What does it mean when you make an Open Plan Desk Booking at the SSL

When you book a study space via Space Finder, you have a number of options you can choose. One of them is for ‘Open Plan Desk Booking‘:

When you choose this option it basically means you can sit at any study space in the library that doesn’t have a PC at it or isn’t a Height Adjustable Desk (see photo below for an example of one of our Height Adjustable Desks):

A photo of a height adjustable desk.

The study spaces you can choose from are listed below:

The seating located around the corner, to the left of our issue desk.

A photo of our open plan seating area to the left of our issue desk. Desks are large tables.

The seating at the back of the library, opposite St Catherine’s College (except the Height Adjustable Desks located in this area).

A photo of the desks at the back of the library. All desk have partitions screens.

The partitioned seating in front of the Central Graduate Study Room.

A photos of the desks in front of the Central Graduate Study Rooms. There are individual spaces in a row and all are partitioned on all sides.

The seats in either of our Graduate Study Rooms (except the Height Adjustable Desks located in these rooms). At the moment these two rooms are open to anyone to use and not just Social Science Graduates.

Photo of desks in the EGSR. Large desks that have a partition down the centre, height adjustable seating.

Photo of desks in the Central Graduate Study Room. Large desks with no partitions.

If they are not booked by a group, you are welcome to use either of our Discussion Rooms.

Photo of our Small Discussion Room, showing students participating in a group study session.

photo (c) John Cairns

There are also some individual desks along the west side of the library, opposite the St Cross Building (though do note they don’t have power sockets).

Photos of individual desks, spaced out along a wall/windows adjacent to the St Cross Building.

You can also use our Study Carrels. Do note that occasionally some of these may be booked but this is clearly displayed on the door to each carrel.

Photo of our study carrels. Small individual study rooms.

Once you’ve chosen the area you want to sit, look out for the ticks in green boxes and red no-entry symbols.

Sit at a desk space with a tick in a green box.

Photo of a notice on a desk, which has a white tick in a green box and the words Please take a seat.

Avoid the red ‘Desk not in use’ spaces. This ensures everyone is adequately spaced apart.

Photo of a sign on a desk which has a red no entry symbol on it and the words Desk no in use.

Finally clean your study space before you start work and also before you leave.

Cleaning stations are located close to all seating areas. Help yourself to the materials located there (returning after use) and do let library staff know if supplies are running low.

Photo of a cleaning station. A table which has cleaning supplies on it for use in the library.

 

The Social Science Library reading rooms will reopen on Tuesday 2 February

The Social Science Library reading rooms will re-open to Oxford University staff and students from Tuesday 2 February. Our opening hours will be:

10am to 4pm, Monday – Friday

Entry is strictly by advanced booking only, via the SpaceFinder booking tool. Spaces for Tuesday will be available for booking from 10am, Saturday 30 January.

Discover Space Finder: View all study space availability across the Bodleian Libraries with one search

If you can’t find a study space on the day you want in the SSL and are happy to study in an alternative library, you’ll be interested to hear about the Bodleian Libraries new Space Finder tool.

Find upcoming study space availability in all Bodleian Libraries by following the simple steps below on Space Finder:

Please Note: Demand for desks in the Bodleian Libraries is very high and therefore you may need to check regularly for available slots. Slots are released each day due to cancellations and same day bookings can be made up to 8am each morning. Additional slots are released, 7 days in advance, between 7.30am – 9.30am each morning.

 

Get to know our Library: Take a virtual tour of the SSL

Get to know our Library space and the services we provide by taking our virtual tour.

Access to our library is strictly by advance booking only, to ensure the continued safety of our staff and readers.

To book a desk space please visit our bookings page, select the category of workspace you would like to use and make a booking for the date(s) you wish to visit the library.