Bodleian Library

Please note: Estates will be reviewing all departments access information via departmental administrators during michealmas 2010. If, in the meantime, you would like to update your information please contact disability@admin.ox.ac.uk. As some of the information is now out of date please use caution when refering to these webpages and contact the department direct for current Access information.

Broad Street. Tel. (01865) 277000

Bodleian Library Website

There are a number of libraries in different parts of Oxford, which collectively make up the Bodleian Library; these are essential for many of the courses at Oxford University. Students would be advised to ask their faculties which libraries they would have to use. This report details the main libraries associated with the Bodleian, mainly because they are housed in the same buildings. However, the dependent libraries are numerous and have their own separate reports. The library publishes a series of guides for disabled readers, which detail the special facilities and services and the major access barriers within the libraries themselves. This is available on request from the libraries and if you want to use the Bodleian you should definitely obtain a copy.

It is possible for disabled students to order books up from the stack by telephone and to have them taken to a conveniently accessible reading room (usually the Modern Papers Reading Room in the New Bodleian). Students may also request books from the stacks remotely via the Automated Stack Request System. Details of how to use this system can be found at http://www.lib.ox.ac.uk/olis/asr.

There are also a number of services for visually impaired students involving large print books and a recording service. Although many of the libraries themselves may be inaccessible, it should be possible for any student to find a way of getting access to the books that they need from the Bodleian. The reader service for blind and visually impaired students is located in Ewert House and there are also facilities in the New Library building.

The Library is seeking funding in order to install induction loops in most reading rooms; an arrangement of 'safe havens' is currently in place to assist with the evacuation of disabled readers from upper floor areas.

Old Bodleian

There is no independent access into this part of the Bodleian. The main accessible entrance is from Broad Street, via a ramped slope with no handrails (gradient meets with specification) to a narrow 700mm archway; assistance may be required. This entrance is not sign-posted, but is opposite the car park of the New Bodleian. The entrance is then via the Sheldonian Quad, to the Old Bodleian Quad that is -1, +1 stairs to very heavy double doors. There are temporary ramps, which can be erected and it would be wise to ring in advance.

Once inside the Divinity School - which contains no books - can be accessed. This is +2 stairs with temporary ramps when required, these do not meet specification, and assistance may be required. There are two staircases on opposite sides of the building both of which lead to the Upper and Lower Reading Rooms and the Duke Humfrey Library. The staircase on the south side of the building is +3, +5, +5, +5, +5, +5, +5 stairs (handrail on the left at 900mm) then a further +4 (handrails left and right at 820mm) to the Lower Reading Room. Virtually all of the Bodleian's collections, which were recorded in the written catalogue, are now available via the electronic catalogue, which is online and can be accessed via the Internet. There is flat access to half of the lower reading room from here and +4, -4 stairs (handrails on both sides) to the other half.

From outside the lower reading room, on the same staircase, there is a further +5, +5, +5, +5, +5, +5 stairs (handrail on the on left) and then +1 to the Duke Humfrey Library, which has flat access throughout. From outside the Duke Humfrey Library there is +15 (handrails on both sides) and door 550mm to the Upper Reading Room. This door could be unbolted and made a wide double door. There is flat access throughout the Upper Reading Room.

The toilets are also on the north staircase, the men's being +3, -5 stairs from reception and the women's +1, +5, +5, +3 stairs (handrail on the right). Disabled readers are asked to use the lift adjacent to the Great Gate, which is accessed through the door marked 'Schola Metaphysicae'. A key for the lift is issued on each visit. The lift gives direct access to the Lower and Upper Reading Room. There is no disabled toilet provision, although it is likely that such provision will be available by the end of 2002. For further details telephone Mrs Leitch on 77158.

New Bodleian

There is no independent access into this part of the Bodleian. The accessible entrance is situated at the back of the building, on the west side, which is reached through the archway between the New Bodleian Building and Blackwell's. Access is via a speed bump, to a bell (height 1m), which summons someone to assist. There is then ramped access, followed by another short ramp (gradients do not meet specification), for which assistance may be required. The first ramp has a handrail on the left at 800mm. A bell to summon assistance is also located to the left of the reader entrance to the New Library.

There are two ground floor reading rooms in the New Bodleian, which are both accessible, the Oriental Reading Room and Modern Papers. The latter is only open until 7.00pm. The Modern Papers Reading Room has been designated the Disabled Readers Reading Room where books from the stack can be ordered to, although it is not labelled as such. The room is always staffed. Some tables have clearance, which meets specification. The door to these rooms is quite heavy and assistance may be required. The only adapted toilet (which meets specifications) is from the Modern Papers Reading Room through a set of double doors. These doors have now been improved by widening the left hand leaf. However assistance may still be required.

Room 128, in the New Bodleian, is the visually impaired people's reading room. There are two booths; with a corridor width of 650mm. Blind readers may reserve booths for personal readers by arrangement with the Director of the Oxford Resources for the Blind, Mr Paresh Raval on (01865) 280880.

The lift has two manual sliding doors 770mm and 710mm, which are difficult to operate. It is width 860mm, length 1150mm, and the control buttons are height 1320mm. Using this lift it is possible to get flat access to the PPE Reading Room, the Slavonic Studies Reading Room, and the Geography Map Room all of which are on the first floor, and to the Music Reading Room which is on the second. Alternatively it is +14, +14 stairs (handrail on the right) to the first floor and a further +14, +14 stairs (handrail on the right) to the second. The Indian Institute library is a further +13, +13, +1 stairs (handrail on the left) from the second floor of the building.

Radcliffe Camera

The Radcliffe Camera is part of the Bodleian and houses books on Modern History, English and Theology. It is approached from Radcliffe Square, which is cobbled or has uneven paving stones. Access is via +6, +7 stairs, (steep and uneven with no handrails), to a double door. From here there is a spiral staircase, -12 stairs, (handrail on the left), to the Lower Reading Room, which holds the English and Theology sections. The door is 660mm.

The Upper Reading Room, which contains the Modern History section, is up a spiral staircase +13, +12, +2 stairs (handrail on the right). There is also a door 660mm, and from here it is +1 stair to a number of desks and periodicals. The gallery containing the majority of books and some desks is then up a spiral staircase (+17 stairs). There is no disabled toilet provision in the building, and the toilets from the Lower Reading Room are -2, -15 stairs (not seen), which are narrow and steep (handrail on the left).