Access to other libraries

The Bodleian Library is the main research library of the University of Oxford.

It is also a copyright deposit library, which means that a copy of all British publications should be deposited in its collections by the publisher under copyright law. The Bodleian Libraries Group includes, amongst many others, the (central) Bodleian Library, Radcliffe Science Library, Art Archaeology and Ancient World Library and the Bodleian Social Science Library.

Use SOLO - the catalogue of the major collections of the University of Oxford - to find out what is available.

More information about the Bodleian Library.

Can I apply for a Bodleian Reader card?

Staff and Research students: apply directly online to the Bodleian Admissions Office for a Reader card.

Other students: the following students can apply

• Taught postgraduate
• Final year undergraduate doing a dissertation module
• Second year semester two dissertation students

To apply, complete the Bodleian form for Oxford Brookes students.  Fill out the form exactly as directed:

• Section A completed by the applicant
• Section B completed by a full time member of academic staff at Oxford Brookes University, in clear handwriting (not type).
• Applicant to sign and date the form.
• Bring the form to the Help Zone on Level one of the Headington Library or to the Harcourt Hill Library.
• Please note that from September 16 - November 18 2024 you must also supply a colour, passport sized photograph of yourself as a JPEG file. Please email the file to libraryenquiries@brookes.ac.uk.  If you have an existing (expired) Bodleian reader card, you may bring that with the completed form instead.
• Library staff will then retain your form to complete the checking process.  You will be told what to do next.

First year and second year semester one undergraduate students may only apply for access during the Bodleian Library vacation periods following the guidance for students at other universities.

Staff and students may apply for a British Library Reader pass. Further information is available from the British Library.

The SCONUL Access Scheme is a reciprocal scheme which allows many university library users to borrow or use books and journals at other libraries which belong to the scheme. The scheme covers most of the university libraries in the UK and Ireland. Check whether the university library you wish to use is part of the scheme and apply to use on the SCONUL Access webpages.

Access25 is the M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries' scheme which allows mutual access to more than 50 libraries in London and south east England. Oxford Brookes postgraduate research students and staff are eligible to join the scheme. Other Oxford Brookes students are recommended to use the SCONUL Access Scheme instead.

The Oxfordshire History Centre, run by Oxfordshire County Council, looks after historic documents relating to the county from about 1150 to the present day. It is located at St Luke's Church, Temple Road, Cowley. If you wish to look at original records, you will need to register for a County Archive Research Network (CARN) ticket.

Most university websites include a link to their library catalogue, or these services may be helpful:

• SOLO - the catalogue of the major collections of the University of Oxford.
• British Library Main Catalogue
• Library Hub Discover search provides a means of searching the Library catalogues of more than 100 major UK and Irish libraries, including the British Library, many university libraries and specialist research libraries.
• LibrarySearch can search more than 10,000 worldwide libraries if you choose to search beyond Oxford Brookes or explore deeper into the lists of all editions and formats.