Libraries

• Opening Hours
• Locate the Libraries
• Contact Us
• RSL Virtual Tour
• Admissions
• Rules
• RSL FAQ
• New Integrated Library System
• RSL QR Codes
• New books
• Newsletter
• RSL Book Sequence
• RSL Reading Room Layout
• Library Moves
• RSL Collections
  • RSL History
  • Experimental Psychology Collections
  • Geography Collections
  • Plant Sciences Collections
  • Zoology Collections
• Alexander Library
• Sherardian Library
• Royal Society 350
• Poetry Competition Winners
• Management
• Job Opportunities

 

Home  »   Libraries  »  RSL Collections

Holdings

The Radcliffe Science Library is the main science library of Oxford University. It supports the teaching and research needs of the science departments across the University with strong collections in Physical Sciences, Biological Sciences, Medicine, Experimental Psychology, Mathematics, Computing Science, Geography and History of Science.

The RSL holds the Legal Deposit material in the sciences for Oxford University. This means that it is entitled to receive a copy of all British scientific publications. In addition, the RSL subscribes to many journals published overseas, most of which are in English. Scientific doctoral theses submitted for degrees at Oxford are deposited in the Library.  There is a strong historical science collection, especially from the 19th century.

There are approx. 1 million items held by the RSL, however, only about one quarter of the Library's books and journals are displayed in the Reading Rooms, the rest are housed in remote storage and most journals are available electronically.

Reading rooms

There are reading rooms on all levels of the library. Level 2 is underground and houses the book collection, levels 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8 house the print journal collection. Level 4 is the ground floor entrance and the main enquiry point.

Help: reading room layout

Remote storage

A lot of material in the library is housed in offsite bookstacks; it can be requested via SOLO. Delivery times from remote storage can vary.

Catalogues

Most (about 90%) of RSL holdings are catalogued on SOLO. This includes all current accessions since 1988. All monographs and the majority of periodical titles are on SOLO.

SOLO: Search Oxford Libraries Online

Printed journals and books are catalogued on the University's public access online catalogue, SOLO. SOLO is a union catalogue of Oxford University libraries and includes some items which are not available for use by RSL readers.

SOLO displays a shelfmark and location for the item that you require. The location indicates whether the item is on open access or in closed access bookstacks.

Oxford University e-journals

Oxford University's electronic journals subscriptions are listed in OU e-Journals.

Finding and connecting to e-resources and e-journals using Oxlip+ [LibGuides, opens in new window.]