The Bodleian Library

The Bodleian Library brings together the wide-ranging activities taking place. Whether you visit an exhibition or a display, attend an event or a lecture, go on a guided tour, or visit our shop, you will find an opportunity to discover our distinguished collections, magnificent buildings and informative programmes.

 

The Bodleian Library is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library with over 12 million printed items. First opened to scholars in 1602, it incorporates an earlier library built by the University in the 15th century to house books donated by Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester. Since 1602 it has expanded, slowly at first but with increasing momentum over the last 150 years, to keep pace with the ever-growing accumulation of books, papers and other materials, but the core of the old buildings has remained intact.

 

Known to many Oxford scholars simply as ‘the Bod’, these buildings are still used by students and scholars from all over the world, and they attract an ever-increasing number of visitors.

 

For opening hours and more information please see the Bodleian Libarary website.