In some circumstances you may need to use libraries other than our own. Your Academic Liaison Librarian will be pleased to help and advise you.
Bodleian Libraries - information for Oxford Brookes staff and students
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, Sackler 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.
COVID-19 arrangements
Bodleian Libraries are operating a phased re-opening starting from Monday 10 August. Not all libraries will be open and there will be very limited seating capacity available due to social distancing measures. There is an advanced seat booking system in place and limitations on which materials can be accessed. For full and most recent information please visit the Bodleian Libraries website.
Brookes students and staff with a current Bodleian Reader card are able to continue to use the limited services.
How to apply for a Bodleian Reader card
Research students and staff: apply directly to the Bodleian Admissions Office for a Reader card.
Other students: it is not possible to apply for a Bodleian Reader card whilst the COVID-19 arrangements are in place. It is hoped that some Brookes group admission / induction sessions will be arranged for eligible students after 5 December 2020. No applications can be made until further notice.
Renewal of an expired Bodleian Reader card
It is not possible for taught postgraduate or final year undergraduate students to renew an existing Bodleian Reader card when it expires. It is hoped that renewals will be possible after 5 December 2020.
British Library
Staff and students may apply for a British Library Reader pass. Further information is available from the British Library.
SCONUL Access Scheme
The SCONUL Access Scheme is currently suspended. No existing SCONUL Access card holders will be able to use the facilities of other institutions. We will not be processing any new SCONUL Access applications.
M25 Consortium Libraries
Access25 is the M25 Consortium of Academic Libraries' scheme which allows mutual access to more than 50 libraries in London and south east England. Brookes postgraduate research students and staff are eligible to join the scheme. Other Brookes students are recommended to use the SCONUL Access Scheme instead.
Oxfordshire History Centre
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.
Other Library catalogues
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 is the most comprehensive source of information about the location of serials (journals) in libraries throughout the UK.
- 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.
- M25 Consortium:
- Search 25 offers simultaneous searching across the catalogues of M25 Consortium member libraries.
- MASC25 (Mapping Access to Special Collections in the London Region) is an online resource guide to printed special collections in university libraries in the M25 Consortium.