Holdings and Services
The Library covers the first degree courses for which the College provides tuition, and houses special collections and manuscripts.
How to Find a Book
All the Library's holdings on open shelves and all antiquarian holdings are catalogued on OLIS. Access to catalogues, e-resources and other electronic databases is available via SOLO. Learn more about the relationship between the Oxford College libraries and the Oxford University Library Services (OULS).
Books with the shelfmark prefix STORE will need to be fetched: please ask at the Desk.
Most books in the Library may be borrowed by college members. Books published before 1900 and certain other categories are confined to the Library. These are stamped "Confined to the Library" and/or have a red spine label.
Periodicals
In addition to networked e-journals, titles available in hard copy are listed in the card catalogue alphabetically; in general the volumes of the last ten years are shelved with their subject, and previous years are kept in the stores. Some historical and classical titles are held in the Old Library. Recent (unbound) issues are either with books on the subject, or on the display shelf at the east end of the Old Library (top of stairs).
Periodicals, whether bound or unbound, may not be borrowed, except for those single issues which are kept as books and catalogued separately on OLIS.
Borrowing Books
Please do not remove a book from the Library without having it checked out at the Desk. Junior members may borrow up to 10 volumes in term, and up to 20 in vacations. Books borrowed during term must be returned in person by Wednesday of 8th week, and vacation loans by Wednesday of 1st week. Reminder notices are sent at appropriate times via email and a general notice is posted in the Porter's Lodge.
Returning Books
Please return books to the Main Desk after use. If you have to return books to the Porters' Lodge, please leave an accompanying note of explanation.
Fines for Overdue Books
These are payable at 20 pence per volume per day for each volume returned late. Reminder notices are sent at appropriate times via email and posted in the Porter's Lodge. Fines for late return of books requested by other readers are much higher.
Working in the Library
Readers may not reserve a work space but must remove all personal books and belongings when leaving the Library. Up to six books may be left overnight with a completed slip, showing name and date, on a designated trolley. Please put any books not on loan on a shelving trolley. Items left on tables will be put in plastic bags in the lobby. Junior members wishing to work in the Old Library may sign for a key at the Desk.
Equipment
In addition to books and periodicals, the following equipment is available for use by College members:
- Photocopier
- Microfilm and microfiche readers/printers
- Multimedia PCs and printers (with Internet and OLIS access)
The photocopier is situated in Bay 16/18 at the western end of the Paddy Room. It is owned and run by the JCR. Paper and toner supplies, as well as any billing or repair issues that may arise, are matters to be discussed with the JCR photocopier representative, and not library staff. Flexicards, however, may be signed for at the Desk, and cards with no remaining value should be returned there. A fine of £3 per card is levied for cards retained or lost. An additional photocopier is available in the JCR computer room.
Please ask at the Desk for information about microfilm and microfiche readers and printers.
