History of the Library

History of the Library
The Library began in 1555, the year of the College’s foundation, with about 150 volumes. These were mostly theological, philosophical and legal books together with texts by classical authors given by John White of Southwick (who may have been the brother or cousin of the College founder, Sir Thomas White) and other friends of the Founder. Many important donations followed and the room allocated for them in the Front Quad was exchanged for a modern new library of the latest interior design (now the Old Library).
The Old LibraryBuilt
in 1596-98, the St John’s Old Library was the first Oxford college library to
include upright bookcases right from the start with seats and desks between
them instead of the low lecterns that furnished medieval libraries. This new
way of shelving books was introduced to Oxford only about 10 years earlier when
Merton College refurbished their medieval library. The still existing pew-like
seats and the lower parts of the bookcases date from the late 16th century, but
the latter were raised in the 17th century to accommodate more books. The roof
was originally ceilinged, concealing the irregular roof-timbers; these were
exposed in 1888 when the ornate metal tie-rods were inserted to prevent the
roof spreading. The Library was extended at the eastern end during the 1630s to
link it with the new Inner Library (now called Laudian Library).
The Laudian LibraryThe
Laudian Library, forming the eastern range of the Canterbury Quad, was built
1631-1635 by William Laud (1573-1645), Archbishop of Canterbury and President
of the College from 1611 to 1621. Originally known as the Inner, or Mathematical,
Library, it housed mathematical instruments, manuscripts and other treasures of
Laud’s. The items were kept in cupboards, of which one remains in the Laudian
Library to this day. Other furnishings were desks and the roof timbers were
hidden above a barrel-ceiling. The room thus looked very differently from
today.
The
present Victorian interior of the Laudian Library with its neo-Gothic bookcases
and the angels and other decorations in the roof was created in 1838 to designs
by the local architects H.J. Underwood. Two modern cupboards, incorporating
metal panels form destroyed Laudian ones, were built to hold books and papers
relating to the poet and classical scholar A.E. Housman.
Only since 1933 were students allowed to study in St John’s library, which then consisted of the Old Library and the Laudian Library. For about 40 years then the Laudian Library was the main reading room until major refurbishments in the 1970s created the Paddy Room.
The Paddy RoomWhen
plans to include a science library in the Thomas White building were abandoned
in 1969/70, it was decided to take over the five undergraduate rooms underneath
the Old Library to create more study and shelving space. The plan was carried
out in stages between 1971 and 1977. The Paddy Room was named after Sir William
Paddy (1554-1634), a graduate of the College, Physician to King James I and a
great benefactor to the College.
The
Paddy Room provided additional shelving for some 20,000 volumes and about 24
additional study spaces. Moreover, with the help of an inner door and one of
the old outside entrances, it provided a separate space for the Law collection,
which allowed Law students to use their confined collection 24/7. Later, the
Law collection moved to a separate room in Canterbury Quad before the
Holdsworth Law Library was opened in 2010. In 2019 the books in the Paddy Room were
moved into the new Library & Study Centre, so that the Paddy Room can be
restored to its historic layout and be used as tutor’s rooms.
Holdsworth Law LibraryAs in many other Oxford colleges, the Law students at St
John’s College have enjoyed separate library facilities from the main library
with 24/7 access since the 1970s. In 2010, the modern Holdsworth Law Library
opened as part of Kendrew Quad. It is named after Sir William Searle Holdsworth
(1971-1944), Fellow of St John’s 1897-1922 and Vinerian Professor of Law, and
later Honorary Fellow. This unstaffed library contains all the resources needed
for studying Law (law reports, journals, and textbooks) and is accessible to
Law Students only 24/7.
Library & Study Centre
The
College’s new Library & Study Centre was opened on 12 October 2019 by Sir Keith Burnett,
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield (2007-2018) and Honorary Fellow
of St John’s College.
This extension to the Laudian Library provides state-of-the-
art study and research facilities, offering a variety of study spaces ranging
from formal set-ups to informal sofas. It also includes the Felicia Taylerson
Study Room, Tong Family Study Room, and Lin Family Study Room as well as the
large multi-purpose Mark Bedingham Seminar Room, which accommodates a variety
of events. The building has spectacular views across the beautiful College
gardens and it has created a new view onto the Chapel. The Sidonie Thompson
Bridge links the upper floor with the Laudian Library.
The new building
houses the College’s working collections in three reading rooms and an
open-access store. Further stores are equipped with the latest technology for
preserving the College’s vast collection of manuscripts, early printed books,
personal papers, and modern special collections.