Lower Reading Room
The Lower Reading Room of the Old Library is the principal reading room for all those studying Classics and Ancient History and Philosophy. It is also home to open shelf general Reference and Theology (Patristics) collections, and the Main Enquiry Desk.
Location
Lower Reading Room
Old Bodleian Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG
We are situated on the first floor of the Old Bodleian Library.
Enquiries and contact information
Supervisor: Jacqueline Dean
tel: 01865 (2)77160
email: reader.services@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Please ask staff at the reserve desk in the centre of the reading room if you have any enquiries about open shelf material, the book service, or photocopying.
Please note that the full range of services is only offered from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and that after 5pm on weekdays and on Saturdays staff may refer particular enquiries to the Main Enquiry Desk, or to daytime staff.
The Library’s Main Enquiry Desk in the Lower Reading Room of the Old Library is staffed throughout opening hours, and staff there are happy to help with any queries, direct you to the most appropriate reading room for your studies, and assist with the use of the online catalogue SOLO and electronic resources available via OxLIP+. A range of guides on library services and facilities is also available from the Desk. To contact the Main Enquiry Desk or to ask a question, please use the Ask an Oxford Librarian page.
Subjects
Classics and Ancient History
The open shelf Classics material is arranged across the three rooms of the north wing of the Library: the Greek Room, the Latin Room, and the Academy Room. The Greek Room (C.Gr and C.Hist.) collection contains papyrological texts and modern works on history and religion and the periodicals on the upper shelves are chiefly on archaeology and Byzantine studies. Latin authors are housed in the Latin Room (C.Lat), along with a reference section (C.Ref), indices (C.Index) and general studies (C.Gen) on combined Greek and Latin subjects. The upper shelves hold general Classics periodicals. Material in the Academy Room includes a small section on ancient language (C.Lang), and behind the Classics Desk you will find the numismatics, classical philosophy and epigraphy sections.
Selected recent acquisitions of Classics and ancient history books, from both the legal deposit intake (British and Irish materials) and from a wide range of foreign accessions, are displayed on a freestanding shelf or tray on a windowsill in the Academy Room.
Latest issues of journals may be found in a tray on a windowsill in the Greek Room. This includes latest issues of a number of journals whose main runs are kept in the bookstack.
For more information, please see the Classics subject page.
Philosophy
The Philosophy Room is located between the Main Enquiry Desk area and the Theology collection. This houses the main Philosophy collection (Phil.B. - La.), including reference works on the windowsills (Phil.Ref.). Philosophy journals (Phil.N.), arranged alphabetically by title, can be found on a freestanding bookcase at the southern end of the Theology Room. Specialist advice and support is available for those studying Philosophy from the Main Enquiry Desk.
A new books display of recent acquisitions from both the legal deposit intake (British and Irish materials) and a wide range of foreign accessions can be found on shelves at the western end of the room.
Current issues of Philosophy journals are shelved with the main run of each journal in the Theology Room. The latest issues of a number of other journals whose main runs are kept in the bookstack are displayed in a rack on a windowsill in the Philosophy Room.
For more information, please see the Philosophy subject page.
Reference
The general reference collection (shelfmarks beginning with B or GEN) can be found in the Enquiry Room adjacent to the Main Enquiry Desk, and includes general bibliographies, quick reference works such as directories, and several general encyclopaedias. There is a section of material related to the University, including a full set of the University Calendar, and an extensive biographical section. The majority of the collection supports study of the humanities, and most materials focus on Western Europe. Reference material on specific subjects can be found in the relevant reading room or library for that subject.
For more information, please see the Reference collections page.
Theology
The Theology collection in the Lower Reading Room has a particular focus on Patristics; Greek and Latin writers from the rise of Christianity to the invention of printing. Open shelf space is primarily given to original texts, bibliographies and indexes. Selected journal titles are also available, as well as core reference titles and a collection of Bible texts.
Selected recent acquisitions of graduate and research materials relating to Theology, from both the legal deposit intake (British and Irish materials) and from a wide range of foreign accessions, are displayed in a freestanding shelf or tray in the Theology Room.
The latest issues of Theology journals are displayed in a tray on a windowsill in the Theology Room. This includes a number of journals whose main runs are kept in the bookstack.
Using the collections
All printed materials held in the Lower Reading Room can be found on OLIS, Oxford University’s library catalogue. On the catalogue, books and journals available on the open shelves will have the location Lower Reading Room Open Shelves, followed by a shelfmark such as T.Text.Lat.A.738 (Theology), C.Hist.Rom.D.70 (Classics), P.Phil.Jk.2 (Philosophy), B3.614 (Reference), or GEN.Z792.O94.BOD (Reference). A yellow slip must be filled out and put in the place of any material removed from the shelves.
Some items held on open access in the Reading Room have RETC recorded on the online catalogue as their shelfmark. Please ask a member of staff for further information, or consult the Classics card catalogue (opposite the staff desk in the centre of the reading room) to find the correct full shelfmark.
Mobile steps, kicksteps, and other items of height access equipment are available to help readers retrieve open shelf books from the higher shelves of bookcases. Before using equipment of this type, please make a visual check that it is not damaged or faulty. Please take care when using the equipment, and if it is unstable, let staff know straightaway, and then find another set of steps. When using sets of steps with hooved or cup feet, please take particular care not to knock the feet against bookcases or skirting boards, as this can distort them and make the steps unstable.
Some sets of black steps in this room have a sprung mechanism whereby the steps move against the main frame. Please take care not to trap fingers as this mechanism moves.
Book replacing
Book replacing is undertaken every weekday evening from 7.30pm in term, and from 5.30pm in vacation, continuing every weekday morning until approximately 9.15am. Book replacing is undertaken throughout the day on Saturdays.
Stack request
To order books to the Lower Reading Room using SOLO, sign in to identify yourself to the system, choose the "hold" option and select the Lower Reading Room from the list offered. A maximum of ten orders to the Lower Reading Room may be made at any one time. Pre-1701, very large or heavy material, and certain types of special collections material (including all manuscripts and Oxford theses) may not be ordered to this room. Please collect orders from staff at the reserve desk in the centre of the reading room, not Main Enquiry Desk.
Facilities
Computer and laptop facilities
Computers are available throughout Lower Reading Room for readers to consult SOLO, OxLIP+ databases, and internet resources of academic interest. Additional computers may be available in the Training Room (off the Philosophy Room), although this room will close at short notice for training or other library purposes. All reader seats are equipped with power sockets and ethernet points, for connection to the internet. Wireless connections are available. Please see the using a laptop page for more information.
CD-ROMs held in the bookstack can be ordered to the Lower Reading Room, where a non-networked computer is available on which they can be consulted. Please ask staff at the reserve desk in the centre of the reading room about use of this equipment.
Printing and photocopying
Printing, scanning and photocpying is available in the Lower Reading Room, adjacent to the Main Enquiry Desk. Payment is made using a PCAS account, which readers must set up to take advantage of these services. The account can be credited using credit/debit cards online, or using the cash-loader in the Lower Reading Room of the Old Library.
Please present any items from which you wish to make photocopies to staff. Information on the PCAS system, full details of what can be copied and information about other copying services are given on the making a copy page.
Please note that photocopiers are turned off from 30 minutes before closing.
Microform and video equipment
Microfilm and microfiche readers and reader printers can be found adjacent to the reserve desk in the centre of the reading room. The reader printers allow A4 or A3 reproductions of pages from microforms, with payment made using a PCAS account (see the making a copy page for prices).
DVDs and video cassettes held in the bookstack can be ordered to Lower Reading Room, where DVD and VHS video cassette players are available. Please ask staff at the reserve desk in the centre of the reading room about use of this equipment.
Closing routine
This commences half an hour before closure, when windows will be closed and ladders moved away from the aisles, and staff will start to turn off computers in the Training Room. Reader computers will all be turned off 15 minutes before closure. A bell will be rung 10 minutes before closure, which is the signal for readers to finish working and leave. Please ensure that you take all your belongings with you when you leave the Library.
Please note that photocopiers are turned off and that staff-service photocopy orders are not accepted from 30 minutes before closing.
Fire exits and assembly point
Exit via the North or South staircases and the Proscholium. Assemble in Brasenose Lane. Readers must leave the building promptly when the fire alarm sounds or when instructed to by library staff.
