Services

• Using the Library
• Admissions
  • What do you have to do?
  • Do you have to pay?
  • Find Us
  • Types of Cards
  • Replacement Cards
  • Facilities Available
• Enquiry Services
• Disabled Readers
• Training, Workshops and Guides
• Making a Copy
• Inter-library Loans
• Facilities
• Using a Laptop

 

Home  »   Services  »  Admissions  »  Facilities Available

(1) Books and journals

All books, printed journals and newspapers, maps and music printed after 1800 are normally available unless they are in special collections (usually identifiable by a name in the call number, e.g. “Douce 123”).

Your use of the libraries is for reference only, i.e. you cannot borrow items to take away.

If you want to consult manuscripts, pre-1801 printed material and other material in special collections you need to make this clear on admission, and if permission is granted you will be issued with a card indicating this (with an ‘A’ instead of an ‘S’ above the bar code)

(2) Help in using the libraries

Most reading rooms and libraries produce printed and web guides, and maps and plans. There is also a general printed Guide to the libraries.

Please feel free to ask any member of staff in the reading rooms if you need help or guidance.

(3) Reference and research enquiries

Staff are available in most reading rooms to help you to find things out. Straightforward enquiries are usually resolved immediately, but more complex questions involving specialist subject knowledge can be referred to a senior subject librarian or member of curatorial staff to provide you with expert assistance. This may not always be available immediately.

In addition to face-to-face assistance you can also contact us by email (look for the contact address of the library or reading room on its web page) or you can use the Ask-An-Oxford-Librarian online service available on the libraries’ web site (www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk) The central Bodleian Library’s Main Enquiry Desk may also be contacted by direct email (reader.services@bodleian.ox.ac.uk) , telephone: 01865 277162, or fax: 01865 277182.

(4) Photocopying and scanning

Photocopiers are available in most libraries and reading rooms. Copies may be made using the Bodleian Libraries' Photocopy Card. The price of the card is £1.00, and this includes 50p of value which enables you to pay for copies. The card can have further value added on to it, so it is only necessary to purchase one Photocopying Card. The cards can be purchased and revalued using the coin-operated vending machines at or near the self-service photocopy points.

Not all material may be photocopied using the self-service machines. The central Bodleian Library offers a staff-mediated service for such material.

All copying must be done within the terms of the relevant copyright legislation.

Digital cameras and personal scanners may be used in some areas. See www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/services/copy/digital for details

(5) Interlibrary loan and document supply

Interlibrary Loan and Document Supply services can be used to obtain books, journals, papers, theses, reports and other material which are not held locally. (If you work for the NHS in Oxfordshire please consult the Bodleian Health Care Libraries web pages.) A charge is made. See www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/services/ill/oxford for further details.

(6) Electronic resources and access to them

The great majority of electronic resources to which the Bodleian Libraries subscribe are available from computers in the libraries.

The same resources will be available if you plug your laptop into a library datapoint. (Your computer will regularly be scanned for viruses before allowing you access when you do this.)

If the resource is not directly available to you (either because it always needs a password or because you are not on library premises), you may find that (a) a password is available to you via another route (e.g. your own institution’s or public library’s licence agreements); or (b) you can use a VPN connection obtained from your home institution which gives direct access to the resources you would normally have available from there.

In all cases you should be aware that the licence terms attached to electronic resources does not allow their use for commercial purposes.

Restricted access cards

If you have a restricted access card (i.e. a red card giving access only to specifically designated areas) then you will have access only to the resources normally available from within that area. You will not be able to call material from the closed stacks.