a continuous history dating back to 1602, its roots date back even further. The first purpose-built library known to have existed in Oxford was founded in the fourteenth century by Thomas Cobham, Bishop of Worcester. This small collection of chained books was situated above the north side of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin on the High Street.[1][2] This collection continued to grow steadily, but when, between 1435 and 1437 Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (brother of Henry V of England), donated a great collection of manuscripts, the space was deemed insufficient and a larger building was required. A suitable room was finally built above the Divinity School, and completed in 1489. This room continues to be known as Duke Humfrey’s Library.[3]

[edit] Sir Thomas Bodley and the re-founding of the University Library

The late sixteenth century saw the library go through a period of decline (to the extent that the library’s furniture was sold, and only three of the original books belonging to Duke Humfrey remained in the collection).[4] It was not until 1598 that the library began to thrive once more, when Thomas Bodley (a former fellow of Merton College) wrote to the Vice Chancellor of the University offering to support the development of the library: "where there hath bin hertofore a publike library in Oxford: which you know is apparent by the rome it self remayning, and by your statute records I will take the charge and cost upon me, to reduce it again to his former use."[5] Duke Humfrey’s Library was refitted, and Bodley donated a number of his own books to furnish it. The library was formally re-opened on November 8 1602 under the name “Bodleian Library” (officially Bodley's Library).[6]

Bodley’s collecting interests were varied; according to the historian Ian Philip, as early as June 1603 he was attempting to source manuscripts from Turkey, and it was during “the same year that the first Chinese book was acquired.”[7] In 1610, Bodley made an agreement with the Stationers' Company in London to put a copy of every book registered with them in the library. The Bodleian collection grew so fast that the building was expanded between 1610–1612, (known as the Arts End) and again in 1634–1637. When John Selden died in 1654, he left the Bodleian his large collection of books and manuscripts. The later addition to Duke Humfrey’s Library continues to be known as the ‘Selden End’

Doorway to the Schola Moralis Philosopiae (School of Moral Philosophy) at the Bodleian Library. This is now the staff entrance to the Schools Quadrangle.
Doorway to the Schola Moralis Philosopiae (School of Moral Philosophy) at the Bodleian Library. This is now the staff entrance to the Schools Quadrangle.

[edit] The Schools Quadrangle and Tower of the Five Orders

By the time of Bodley’s death in 1612, further expansion to the library was being planned. The Schools Quadrangle (sometimes referred to as the ‘Old Schools Quadrangle’, or the ‘Old Library’) was built between 1613 and 1619. Its tower forms the main entrance to the library, and is known as the Tower of the Five Orders. The Tower is so named because it is ornamented, in ascending order, with the columns of each of the five orders of classical architecture: Doric, Tuscan, Ionic, Corinthian and Composite.

The astronomer Thomas Hornsby observed the transit of Venus from this tower in 1769.[8]

The rooms on the ground and upper floor of the quadrangle (excluding Duke Humfrey’s library, above the Divinity School) were originally used as lecture space. Their function is still indicated by the inscriptions over the doors. As the library’s collections expanded, these rooms were gradually taken over. One of the schools is now used to host exhibitions of the library’s treasures, whilst the others are used as offices and meeting rooms for the library administrators.

[edit] The Radcliffe Camera

By the late eighteenth century, further growth of the library demanded more expansion space. In 1860, the library was allowed to take over the adjacent building, known as the Radcliffe Camera. In 1861, the library’s medical and scientific collections were transferred to the Radcliffe Science Library, which had been built adjacent to the University Museum

[edit] The Clarendon Building

The Clarendon Building, (built between 1711 and 1713 to house the Oxford University Press) had been vacated by the Press in the early nineteenth century, and used by the university for administrative purposes. In 1975 it was handed over to the Bodleian Library, and now provides office and meeting space for senior members of staff.[9]

The Radcliffe Camera, viewed from the University Church.
The Radcliffe Camera, viewed from the University Church.

[edit] The Library in the Twentieth Century

In 1911, the Copyright Act continued the Stationers' agreement by making the Bodleian one of the six (at that time) libraries in the United Kingdom where a copy of each book copyrighted must be deposited. See: Legal deposit.

Between 1909 and 1912, an underground bookstack was constructed beneath the Radcliffe Camera and Radcliffe Square in.[10] In 1914, the total number of books in the library’s collections breached the 1 million mark.[11] By the 1920s, the Library needed further expansion space, and in 1937 building commenced on the New Bodleian building, opposite the Clarendon Building on the corner of Broad Street.

The New Bodleian was designed by architect Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. Construction was completed in 1940. The building was of an innovative ziggurat design, with 60% of the bookstack below ground level.[12] A tunnel under Broad Street connects the Old and New Bodleian buildings, and contains a pedestrian walkway, a mechanical book conveyor and a pneumatic Lamson tube system which was used for book orders until an electronic automated stack request system was introduced in 2002.[13] The Lamson tube system is still used by users requesting manuscripts to be delivered to Duke Humfrey’s Library, since many of these have yet to be entered onto OLIS, the online public access catalogue and stack request system.[14]

[edit] The Library Today

Blank Bodleian Library reader's card or 'Bod Card' - required for access to most of the library's facilities. Such cards exhibit a photograph of the reader, name, subject, academic status, and reader number, which appears below the barcode.
Blank Bodleian Library reader's card or 'Bod Card' - required for access to most of the library's facilities. Such cards exhibit a photograph of the reader, name, subject, academic status, and reader number, which appears below the barcode.

Today, the Bodleian includes several off-site storage areas as well as nine other libraries in Oxford:

Until fairly recently, before being granted access to the library, new readers were required to speak aloud the declaration printed below. This oath is now printed on the application form readers must sign in order to obtain their ticket:

I hereby undertake not to remove from the Library, nor to mark, deface, or injure in any way, any volume, document or other object belonging to it or in its custody; not to bring into the Library, or kindle therein, any fire or flame, and not to smoke in the Library; and I promise to obey all rules of the Library.

.... A translation of the following traditional Latin oath:

Do fidem me nullum librum vel instrumentum aliamve quam rem ad bibliothecam pertinentem, vel ibi custodiae causa depositam, aut e bibliotheca sublaturum esse, aut foedaturum deformaturum aliove quo modo laesurum; item neque ignem nec flammam in bibliothecam inlaturum vel in ea accensurum, neque fumo nicotiano aliove quovis ibi usurum; item promitto me omnes leges ad bibliothecam Bodleianam attinentes semper observaturum esse. (Leges bibliothecae bodleianae alta voce prae legendae custodis iussu).

[edit] The library’s future

The Bodleian Group now cares for some 8 million items on 117 miles of shelving, and a staff of over 400.[15] It is the second largest library in the UK (behind the British Library). The continued growth of the library has resulted in a severe shortage of storage space. Over 1.5 million items are currently stored in locations outside of Oxford. In an effort to improve access to the library’s collections, Oxford University Library Services (OULS) is in the process of obtaining planning permission to build a new book depository on the Osney Mead site, to the south east of Oxford city centre. There are also plans to remodel the New Bodleian building, provide improved storage facilities for rare and fragile material, and to better support researchers.[16]

[edit] Digital Developments

The Oxford Digital Library is a key component of the e-strategy of Oxford University Library Services (OULS). It was established to develop the technical infrastructure for an enhanced service providing online access to the collections. The Oxford Digital Library started operationally in July 2001 and has a small collection of digital archives.[17]

The library operates a strict policy of copyright enforcement. Until fairly recently, photocopying of library material was not permitted. However individuals may now copy material produced after 1900, and a staff-mediated service is provided for certain types of older material. Handheld scanners and digital cameras are also permitted for use on post-1900 publications.[18]

[edit] The Bodleian Library in fiction

The Library's fine architecture has made it a favourite location for filmmakers. It can be seen in Another Country (1984), The Madness of King George III (1994) and the first two Harry Potter films, in which the Divinity School doubles as the Hogwarts hospital wing and Duke Humphrey's Library as the Hogwarts library. The Radcliffe Camera makes an appearance in The Saint (1997). In The New World (2005) the libraries' edifice is portrayed as the entrace to the Royal Court of the English monarchy.

Also, the first few words of the Latin version of the reader's promise seen above (Do fidem me nullum librum vel) can be found on the linguist's hat in the 1996 mini-series Gulliver's Travels.

Since J.R.R. Tolkien had studied philology at Oxford and eventually became a professor, he was very familiar with the Red Book of Hergest which was kept at the Bodleian. He later created his own fictional Red Book of Westmarch telling the story of The Lord of the Rings. Many of Tolkien's manuscripts are now at the library.

[edit] Photos of the Bodleian Library

The Radcliffe Camera.

[edit] Collections include


[edit] References

  1. ^ Philip, Ian: “The Bodleian Library in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries”, (Clarendon Press: Oxford, 1983), p.5, isbn: 0198224842 .
  2. ^ “The Bodleian Library ”, (Jarrold & Sons, 1976), isbn: 0900177624.
  3. ^ “The Bodleian Library”, (Jarrold & Sons, 1976).
  4. ^ “The Bodleian Library”, (Jarrold & Sons, 1976).
  5. ^ Philip, Ian: “The Bodleian Library in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries”, p.1.
  6. ^ “The Bodleian Library” (Jarrold & Sons, 1976).
  7. ^ Philip, Ian: “The Bodleian Library in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries”, p.19.
  8. ^ University of Oxford: Museum of the History of Science, “The most noble problem in nature: the transit of Venus in the eighteenth century” online catalogue of an exhibition held in 2004: http://www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/venus/html/exhibition/oxford-observations.htm.
  9. ^ Jenkins, S. http://www.headington.org.uk/oxon/broad/buildings/south/clarendon.htm. Accessed 2007-02-10.
  10. ^ Oxford University Library Services: “A university library for the 21st century: an exhibition of proposals by the oxford university library services (OULS)”, (University of Oxford, 2005) http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/1878/A1_Boards_Sept_2005_COMPLETE_1_to_9.pdf , accessed: 2006-02-09.
  11. ^ Oxford University Library Services: “A university library for the 21st century: an exhibition of proposals by the oxford university library services (OULS)”, (University of Oxford, 2005) http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/1878/A1_Boards_Sept_2005_COMPLETE_1_to_9.pdf , accessed: 2006-02-09.
  12. ^ Oxford University Gazette: “A university library for the twenty-first century: a report to Congregation by the Curators of the University Libraries”, (University of Oxford, 2005-22-09) http://www.ox.ac.uk/gazette/2005-6/supps/1_4743.htm , accessed: 2006-02-09.
  13. ^ University of Oxford Systems and Electronic Resources Service: http://www.sers.ox.ac.uk/aboutsers.html, accessed 2007-02-10..
  14. ^ Bodleian Library: Department of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/scwmss/wmss/#OrderingMSS, accessed 2007-02-10.
  15. ^ Oxford University Library Services: “A university library for the 21st century: an exhibition of proposals by the oxford university library services (OULS)”, (University of Oxford, 2005) http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/1878/A1_Boards_Sept_2005_COMPLETE_1_to_9.pdf , accessed: 2006-02-09.
  16. ^ Oxford University Library Services: “Buildings Update”: http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/buildings, accessed 2007-02-10.
  17. ^ Oxford Digital Library: http://www.odl.ox.ac.uk, accessed 2007-10-02.
  18. ^ See Bodleian Library photocopying regulations: http://www.bodley.ox.ac.uk/dept/readerserv/copyingservices.htm#Self-service_photocopying, accessed 2007-02-09.
  19. ^ Birmingham University English Department’s project to digitise the Vernon Manuscript: http://www.english.bham.ac.uk/medievalstudies/vernon/, accessed 2007-02-09.

[edit] See also

  • OLIS (Oxford Libraries Information System)

[edit] External links

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