The Bodleian Library, Oxford

The trip to Oxford was somewhat of a dream fulfillment.  There was an opportunity during my undergraduate career to study in Oxford through the Virginia Oxford Program, but things just didn't work out.  Until now...so dream fulfilled I suppose.  

     Stemming from the donation of books in the 1480s by Duke Humfrey, the Bodleian takes its name from Sir Thomas Bodley.  Following the decimation of the library during the reformation, Bodley offered to refurbish the library collections of the university.  This was accomplished in both monetary donations as well as through materials from Bodley's personal collections.  The library was officially opened to students and faculty in 1602, with Thomas James as head librarian.  In 1610 Bodley secured an agreement for the library to be a depository to receive a copy of every book printed in England.  Due to the increasing collections space became a premium and several expansion projects were undertaken in the subsequent centuries.  Most notable of these were the acquisition of the adjacent Radcliff Camera in 1860, and the building of underground storage facilities in the early twentieth century, and the building of the New Bodleian in 1930.  Starting in the 1970s the library began acquiring and building storage facilities outside of the city in order to house the collection. 

     The old library is still used today.  Users enter via the security gates and front desk.  ID must be presented and belongings secured in clear bags for inspection.  It was wonderful to see a historic space being used for its intended purpose and in much the same way.  Also, every student and faculty member is required to make the following oath before using the library's collection: "I hereby undertake not to remove from the Library, or to mark, deface, or injure in any way, any volume, document, or other object belonging to it or in its custody; not to bring into the Library or kindle therein any fire or flame, and not to smoke in the Library; and I promise to obey all rules of the Library".  Somehow I don't think that I would be successful in lobbying for an oath like this to be initiated at my library.  Oh well, one can dream.  The oath was initiated by Bodley as a safe guard against fire, which also prevent any light beyond the windows to be added to the Library until 1929 with the installation of electricity. 

      Unfortunately, the Radcliff Camera was closed to the public while we were there, but judging from the outside, I'm sure it is a gorgeous space as well. Oxford itself is a lovely town; very walkable, with most everything centrally located.  Like the Radcliff the Ashmolean was closed, but I was able to have a stroll around the gift shop.  All in all a great day out, especially since most of the day I felt like I was in an episode of Lewis.