Welcome to all our new readers! Here are some tips to help get you started

A staff member behind the SSL issue desk helping a reader borrow a book.

Welcome to all of our new readers! We’ve put together some tips to help get you started using the Bodleian Libraries.

Take a look at the SSL webpage for all the key information you will need to start using the Bodleian Libraries and our services.

SOLO is the search and discovery tool for the major collections of Oxford University’s libraries (including the SSL). You can find out all about how to use it in our SOLO Subject Guide.

You can also get assistance with using SOLO via the Bodleian Libraries Live Chat service. During staffed hours (see above) just type your query into the Live Chat box to the right of the screen and a staff member will reply.

Hand holding a mobile phone touching a screen. The words Visit the Subject and Research Guides website are at the top. The words How to Guides, Subject Guides and Training Guides appears underneath.

Visit the Subject and Research Guides website for an array of how to guides on key library services, such as how to use the Bodleian Libraries WiFi, password information and how to print, copy and scan (PCAS). There is also information on online training courses you may find useful to attend (Bodleian iSkills)

Infographics of a person at a desk with a question mark above them and a person at the library issue desk to provide info. The words Questions? Need some help? Ask a member of staff appear at the top.

Still have questions? Need some help? Talk to our friendly library staff, who will be happy to help with any queries you may have. Speak to us in person at our Issue Desk or you can contact us via phone (01865 2-71093) or via email.

Take the SSL home with you: ways to access library materials remotely

A snowy landscape with a house on the horizon, next to two trees.

Vacation loans started on Monday 27 November. Any items borrowed on or after this date will be assigned a due date of Tuesday 16 January (Tuesday of 1st week of Hilary Term 2024). To find out more, see our Vacation Loans Blog Post.

If you are an Oxford University student and need to access library resources while you are away from Oxford, follow our tips below:

Open laptop with an open book on it.Remote access via SOLO

Access e-books, e-journals and databases remotely by logging in to SOLO with your Single Sign On (SSO) Take a look at the Bodleian Libraries SOLO Guide for further information.

Image of the chat box for SOLO Live Chat

For help with finding and using items on SOLO, you can also get assistance via SOLO Live Chat.

This service is staffed from Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.

(Note that the service won’t be staffed during the Bodleian Libraries Christmas closure period – see below)

Look for the chat box to the right of the SOLO webpage.

eBooks

Our eBook Subject & Research Guide has lots of information on how to access and use Oxford University eBooks.

Screen shot of how the SOLO catalogue displays eBooks. Under the title is a green circle with the words 'Online access' next to it.

ORLO (Oxford Reading Lists Online)

Most postgraduate reading lists are available on ORLO and scans, online articles and e-books can be accessed there.

Staff member scanning a book

Scan & Deliver

Scan & Deliver is a free electronic document delivery service which enables you to obtain scans of book chapters or journal articles via email from the Bodleian Libraries’ print collections.

Please note that the service will close for the Christmas vacation on Monday 18th December at 5pm and will re-open at 9am on Tuesday 2nd January.

Open laptop on a desk with the words Further Information on itFor more details on the above, and to find out about further resources available remotely, consult the Bodleian Libraries Online and Remote Access webpage.

Questions, need Help?

An image of a person holding an image of a speech bubble with a question mark inside.

Any questions, just get in touch with us!

Email: ssl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Telephone: 01865 271093

Michaelmas Term Vacation Opening Hours

A silver alarm clock sat on grass which is covered in snow. A wooden snowflake is in the background.

Our opening hours for the vacation are on our website homepage.

A wooden floor with the words 'SSL Christmas Closure Period' on it. Below are parcels, stars, baubles, dried orange segments and greenery.

We will be closed from Saturday 23rd December 2023 to Monday 1st January 2024 (dates inclusive).

Note that the library will close at 5pm on Friday 22nd December and re-open at 9am on Tuesday 2nd January.

 

Take the SSL home with you: ways to access library materials remotely

A view of a field with a house in the background. The words 'Take the SSL home with you' are above.

Our books (both normal and short loan) are currently being issued over the vacation. All are due back on Tuesday 10 October 2023 (1st Week of Michaelmas Term). However, if you have any books out on loan that you no longer need, please do return them to us before you leave for the vacation.

If you are an Oxford University student and need to access library resources while you are away from Oxford, follow our tips below:

Open laptop with an open book on it.Remote access via SOLO

Access e-books, e-journals and databases remotely by logging in to SOLO with your Single Sign On (SSO) Take a look at the Bodleian Libraries SOLO Guide for further information.

Image of the chat box for SOLO Live Chat

 

For help with finding and using items on SOLO, you can also get assistance via SOLO Live Chat.

This service is staffed from Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.

Look for the chat box to the right of the SOLO webpage.

eBooks

Our eBook Subject & Research Guide has lots of information on how to access and use Oxford University eBooks.

Screen shot of how the SOLO catalogue displays eBooks. Under the title is a green circle with the words 'Online access' next to it.

ORLO (Oxford Reading Lists Online)

Most postgraduate reading lists are available on ORLO and scans, online articles and e-books can be accessed there.

Staff member scanning a book

Scan & Deliver

Scan & Deliver is a free electronic document delivery service which enables you to obtain scans of book chapters or journal articles via email from the Bodleian Libraries’ print collections.

Open laptop on a desk with the words Further Information on itFor more details on the above, and to find out about further resources available remotely, consult the Bodleian Libraries Online and Remote Access webpage.

Questions, need Help?

An image of a person holding an image of a speech bubble with a question mark inside.

Any questions, just get in touch with us!

Email: ssl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Telephone: 01865 271093

Summer Vacation Opening Hours

Our opening hours for the vacation are on our homepage.

A sign in a window which says 'Sorry we're closed' behind the sign is a lace curtain.

Note that we will be closed for the August Bank Holiday weekend from Saturday 25 to Monday 28th August (dates inclusive).

 

Take the SSL home with you: Ways to access library materials remotely

A view of a field with a house in the background. The words 'Take the SSL home with you' are above.

Our books (both normal and short loan) are currently being issued over the vacation. All are due back on Tuesday 25 April 2023 (1st Week of Trinity Term). However, if you have any books out on loan that you no longer need, please do return them to us before you leave for the vacation.

If you are an Oxford University student and need to access library resources while you are away from Oxford, follow our tips below:

Open laptop with an open book on it.Remote access via SOLO

Access e-books, e-journals and databases remotely by logging in to SOLO with your Single Sign On (SSO) Take a look at the Bodleian Libraries SOLO Guide for further information.

Image of the chat box for SOLO Live Chat

 

For help with finding and using items on SOLO, you can also get assistance via SOLO Live Chat.

This service is staffed from Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm.

Look for the chat box to the right of the SOLO webpage.

eBooks

Our eBook Subject & Research Guide has lots of information on how to access and use Oxford University eBooks.

Screen shot of how the SOLO catalogue displays eBooks. Under the title is a green circle with the words 'Online access' next to it.

ORLO (Oxford Reading Lists Online)

Most postgraduate reading lists are available on ORLO and scans, online articles and e-books can be accessed there.

Staff member scanning a book

Scan & Deliver

Scan & Deliver is a free electronic document delivery service which enables you to obtain scans of book chapters or journal articles via email from the Bodleian Libraries’ print collections.

Open laptop on a desk with the words Further Information on itFor more details on the above, and to find out about further resources available remotely, consult the Bodleian Libraries Online and Remote Access webpage.

Questions, need Help?

An image of a person holding an image of a speech bubble with a question mark inside.

Any questions, just get in touch with us!

Email: ssl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Telephone: 01865 271093

Our opening hours for the vacation are on our homepage.

Image of 6 colourfully painted eggs.

Note that we will be closed for the Easter weekend from Friday 7 to Monday 10 April (dates inclusive).

 

Welcome to all our new readers: Here are some tips to help get you started

Two members of staff stood in the SSL entrance area, by a display for new readers.

Welcome to all of our new readers! We’ve put together some tips to help get you started using the Bodleian Libraries.

Take a look at the SSL webpage for all the key information you will need to start using the Bodleian Libraries and our services.

Image with the words SOLO TOP Tips.

SOLO is the search and discovery tool for the major collections of Oxford University’s libraries (including the SSL). You can find out all about how to use it in our SOLO Subject Guide.

You may also find our SOLO Top Tips video tutorial useful to view.

You can also get assistance with using SOLO via the Bodleian Libraries Live Chat service. During staffed hours (see above) just type your query into the Live Chat box to the right of the screen and a staff member will reply.

Hand holding a mobile phone touching a screen. The words Visit the Subject and Research Guides website are at the top. The words How to Guides, Subject Guides and Training Guides appears underneath.

Visit the Subject and Research Guides website for an array of how to guides on key library services, such as how to use the Bodleian Libraries WiFi, password information and how to print, copy and scan (PCAS). There is also information on online training courses you may find useful to attend (Bodleian iSkills)

Infographics of a person at a desk with a question mark above them and a person at the library issue desk to provide info. The words Questions? Need some help? Ask a member of staff appear at the top.

Still have questions? Need some help? Talk to our friendly library staff, who will be happy to help with any queries you may have. Speak to us in person at our Issue Desk or you can contact us via phone (01865 2-71093) or via email.

Welcome to all our new readers: Here are some tips to help get you started

2 Library staff standing in the SSL entrance area in front of a noticeboard saying New to the SSL? Here are some tips to help get you started.

Infographic of a person using a laptop with a phone, pens and a keep cup next to them. An open notebook lists info that can be found on the SSL website. At the top are the words 'Visit the SSL website to find all the key information you need.

Take a look at the SSL webpage for all the key information you will need to get started using the Bodleian Libraries.

Image of a mobile phone with the Live Chat box image on it. The words on the image say 'Get assistance via SOLO Live Chat, for help with finding and using items on our library catalogue. Staffed Mon to Fri 9 to 7.

Get assistance with using SOLO via the Bodleian Libraries Live Chat service. During staffed hours (see above) just type your query into the Live Chat box to the right of the screen and a staff member will reply.

Image with the words SOLO TOP Tips.

You may also find the SOLO Top Tips video tutorial useful to view (click image above).

Hand holding a mobile phone touching a screen. The words Visit the Subject and Research Guides website are at the top. The words How to Guides, Subject Guides and Training Guides appears underneath.

Visit the Subject and Research Guides website for an array of how to guides on key library services such as how to print, copy and scan (PCAS). There is also information on online training courses you may find useful to attend (Bodleian iSkills)

Infographics of a person at a desk with a question mark above them and a person at the library issue desk to provide info. The words Questions? Need some help? Ask a member of staff appear at the top.

Still have questions? Need some help? Talk to our friendly library staff, who will be happy to help with any queries you may have. Speak to us in person at our Issue Desk or you can contact us via phone (01865 2-71093) or via email.

Welcome to all our new readers

Welcome to all of our new readers!

Take a look at our Getting Started webpage for all the key information you will need to get started using the Bodleian Libraries. Find out how to search our library catalogue (SOLO), how to make sense of your reading lists and much more …

Get assistance with using SOLO via the Bodleian Libraries Live Chat service. During staffed hours (see above) just type your query into the Live Chat box to the right of the screen and a staff member will reply.

You may also find the SOLO Top Tips video tutorial useful to view (click image above).

Visit the Oxford LibGuides website for an array of how to guides on key library services such as how to print, copy and scan (PCAS). There is also information on online training courses you may find useful to attend (Bodleian iSkills)

Still have questions? Need some help? Talk to our friendly library staff, who will be happy to help with any queries you may have. Speak to us in person at our Issue Desk or you can contact us via phone (01865 2-71093) or via email.

Questions about library services or resources: Use the Live Chat service

Do you have questions about our library services or resources? Do you need assistance with tracking down materials you can access remotely? Use the Bodleian Libraries Live Chat service, available via SOLO, LibGuides or Bodleian Libraries contact pages. It is currently expanded to be available 7 days a week, 9am-7pm on weekdays and 10am-7pm on weekends. 70 library staff are keeping the service going remotely and staff Live Chat in 1 hour sessions. To give you an idea of how popular it is, between 17 March (when it was announced that we were to close) and the 5 April, 425 enquiries have been answered.  So any questions, just ask us.

 

Ways you can contact us for assistance

The Social Science Library may be physically closed but you can still get in touch with us.

As our staff are primarily working from home, please contact us by email in preference to telephone if possible.

If you are only able to contact us by phone, leave a voicemail message at +44 (0)1865 271093. Staff are checking messages regularly and will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible.

To contact a specific member of staff (such as your Subject Consultant), see our full staff contact list here.

You can also contact us via our social media channels, through Facebook and Twitter.

Need assistance with locating an item or eResource on our catalogue?

Use the Live Chat functionality within SOLO to talk to a staff member. The service has been expanded to be available 7 days a week, 9am–7pm on weekdays and 10am–7pm on weekends.

Staff can assist with finding library materials and resources and advise what to do if you can’t find an item you can access remotely.