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, 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

Update 4 January: access to Bodleian Libraries is restricted to Oxford University card holders only during National Lockdown.

Brookes staff and students with an existing valid Bodleian Readers Card are still able to access their remote services. For details please visit the Bodleian website.

How to apply for a Bodleian Reader card (currently suspended in National Lockdown)

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. No applications for term time access can be made until further notice.

Renewal of an expired Bodleian Reader card (currently suspended in National Lockdown)

It is currently not possible for taught postgraduate or final year undergraduate students to renew an existing Bodleian Reader card when it expires. 

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

The reading rooms are now open for pre-booked visits only - for details see https://www.bl.uk/visit/keeping-everyone-safe

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.  

Covid-19 notice: Students wishing to use the Access25 scheme should check individual library web pages for up to date information on their service.

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.

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 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.