The Library at All Souls College is, like all Oxford college libraries, an independent institution. Unlike most other college libraries, however, the Library supports researchers from other colleges, the University of Oxford, and other institutions.
Applications for readership are now closed for the academic year 2025-26. Anyone who is not a registered Reader but who requires access to materials not available to them elsewhere in Oxford are welcome to email reader.services@all-souls.ox.ac.uk to enquire about an appointment to consult them.
The Library is open to registered Readers in Trinity term on Tuesday to Thursday, 10am to 5pm, from Tuesday 28th April to Thursday 18th June (1st week to 8th week).
Requests for in-person appointments to see special collections material (early printed books, manuscripts, archival materials, maps, etc.) require a minimum of two weeks’ advance notice (ten working days) and, depending on the complexity of the requests and the condition of the materials, may require longer.
Please email special.collections@all-souls.ox.ac.uk to arrange for an appointment (please include bibliographic information and/or references, and your availability).
Requests for images of special collections materials are currently taking around two working weeks to process, depending on availability and item condition, but Library Staff aim to fulfil requests as soon as possible. Please complete the image request form or email special.collections@all-souls.ox.ac.uk for further information.
Registered Readers who wish to continue using the Library must renew their access every academic year, but do not need to reapply:
- For those Readers with a University of Oxford affiliation, please click here for the renewal form. Please note that you will need to be signed in with your Oxford SSO (Single Sign On) to access the form.
- For those Readers without a current University of Oxford affiliation, please click here for the renewal form.
Readers who have received a new Bodleian/University card will need to book an appointment for their card to be added to the Library’s door access system.
Please note: the final card appointments for the academic year 2025-26 will be on Thursday 11th June 2026 (7th week). New Readers, or any Reader with a new card who wishes to use the Library in 8th week must book in for a card appointment before this date.
Spotlight: The Wren Drawings
After the death of Sir Christopher Wren's son, the College acquired almost half of the extant drawings, representing the full spectrum of Wren's career, including work for the church, the crown, and the universities.
The most recent additions to the Library's digital resource site include The Voyage of Governor Phillip to Botany Bay (1789)
