Service Update: Long Vacation, 2022

Introduction

As Trinity Term draws to a close we want to congratulate our readers on getting through another busy exam period and wish you all a restful summer break! We also want to share a few bits and pieces relevant to finalists, alongside upcoming changes that will affect the library service during the Long Vacation.

Finalists

Loans

We encourage those completing their courses this year to return items on loan before the end of term and prior to the expiration of their University card.

Print, Copy and Scan (PCAS)

A quick reminder to those leaving us this summer to use up any remaining PCAS balance as it cannot be refunded. On request, credit can be transferred to another PCAS account. Please email pcas@bodleian.ox.ac.uk for assistance.

Becoming an Alum?

As an Oxford alum you can take advantage of a number of benefits, including free access to the Bodleian Libraries and select eresources. Find out more at the link below.

Getting started: Alumni | Bodleian Libraries

Vacation Opening Hours

The library will move to vacation opening hours from 19th June, with a closed period of 20th August to 4th September inclusive. Opening hours during the vacation are:

Monday to Friday: 9:00-17:00

Vacation loans

Vacation loans for normal loans start on 13th June and 16th June for short loans.
Loans issued from these dates will be due back during the first week of Michaelmas Term, starting 9th October.

Change of Library Management System

During the summer, the Bodleian Libraries are moving to a new and improved library management system called ALMA, with a go-live date of 24th August. The project is a significant undertaking and there will be a transition period of a week, 16th August to 23rd August, where data is migrated between systems. A number of library services will be affected during this period as a result. Details are captured in the Message for our Readers notices displayed in the library’s reading rooms.

Message for our Readers – service disruptions between 16th-23rd August

Lending Books

You will be able to borrow and return books. For one week, 16th-23rd August, online circulation will be replaced with offline circulation and the data transferred to the new system when live. The real time book availability displayed on SOLO will not be updated for these offline transactions but, on request, library staff can verify availability for readers travelling to the library for particular items. Self-issue machines will not operate between 16th-23rd August. Please note access to online resources, both on campus and remote access, will be unaffected.

Requesting books from closed stacks

Automated stack requesting from SOLO will not be available between 16th-23rd August and readers are advised to place stack requests for books and archives in advance by 15th August. Libraries will extend the due date so that nothing ordered in advance will be returned to the stacks during the cutover period. A limited staff-mediated option will be available to manage requests placed between 16th-23rd August, but readers are urged to place requests in advance where possible. If you require the use of the staff mediated stack requesting service, email book.fetch@bodleian.ox.ac.uk between 16th-23rd August.

Scan & Deliver, Print & Deliver and Inter-library Loans

These services will be unavailable from 16th-23rd August inclusive. Readers are advised to place requests by 15th August or wait until 24th August.

MySOLO

Saved searches and records in MySOLO will not migrate to the new system. Favourites can be exported until the 15th August. To export: log in to MySOLO, select ‘export’ and choose your mode of exporting (Excel, email, print, RefWorks, EndNote and Zotero). There is no way to export saved searches. Readers who use those will need to set them up again once the new system goes live – apologies for any inconvenience caused. For more information see our reference management guide.


Stay up to date with developments at the English Faculty Library by following us on Twitter. Updates affecting the Bodleian Libraries as a whole will be published on the Service updates webpage. Any questions about library services updates can be addressed to efl-enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Guest Review

Review

Refugee Tales. David Herd and Anna Pincus (eds.). Manchester: Comma Press, 2016.

BY CHARLOTTE HALEY

'Refugee Tales' cover image

Refugee Tales

With the publication of Refugee Tales IV in 2021 and the upcoming Refugee Tales Walk in July (2nd-6th) this year, Charlotte Haley looks back at the first collection of writings from the charity in support of refugees, asylum seekers, and those who have experienced the UK detention system.

‘Unlike most European countries, the UK has not legislated a statutory upper time limit on the period that an individual can be held in immigration detention’.1 This has resulted in many people being taken from their homes and residences in the UK to be held for an indefinite amount of time in a high-security facility, often kept in terrible conditions and possessing little freedom. Though the threat of deportation for these detainees is always imminent and carries sometimes potentially fatal consequences, some people are released with little explanation, not knowing if or when they’ll be relocated or detained again.

Refugee Tales is a charity which has organised a largescale walk once a year since 2015 in solidarity with refugees, asylum seekers, and those who have experienced immigration detention in the UK, “from Dover to Crawley via Canterbury” (133). The first walk took nine days and was “punctuated, at every stop, by the public telling of two tales”. Taking Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales as a framework, the first collection of stories sees writers such as Ali Smith, Patience Agbabi, Marina Lewyck, and many others collaborate with the person whose tale is being told in order to present the experiences of immigration in the UK, and to call for an end to indefinite detention of immigrants. The collection acknowledges that the translation of stories and their reframing is necessitated by the movement of people, and their Chaucerian framework poses interesting questions about national identity and storytelling as a means of survival.

This collection boasts powerful storytelling in various forms, exploring the many different ways to best present someone else’s life story. Each of the separate narratives are given titles akin to those in the Canterbury Tales, the interviewees becoming a character in their own story: ‘The Detainee’s Tale’, ‘The Lorry Driver’s Tale’, ‘The Friend’s Tale’. The condensing of their experiences to a moniker in the title has the anonymising effect intended: the people who have lived these narratives do not share their names or other identifying material, only their experience, a reversal of the priorities of UK immigration authorities.

Notable also is that the stories are not only from refugees and asylum seekers, but also from those tangential to their struggles. Carol Watts’ account of ‘The Interpreter’s Tale’ is a marvellous example of the intricacies of translation. In an emotive ending she reminds us that, when interpreting for someone’s claim to asylum in a system which would take any perceived discrepancy as reason for refusal,

“Everything is at stake each time.

Everything.” (68)

As many detainees are not allowed in the courtroom when their asylum cases are being heard, the interpreter and those relaying a person’s story are instrumental in whether someone is deported or released from detention. Thus, as is key to David Herd’s ‘The Apellant’s Tale’, “translation is sensitive” (70).

The problems with translation of both language and personal experience are interlinked in this collection, problems which Herd, the collection’s editor, discusses in the Afterword. In response to the question of why the refugees at the inaugural walk across the South of England were not the ones to tell their own tales, he states that many are too traumatised by the trials they have faced to deliver such a speech in front of the many people also in attendance. Moreover, many ex-detainees desire anonymity in broadcasting their stories, as they are in constant fear of re-detention. This is chillingly described in Marina Lewycka’s ‘The Dependant’s Tale’, wherein an eight-year-old child and her family must leave their home in the middle of the night, “the big man in a uniform” (85) at the foot of her bed escorting them to a detention centre. After they are released and sent home without their father, the nightmarish extraction from their beds happens again – three months later.

The absurdity of this system is especially poignant in Avaes Mohammad’s ‘The Deportee’s Tale’, where the duality of the holidayer’s airport experience and that of a man being deported to Greece is explored, and the two clash brutally.

“As earth ejects everyone equally and…the

plane soars on, the handcuffs are taken off and his hands released.

I can see the logic. If his crime is stealing earth to stand upon,

then there’s no cause for concern up here.” (100)

Allowed by the Greek authorities to stay only one month, the man is forced to then move on to Italy, holding on to the undercarriage of a lorry. Mohammad’s astute observation about this journey applies to many of the narratives in this collection: “Like the rest of his tale, it’s not really designed for humans” (104).

This sentiment is baked into the fury, desperation, and soul-crushing frustration that these stories, their tellers, and their translators convey. It reveals how the stories of

refugees are so vital to understanding how the treatment of displaced people casts judgement on the humanity of us all.

  1. https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/immigration-detention-in-the-uk/.

Charlotte Haley is a recent graduate of Regent’s Park College (2020), with a BA in Classics and English. For the last year, she has been working in Switzerland as a Gallery Assistant for a rare book dealer (while frantically trying to learn German!). Since graduating, she has co-written a short film about sexual health,The Clinic, produced by the BBC Arts New Creatives programme, and won the Kunsthalle Basel’s Online Writing Workshop in May of 2021 for her poem, I Like Basel But. Charlotte’s writing of all forms, published or otherwise, can be found on her blog, IOLIS (I Only Like It Sometimes). Her pronouns are she/they.

Service Update: Trinity Term, 2022

A photograph of someone holding a clock against a background of 'Update' written on a blackboard in white chalk.

Introduction

At the end of 0th Week we want to wish our readers the best for the term ahead and let you know of recent and upcoming changes to services and opening times.

Covid Measures

The University has moved to Business Continuity Planning Level 0. For the library, this means that some safety measures have been relaxed or removed.

The wearing of face coverings is now a personal choice, though readers are encouraged to respect those who continue to wear them.

The requirement for social distancing has been removed, with readers encouraged to respect one another’s personal space. Some socially-distanced seating remains available.

Service Updates

WiFi

University IT Services have upgraded the sign-in portal for Bodleian Libraries WiFi and local WiFi infrastructure in the St Cross Building. Readers are encouraged to report any issues to library staff.

Return of loans

The Bodleian Libraries free postal returns services will end on 6th May. Readers can continue to submit requests for returns via Royal Mail or courier up to the deadline, but are asked to do so earlier where possible.

Proxy borrowing

The library will continue to offer proxy borrowing for students unable to visit the library in person. Requests should be made in advance by emailing efl-enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Opening Hours

From Saturday 23rd April, the library will move to term time opening hours. These are:

Monday to Friday: 9:00-19:00

Saturday: 10:00-13:00

Sunday: Closed

Stay up to date with developments at the English Faculty Library by following us on Twitter. Updates affecting the Bodleian Libraries as a whole will be published on the Service updates webpage.

Service Update: Easter Vacation, 2022

Introduction

Spring is springing and the Easter vacation is round the corner. From Sunday 13th March the following changes will come into effect at the library.

Opening Hours

For the duration of the vacation (13th March-23rd April), the library’s opening times are:

Monday to Friday: 9:00-17:00

Saturday: Closed

Please note that the library will be open on Saturday 23rd April from 10:00-13:00.

Vacation Loans

7-day loans will be eligible for vacation borrowing from Monday 7th March. Short, 2-day loans will be eligible from Thursday 10th March.

Loans borrowed for the vacation will be due back during the first week of Trinity Term, beginning 24th April.

 

Service Update: Hilary Term, 2022

Introduction

The English Faculty Library reopened to readers on 4th January for the new year, resuming a full service in line with the University’s Business Continuity Plan Stage 2.

English Faculty Library guidance concerning coronavirus safety measures remains unchanged for the time being. Readers are encouraged to maintain social distancing and respect each other’s space. Windows will be kept open to ensure adequate ventilation. Readers may wish to bring extra layers of clothing to wrap up warm, or move to warmer parts of the library as conditions dictate.

A reminder that all staff and students have been asked to wear face coverings when moving around University buildings, and face coverings are now mandated in University teaching and assessment settings, as well as in libraries and departmental study spaces, unless exempt.

A GIF of the key health messages from the University of Oxford relating to COVID-19. -Your actions matter. Help keep everyone safe. -Get vaccinated as soon as possible. -Wear face coverings where indicated (unless exempt). -Test regularly, and if you have symptoms. -Stay at home if you are unwell. -Keep washing your hands. -Be considerate of other people's space.

Oxford University COVID-19 guidance

Opening hours

During Hilary Term (16th January-12th March), the library will open during the following times (subject to change).

Monday to Friday: 9:30-19:00

Saturday: 10:00-13:00

Please note that the library will also be open on Saturday 15th January from 10:00-13:00.

PCAS machines

During the winter vacation, the Bodleian Libraries upgraded their PCAS machines. The English Faculty Library has two of these new machines on the first floor. They have a different interface and a slightly different level of device functionality compared with the old machines.

Readers are encouraged to visit the Bodleian Libraries PCAS webpage for information on using the new machines. Library staff are on hand to help with troubleshooting and a dedicated support service is available at pcas@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Stay up to date with developments at the English Faculty Library by following us on Twitter. Updates affecting the Bodleian Libraries as a whole will be published on the Service updates webpage.

 

Service Update: Winter Vacation, 2021

This year’s winter vacation begins on Sunday 5th December. From this date, the following changes apply.

Vacation opening hours

The library’s opening hours will reduce to 9:00-17:00, Monday to Friday.

Vacation closure

The library will be closed Thursday 23rd December until 3rd January inclusive.

Vacation loans

Vacation loans begin Monday 29th November. With the exception of short loans and DVDs, any items issued, reissued or renewed from this date will be due back during First Week of Hilary Term.

Short loans and DVDs are eligible for vacation loan from Thursday 2nd December.

Please visit the library’s website for details: English Faculty Library | Bodleian Libraries (ox.ac.uk).

Happy Holidays!

Getting to grips with journals

We talk a lot about monographs on this blog and understandably so, the English Faculty Library has got lots of them and new ones are arriving all the time. However, just as important in our mission to support the teaching, study and research activities of the English Faculty are the journal runs that make up a significant chunk of our collections. They come in print and electronic formats, referred to here as journals and ejournals.

Journals

In addition to the 40+ in-print publications residing on the open shelves of our ground floor reading room, there are a number of journal issues that can be requested from the Rare Books Room and Turville-Petre Room during opening hours. Those with a preference for print can also make use of the collections housed in the Old Bodleian Library and off-site store. Stay apprised of the latest developments in your chosen topic by viewing the new journal displays in the ground floor and upper reading rooms of the English Faculty Library and the Old Bodleian Library respectively. You can also set up contents alerts for literature journals using ZETOC.

A photo and floorplan of the ground floor reading room of the English Faculty Library, showing the location of the new journals display.

New journals display at the English Faculty Library.

Ejournals

A significant number of journals are now available electronically, with the Bodleian Libraries boasting online subscriptions to a whopping 118,000 ejournals! Don’t fret if that sounds like a tad too many to get your head around; two powerful tools can help you to filter and refine this number down to a more manageable and relevant list of titles. Ejournals A-Z allows users to search by title, topic and citation, while BrowZine’s sleek interface provides a neat way of filtering by an increasingly specific selection of subjects. Those who choose to create an account with BrowZine are rewarded with customisable services including ‘My Bookshelf’, ‘My Articles’ and integrated citation services. Unlike print journals, ejournals have the added benefit of being accessible away from the library, 24/7.

Searching for Journals and Ejournals

Searching for and requesting serials has never been easier. In the vast majority of cases they are discoverable through SOLO, the library catalogue for Oxford University.

Signing in to the catalogue affords users the option of having a journal article scanned and sent to their email address or for off-site volumes to be sent to a specified Oxford location for in-person consultation.

There are a number of ways to search for the journal issue you want via SOLO. For example, you can search using:

• the title of the journal
• the title of the article
• the ISSN

Different searches can yield markedly different results, so it is worth trying more than one before throwing in towel.

Ulrichsweb

Ulrichsweb is a directory service provided via the Bodleian Libraries that allows users to search for information on over 300,000 periodicals of all types. It is a rich source of metadata that proves a great starting point for constructing a successful search query on SOLO. You can distinguish between different journals of the same name, check whether a particular journal is still in print or if it is available electronically, and what its ISSN is. Find Ulrichsweb in Databases A-Z on the SOLO homepage, or by clicking the link above.

Screenshot of a search for 'Vanity Fair' in Ulrich.

Screenshot of a search for ‘Vanity Fair’ in Ulrichsweb.

Though we’re only just scratching the surface here, the take home message is that there’s never been a better time to get to grips with journals and there’s plenty out there to help you on your way!

New Recycling Project at the EFL

Hello lovely readers! We hope that you’ve had a suitably autumnal October. We’ve got a new blog post for you today, and we’re not even going to talk about books in it (that’s right, we said it). Instead, we want to talk about… silica gel desiccant sachets. These little things:

                                                                      Pillows for mice

Specifically, we’d like to talk to you about the sachets that you get in your lateral flow kits. We’re currently collecting these particular sachets on behalf of the Ashmolean Conservation Department, who can reuse them to create dry conditions for museum objects.

Here’s our snazzy new sachet drop-off point:

As you can see, it’s right by the entrance to the EFL. So the next time you pop in, you can drop off your silica gel desiccant sachets at the same time as picking up your books!

Service Update: Michaelmas Term, 2021

Introduction

This post is intended for new and returning members of Oxford University and offers an update on services at the English Faculty Library effective from the beginning of Michaelmas Term, 2021.

First-time visitors are invited to view the short welcome video at https://ox.cloud.panopto.eu/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=6f442abb-3aef-4824-9461-ada4008e9148.

Welcome tours of the library are available from 6th to 8th October. Booking information can be found at https://tickets.ox.ac.uk/WebStore/shop/ViewItems.aspx?CG=eflit&C=eflit.

For new students wishing to learn more about the Bodleian Libraries as a whole, guidance is available at https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/ask/getting-started/under-post-graduates.

Opening hours

During term time the library is open 9am to 7pm, Monday to Friday, and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays (from 9th October).

Service updates

  • Advanced booking is no longer a condition of entry, but visitors must bring a valid University Card. Arrivals can check in using the NHS Track and Trace app or the paper form provided.
  • A fetching service is available to those wishing to consult confined items and special collections.
  • Scan and Deliver and Print and Deliver services will continue.
  • Readers can request to use the Turville-Petre Room at the library help desk.
  • Library related payments must be made online (minimum spend £2); cash transactions have been suspended.
  • Physical interlibrary loans will resume.

Staying safe in our library

The University’s key general health messages are as below:

A GIF of the key health messages from the University of Oxford relating to COVID-19: Your actions matter. Help keep everyone safe. Get vaccinated as soon as possible. Wear face coverings where indicated (unless exempt). Test regularly, and if you have symptoms. Stay at home if you are unwell. Keep washing your hands. Be considerate of other people’s space.

Oxford University COVID-19 guidance

  • Your actions matter. Help keep everyone safe.
  • Get vaccinated as soon as possible.
  • Wear face coverings where indicated (unless exempt).
  • Test regularly, and if you have symptoms.
  • Stay at home if you are unwell.
  • Keep washing your hands.
  • Be considerate of other people’s space.

Accompanying signage is displayed throughout the library to remind and encourage visitors to adhere to this guidance.

To help keep visitors safe, the library is taking the following steps:

  • Encouraging visitors to wear masks at all times and in all library spaces, unless exempt. The University’s face covering policy is available at https://www.ox.ac.uk/coronavirus/health/face-coverings.
  • Providing hand sanitiser throughout the reading rooms, including the library entrance and help desk.
  • Providing cleaning products at designated points for readers to clean desks and shared library equipment before and after use.
  • Regularly cleaning touchpoints.
  • Ventilating shared spaces by keeping windows open during opening hours.
  • Limiting the capacity of the Computer Room to a maximum of 15 people.
  • Suspending cash transactions.
  • Retaining Perspex screens at the help desk.

Online Support

Further information relating to the English Faculty Library, including contact details, is available on the webpage: https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/libraries/english-faculty-library. Alternatively, library users can speak to a librarian in real-time using SOLO Live Chat.

For Bodleian Libraries service updates, please visit https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/service-updates.

Writers and Reviewers for 2021-22

We are now scheduling posts for the 2021-22 academic year and are looking for contributions of articles and reviews.

Submission of articles is open to any member of the university, or alumni, but priority with be given to English Faculty members (past and present).

Articles should be between 500-3000 words and can be on any topic that would be of interest to members of the English Faculty, though the library favours articles relevant to its collections.

We are also looking for regular reviewers to join us in writing about upcoming books, as well as drama and film productions.

For enquiries and submissions please email efl-enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.