Services and facilities at the Education Library
General services
Borrowing
The Education Library offers borrowing to current staff and students of Oxford University. Most of the library’s collections can be borrowed, except for items for use in library only (yellow sticker). Short loan items have a red sticker. Find out more about borrowing from the Bodleian Libraries, including item allowances, loan periods and managing your items through SOLO.
Vacation loans
During vacations we offer special extended loan periods to make borrowing and returning books easier for students who may not be staying in Oxford. Short loan books remain short loans during vacations. When the library closes fully at Christmas and Easter, overnight material can be borrowed from the day before we close until the day we re-open.
Print, Copy and Scan (PCAS)
The Education Library uses the Bodleian Libraries PCAS system for printing, copying and scanning. Find out more about using PCAS in the libraries and how to manage your PCAS account.
Connect to library Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is available throughout the library. The Bodleian Libraries offer several Wi-Fi networks, including ‘Bodleian-Libraries’ for University and Bodleian Reader card holders, and ‘eduroam’ for members of educational institutions. Find out more about how to connect.
Use library computers
Library PCs are available for you to use in this library. All computers provide access to SOLO, the catalogue for Oxford University’s libraries. Find out more about using Bodleian Libraries PCs.
Request or reserve items
The Bodleian Libraries hold around 12 million items in offsite storage. Items can be ordered from the Book Storage Facility (BSF) and delivered to the Education Library for you to consult. Find out more about how to place stack requests via SOLO.
Inter-library requests
If you want to read something that is not available in Oxford, we will try to find it for you from another library. This service is free of charge to Oxford University users and NHS staff. Place requests via the online form.
Other libraries wishing to borrow from the Education Library's collections should email ill@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
Find out more about the inter-library request service.
Book a space for individual or group study
Students are welcome to book the discussion room for group study (with some restrictions). Please check availability on the calendar before you submit a booking request.
Downstairs study spaces
The downstairs room is set up with individual study spaces suitable for video calls. Two of these spaces are available for library users to book (with some restrictions).
The middle space includes a Windows PC. Please check availability on the calendar before you submit a booking request.
The right-hand space includes an Apple Mac computer. Please check availability on the calendar before you submit a booking request.
To book, please ask library staff at the help desk or email education.library@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
- University of Oxford members can book the room for academic-related purposes.
- All use of the room must follow the University’s Code of Practice on Meetings and Events.
- Room bookings must be made at least 1 working day in advance. There is no limit to how far in advance bookings may be made, but we do not take block bookings.
- Occasionally, library staff may need to enter the room to retrieve journals for other readers during your booking.
- If there are no bookings, you are welcome to use the room for individual or group study on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Bookings are limited to 2 hours.
- Bookings of the discussion room for individual use will be considered if, for example, you need a space to rehearse your lesson plan or conduct interviews for your research. Department seminar rooms may also be available; please email studyspace@education.ox.ac.uk.
Due to ventilation we suggest no more than 4 people in the discussion room and no more than 2 people in the downstairs room.
