Sherardian Library of Plant Taxonomy: update
After review, the Sherardian Library of Plant Taxonomy will no longer be an individual library located in the Life and Mind Building.
To ensure that these important collections are preserved long-term, the library’s open shelf books and journals have moved to the Bodleian Offsite Storage Facility in Swindon. These items are catalogued on SOLO and can be requested for delivery to any of our libraries for consultation in person or can be viewed electronically using our Scan and Deliver service.
The rare books, archives, and manuscripts will now be housed in the Weston Library, the Bodleian’s home for special collections, and will be available to consult in the Weston’s reading rooms. They will be fully processed and catalogued during 2026 and 2027.
If you wish to consult a rare book, manuscript or archival material from the Sherardian’s collections, please contact specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk to make an appointment and to make sure that the specific items you need will be waiting for you. If you are not a member of the University, you will also need to apply for a Bodleian Reader card.
There will continue to be an Alexander and Sherardian Librarian who can also answer any enquiries: please contact sophie.wilcox@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
Collection resources
Our plant sciences collections cover research in plant taxonomy, systematics, floristics and plant evolution. Find out more on our collection guides:
