The Library will close to Readers at 5.30pm on Friday, 13th December, 2024, and will reopen at 10am on Monday, 6th January, 2025.

The Library is open to registered Readers, Monday to Friday, 10am - 5:30pm.

There are closure periods over Christmas, Easter, and during the summer, dates of which will be announced in advance. The Library is not open to Readers at weekends. 

Registered Readers must renew their access every academic year:  

• For those Readers with a University of Oxford affiliation, please click here for the renewal form. 
• For those Readers without a current University of Oxford affiliation, please click here for the renewal form. 

A registered Reader with a new Bodleian/University card will need to book an appointment for their card to be added to the Library’s door access system.

Applying to the Library

New readers should apply by completing this form.

Previously registered readers with a current SSO should complete this form to renew their access.

Previously registered readers without a current SSO (readers not currently affiliated with the University of Oxford) should complete this form to renew their access.

Previously registered readers who have a new Bodleian/University card or have not yet used the Library should book an appointment for card activation.

Book Requests

Registered Readers may request use of Library books using a form: please click here.  

Please allow for 24 working hours for requests to be fulfilled. A confirmation email will be sent when the book is ready. Readers may also request books in person via paper form, but Library staff cannot guarantee immediate availability of books. Please note that the Library is reference only.  

Requests for appointments to see special collections materials, including all books published before 1850, should be emailed to special.collections@all-souls.ox.ac.uk.

A significant section of the Library’s special collections is not accessible due to building work. Library Staff will alert anyone requesting an appointment as soon as possible if an item is not available. If images for the item already exist, Library Staff will be happy to supply them. Otherwise, requests for appointments and images will be put in a queue until the items are available.

Requests for single appointments to see modern books by anyone who is not a registered Reader should be emailed to reader.services@all-souls.ox.ac.uk. Please do not use the book request form unless you are a registered Reader. 

The Library’s rules of conduct may be found here: https://library.asc.ox.ac.uk/rules_of_conduct.html 

Remote Services

• Scan & deliver: anyone may make a request for material not available elsewhere, full details are on the form here.

The Library is also continuing to provide the following services remotely:

• General enquiries relating to access, holdings, services, research, etc.
  • Please email the Library directly at library@all-souls.ox.ac.uk.
• Special collections research (archives, manuscripts, early printed books): while visits may not always be possible, queries and image requests may be submitted by email; and it may also be possible to arrange “virtual” appointments via Teams.
  • Please email the Library at special.collections@all-souls.ox.ac.uk or use the Image Request Form.
  • The Archives will be temporarily unstaffed beginning in late October 2024. No appointments will be available, and it will not be possible for most queries to be answered. Archive queries may be emailed to library@all-souls.ox.ac.uk, and Library Staff may have the relevant information available, but most queries will have to be held until the Archives reopen in due course. Apologies for any inconvenience.