Members' Benefits

  • Friend

£25 per annum

  • Free lectures on the Library, its buildings, history, collections and services, and on more general literary, historical and bibliographical topics.
  • Literary and musical evenings with eminent figures discussing their work.
  • Private views of the Library's major and topical exhibitions and other events.
  • Special tours of the Library and visits to other libraries in Oxford and elsewhere.
  • Two issues per year of the Friends’ Newsletter, carrying news of all aspects of the Library’s work, new developments, acquisitions and services.
  • Annual General Meeting held in the Sheldonian Theatre in June, with addresses by a guest speaker and by Bodley’s Librarian, an exhibition of books and manuscripts purchased by, or presented through, the Friends, and afternoon tea in the Divinity School.
  • An Annual Report and Statement of Accounts (available on request), detailing the year’s purchases and reporting on other aspects of the Friends’ activities.
  • A 10% discount on the price of a reader's ticket for the Library for those members not eligible for a free reader’s ticket on other grounds, subject to the Library’s normal admission requirements.
  • A 10% discount, obtainable online, in person or by post, on purchases from the Library Shop. Copies of the Publications, Gifts and Christmas catalogues are mailed to Friends annually.
  • The opportunity to order books and manuscripts by telephoning the Library (Printed Books on 01865 277184 and Western Manuscripts on 01865 277152) in advance of a visit.
  • The opportunity to obtain a pass from the Admissions Office to take guests to visit Arts End of Duke Humfrey’s Library (Tel: 01865 277180, email: admissions@bodleian.ox.ac.uk).

Student Friend

£10 per annum (reduced from £15)

  • Open to all students until such time as they take the degree for which they have enrolled (proof of status is required). The benefits of individual membership as above.

Friend (Dual membership)

£40 per annum

  • The benefits of individual membership for two people at the same address, including separate members’ cards, but only one copy of the Newsletter and other communications.

Honourable Friend

£40 per annum

  • The benefits of individual membership plus two issues per year of The Bodleian Library Record, the Library’s scholarly journal containing articles on literary, historical and bibliographical topics, especially those concerned with the Library’s collections.

Honourable Friend (Dual Membership)

Honourable Friend (Dual membership)

£70 per annum

  • The benefits of individual Honourable Friend membership for two people at the same address, including separate members’ cards, but only one copy of the Newsletter and other communications.

Life Friend

£500 as one payment

Life Friend (Dual membership)

£900 as one payment

  • The benefits of Honourable Friend membership for life.  

Membership as a Gift

Membership of the Friends of the Bodleian is now available in the form of a gift for any occasion.

With this gift, there is more than one beneficiary. While the recipient enjoys exclusive events in beautiful Oxford surroundings, the Library is able to further enrich its collections for future generations of scholars.

Presented as an attractive greeting card, this special gift from £25, is available by completing the membership as a gift form and returning it to the Friends' Administrator, Friends of the Bodleian, Bodleian Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG. 

The membership rates quoted are minimum sums. Friends are urged to consider subscribing more than the minimum asked.

Annual subscriptions are due on the anniversary of the member’s first payment.

Membership levels