Using your Laptop in the Libraries

You may bring your own laptop computer into the Science Libraries where many desks are provided with power sockets and network connections. All reading rooms are also served by wireless access points.

Wired connection

To use your laptop on the RSL network using a plug-in connection, simply connect it (using a standard ethernet/data cable) to any network socket, open a web browser and follow the instructions using your Bodleian Libraries barcode (the one on your University Card) and password (by default this is your date of birth in the format DDmmmYYYY e.g. 17jan1977). 

It is up to you to ensure that your laptop is correctly configured to use the network and that all relevant patches and updates for your machine have been applied. Full details of the necessary configuration are available on the Bodleian Library's Using a Laptop > Ethernet page. [Opens in new window.]

For wired connections in the Alexander Library and Sherardian Library, consult departmental IT support personnel.

Wireless connection

Available services

  • Bodleian-Libraries: use your Bodleian Libraries barcode and password to gain access to the network and to resources that are not available via OWL.
  • OWL (Oxford Wireless Lan): a combined version of OWL-VPN and OWL-Visitor.
  • (N.B. The Eduroam service is currently unavailable.) Eduroam: for visitors from an eduroam confederation member organization.

How to connect to the network

  1. To see the list of available networks click on the wireless icon at the bottom right-hand corner of your laptop screen
  2. Select "'Bodleian-Libraries" from the list of wireless networks .
  3. Open a web browser, you will then be re-directed to the login page.
  4. Enter the barcode number from your Bodleian library card.
  5. Enter your password (NOTE: for security reasons your password cannot be the same as your barcode number. If this is the case you will be prompted to change your password before logging in).

Points to note

  • An update from SOLO takes place every three quarters of an hour so if you are newly registered on the network, or you have changed or reset your password, you will not be able to access the network for up to three quarters of an hour.
  • ICT staff can block any IP address reported as misusing the network.
  • If your IP address has been blocked from the network please contact library staff to request reinstatement.