The Library at All Souls College is, like all Oxford college libraries, an independent institution. Unlike most other college libraries, however, current members of the University of Oxford and other researchers are welcome to apply to join the Library as Readers; this applies to both undergraduates and graduates, as well as to fellows, tutors, and researchers from other colleges, departments, and institutions. 

The Library closed for the summer on Friday, 14 June 2024, and will reopen on Monday, 14 October 2024 (Monday of 1st week). If you, over the closure period, require a resource that is only available in Oxford at the Library, All Souls College, please email reader.services@all-souls.ox.ac.uk with the bibliographic details (title, author, imprint, SOLO link) and your availability.

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 note that Archives staff work part time, so appointments and queries relating to that material may require additional time. 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 four 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.

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.

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.