Libraries at Univ

Key Facts

  • We have a collection of more than 60,000 books, including multiple copies of key textbooks in many subjects. We also have collections of DVDs and CDs
  • Over 1,000 new items added each year
  • The Main Library houses all books for Arts, Humanities, Science and Social Science
  • There is a separate Law Library for the exclusive use of our law students
  • The Libraries are open 24 hours a day throughout the year (apart from closed periods in the Christmas and Summer Vacations)
  • Both Libraries are networked with Ethernet points for laptops and the Main Library is covered by the College’s wireless connection

Opening hours

Both the Main Library and the Law Library are open 24 hours a day all the year round, with the following exceptions for the Main Library:

Christmas Vacation: closed for two weeks
Long Vacation (Summer): 9 am to 9 pm, with a four-week closed period from mid-August to mid-September.

Catalogues and other resources

College members can access our user-friendly online catalogue via the college intranet, UnivWeb, allowing them to check whether a book is available without having to come in to the library. Self-service terminals make it quick and easy to borrow books at all times of the day or night.

Other computers provide constant access to OLIS, the union catalogue of the Bodleian and other Oxford libraries, as well as to an extensive range of bibliographic databases, electronic journals and other e-resources via OxLIP (access is limited to within Oxford University). Desks in both libraries are wired for laptop use, and there are plans to introduce a wireless network in the near future.

Collections

The Main Library houses our lending collection of modern books, journals, CDs and DVDs. We add over 1,000 new items each year, often within 24 hours of receiving a student’s request. We provide multiple copies of key textbooks in many subjects, and aim to update the collections with the latest editions as soon as they appear. Loan allocations are generous and books may be borrowed for an entire term or vacation. DVDs are available for overnight loan or may be watched on laptop computers in the library.

The Law Library has extensive stocks of law reports, journals and textbooks. Many further law resources are available online.

Manuscripts and Early Printed Books: The College’s collection of manuscripts, some dating from the 12th century, is housed in the Bodleian Library. Most of our early printed books are kept in the College. The library participates in the Early Printed Books Project, as a result of which a large proportion of our historic collection is included in the OLIS catalogue. Visiting scholars may consult these books by prior arrangement with the College Librarian.

Contact us

The Library
University College
High Street
Oxford
OX1 4BH

(t) +44(0)1865 276 621
(f) +44(0)1865 276 987
(e) library@univ.ox.ac.uk

Library Staff

College Librarian: Elizabeth Adams
Following a number of gap years, Elizabeth studied Library and Information Science at Curtin University and Latin at the University of Western Australia. A voluntary position cataloguing pre-1800 books at the New Norcia Benedictine Community led to several years working on antiquarian projects based in the Bodleian Library. Having worked briefly at Univ in 2002 as part of the Early Printed Books Project, Elizabeth was pleased to return to take up the Assistant Librarian post during the long vacation of 2009, followed by that of Librarian in September 2011.

Assistant Librarian: Naomi Tiley
Having enjoyed summer work in Cambridgeshire public libraries whilst studying English Literature at Cambridge University, Naomi became Graduate Trainee at the Library of St John’s College, Cambridge. She continued at St John’s College working on public engagement with the Library’s special collections, and completing her Masters degree in Library and Information Studies by distance learning with the University of Aberystwyth. She then took up the post of Assistant Librarian at Christ’s College, Cambridge where she also acted as College Librarian, before moving to Oxford to join the staff of University College.