Upper Camera
The Upper Camera Reading Room is the main undergraduate reading room of the central Bodleian for students studying History, including material on the history of art and on archaeology, as well as holding a smaller collection of Anthropology books.
Location
Upper Camera Reading Room
Radcliffe Camera
Bodleian Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG
We are situated on the first floor of the Radcliffe Camera.
Enquiries and contact information
Supervisor: Verity Westgate
tel: 01865 (2)77200
email: reader.services@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Please ask reading room staff 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 at the weekends 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
Archaeology and Anthropology
There is a small section of anthropology books (shelved at S.ANTH on the lower level) for undergraduates. Archaeology and anthropology texts of common interest to both History and Archaeology and Anthropology students may be found throughout the main S.HIST section in the gallery.
History
The open-shelf history collections (shelved at S.HIST) consist largely of material on History Faculty reading lists, with supplementary material as appropriate. The focus is predominantly European, with coverage of other geographical areas as dictated by course requirements.
Books may be found in the gallery (S.HIST.1-20), with the exception of reference material (S.HIST.REF) and the larger S.HIST. material (identified on the catalogue with the shelfmark suffix OUT OF SEQUENCE). These sections are on the lower level. Please note that material covering the history of Asia and North Africa can be found at S.HIST.17-20.
There is a collection of books from the former Indian Institute on the lower level. These have shelfmarks preceded by (IND).
Full sets of the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography and Hansard’s Parliamentary Debates (from the beginning to 1990) may be found on the lower level of the room.
Selected recent acquisitions of undergraduate materials relating to History, from both the legal deposit intake (British and Irish materials) and, where relevant, from a wide range of foreign accessions, are displayed in a tray located on the old staff desk in the centre of the reading room.
Journals may be found on the lower level of the room, with recent issues kept at the staff desk.
For more information, please see the History subject page.
Using the collections
All titles held in the Upper Camera are listed on SOLO, Oxford University's library catalogue. On SOLO, books and journals available on the open shelves will have the location Upper Camera Open Shelves, followed by a shelfmark such as S.HIST.10.25.3 (History) or S.ANTH.ASA (Anthropology). A pink slip must be filled out and put in the place of any material removed from the shelves.
There is a reserve collection of books likely to be in heavy demand kept at the staff desk, identified on SOLO by the shelfmark suffix (RES) and the status APPLY STAFF.
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.
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
It is no longer possible to make stack requests to the Upper Camera Reading Room.
Facilities
Computer and laptop facilities
Computers are available for readers to consult SOLO, OxLIP+ databases, and internet resources of academic interest. All reader seats on the lower level are equipped with power sockets. Wireless is available – for more information please consult the using a laptop page.
Printing and photocopying
Printing, scanning and photocpying is available in the Upper Camera. 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.
Closing routine
This commences half an hour before closure, when windows will be closed, and bookcase lights turned off. Reader workstations will 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 depart. Readers using the gallery should leave this area promptly at this point. The main lights will be turned off 5 minutes before closure. 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
The only fire exit is through the entrance door to the Upper Camera, and down the stairs to the entrance to the Camera. Assemble in Brasenose Lane. Readers must leave the building promptly when the fire alarm sounds or when instructed to by library staff.
