Bodleian Law Library in Oxford

Last Thursday, Keith and I had another early start and caught the train for Oxford - yet again. I had arranged to meet the Law Librarian Ruth Bird at 10.30 and she had kindly agreed to show me around the library. It was a half hour walk from the station which I enjoyed enormously. Oxford sparkled and I enjoyed the relative quiet compared to the chaos from the day before in London. There is such a charm and elegance about Oxford.

The Bodleian Law Library is the largest law library in England and impressive. The building is relatively new - it was opened in 1964. Despite its youth, it has a heritage order on it, making it virtually impossible to make any changes to the building at all. There are many features of this library that I love. It is light and open. The ceiling is glass, letting in natural light. The ground floor is surrounded on three sides by additional levels that overlook the ground floor. There are long desks in the middle for the undergraduate students to use and then the masters and post grad students have their own desks or cubicles with views overlooking a beautiful field. The shelving is wooden and light in colour so the overall impression is of light and space. The architect created a building that has allowed a collection to expand and grow at a rate of a third of a kilometre each year.

The floor is cork tiles, which sounds rather nice, but after forty years, many are blackened by use. They can't be replaced by any other floor type - remember that heritage order? and cork tiles are no longer made. Ruth has made a few changes to the building, but each has been prefaced by years of meetings and negotiations. At least our pink carpet squares don't have any heritage value.

The collection is impressive and organised by jurisdiction - rather confusing for the user, as their books really could be anywhere, but this is in the process of change, as the library converts to the Moys system, which will be much more useful for the students. The ethos of the library is changing under Ruth's direction as the staff move from invigilating to a more user friendly approach. For the understated British, this will be some accomplishment.

The collection includes legislation going back to Henry VIII. Imagine that! They also have a wonderful collection of primary and secondary resources from the US, Canada, most of Europe, the EU and also the United Nations. What a privilege to work in such a library! I was inspired to see this library as it holds a wealth of treasures on its shelves.

London by train

We had an early start to Morton in Marsh to catch the train to London. What a beautiful way to travel. You can book your seats and sit in relative comfort as the countryside flashes past. Such a golden morning. Keith spent his London day in Dr William's Library which is located at Gordon Square in London. This is quite close to the British Museum. He found the library was from a different era with an antiquated computerised catalogue but filled with many treasures relating to Ricky Baxter.

I took Johnnie to St Pancras to catch a train to Paris. It was chaotic as the timetables had changed and no one really knew which train they were meant to catch. I took Johnnie as far as I could before only passengers could go. I then departed. Little knowing that Johnnie was frisked and searched and told that he couldn't travel as he was an unaccompanied minor. Does he really look like he could be a suicide bomber? Is this why he was treated with such suspicion and ferocity? I had no phone, so Johnnie had no way of contacting anyone who could help him. Fortunately, a woman, an angel in disguise said she would accompany him and got him through customs and onto the train. I am sure he breathed a sigh of relief. There is nothing on the train's website saying that minors are not allowed to travel unaccompanied. I have sent an email to complain but am not expecting a reply.

I hope that he gets back to London alright tomorrow. My friend Libby, who met him in Paris said she thought he was remarkably calm about the entire event.

Oblivious to my son's plight, I went to the British Library, ate my sandwich in the sunshine and then browsed the treasures. There are many, but the one that I am remembering now is Jane Austen's writing table and two of her manuscripts. I was in awe to look at such treasures that carry stories of a past era.

I then tackled the underground and found my way to Liberty's and Oxford Street. The crowds, noise and general chaos overwhelmed me so I returned to Russell Square - a delightful park in the middle of a square and found a sun filled cafe in its centre and bought a large cup of tea and read my book. I watched the squirrels scurrying up and down the trees and watched the different people sitting at the tables. I was not in a hurry to go anywhere.

Keith and I met up at five pm and explored the nearby streets and found bookshops and other fun shops that we can return to this week. We managed to make our way back to Paddington Station, where I could have bought a Paddington Bear for Susannah as she has a vast collection of bears that she adores and treasures. One day there will be no room for her because of her bears. We got home a bit before ten pm. A long and exhausting day.

Bodleian Library in Oxford

Keith and I did a tour of the Bodleian Library. For some reason, this library has always intrigued me. Perhaps because I had to write an essay on this library during my library school training. For whatever reason, it is a place worthy of interest. To get into the library, you need a reader's card. Keith has a reader's card for the next few weeks, but little old me would have to write a letter and provide a reason for being granted permission to enter. The only way to get in, is to do a tour, so that is what we did! Again, the guide was friendly and amazingly knowledgeable.

I was able to enter the Duke Humfrey's Library which holds the oldest manuscripts of the collection. For many years many of the books were chained to the shelves. There is a chair in this section which is the "Librarian's Chair". Part of the Bodley tradition is that at closing time, the librarian sits on the chair and the bell rings telling the readers that it is time to leave. This still happens today.

The original Duke Humfrey's library consisted of a large number of manuscripts that he donated to Oxford University in the mid 1440s. However, it only survived in its original form until most of the manuscripts were burnt during the reign of King Edward VI during the 1550s who wanted to purge the country of all things "roman catholic" and to make a protestant England. Thirteen manuscripts remain, three of which are in the present collection.

Sir Thomas Bodley, a wealthy protestant, rescued the library soon after. He provided his own collection of 2,500 books and provided money to establish a library for the "public use of students". In 1610, he organised the first legal deposit, when he organised for the Stationers Company of London to provide a copy of every book published in England and registered at the Stationers' Hall.

This inscription appears above the entrance to the library. It reads "That it might turn out happily, Oxonian academics, for you and for the republic of lettered men Thomas Bodley placed this library." It is questionable as to whether his original intention of it being a library for "everyone" has been upheld, as it is not the easiest library to enter.



There are now over nine million items in this collection - which must take some housing. In reality, I got a mere glimpse of this rich and wonderful library. I would have to become a scholar to really be able to dig and delve into the treasures it holds. Keith plans to spend some time working there this week. All library users need to say an oath before being allowed to enter - basically promising to respect the collection and not damage or steal anything. That is a novel idea! This library receives 1,200 new items each week!



I am visiting the Bodleian Law Library on Thursday. I am hoping that I can ask a few questions about the use of this library by undergraduates.