Introduction

Another term down, and another vacation upon us! Well done, folks – the road to spring is always a slow one, but you’ve made it through. Read on for updates on what’s happening at the English Faculty Library over the spring vacation, including open hours, library displays, and even a look ahead to the new Bodleian Humanities Library – including a link to our new library webpage!

Vacation Loans

Books that are borrowed on or after Monday 10th March are automatically on loan for the whole vacation. These will all be due for return on Tuesday 29th April, 1st week (excepting members whose cards expire before this date). Aside from this, all normal loan policies apply.

Opening Hours

For the vacation (starting Sunday 16th March) the English Faculty Library will be open:

OPENING HOURS:
Monday – Friday
9am – 5pm

Easter Weekend Closure Period

The English Faculty Library will be closed from:

CLOSURE PERIOD
Friday 18th – Monday 21st April (inclusive)

Library Display: “TO BE DESTROYED:” The Legal History of Book Censorship in the UK

Curated by Harry Whattoff, Graduate Trainee

A timeline of the major events/publications that resulted in the creation of the 1959 Obscene Publications Act. The display begins with the introduction of the printing press to England, and comes to its conclusion at the present day. The display features John Milton, D. H. Lawrence, and Radclyffe Hall, among others. You can read more on our LGBT+ History Month blog!

Previous Display: The Subtleties of Snow, curated by Harry Whattoff (Graduate Trainee)
Upcoming Display: Looking Forward, Looking Back, curated by Sophie Lay (Senior Library Assistant, Reader Services), Helen Scott (English Subject Librarian), and Harry Whattoff (Graduate Trainee).

English Faculty Library Move Updates

In the long vacation in summer of 2025, the English Faculty Library will be moving into the Bodleian Humanities Library in the brand new Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities.

The English Faculty Library will close at 5pm on Friday 4th July 2025 (Trinity Term, end of 10th week). This will be after the end of undergraduate exams and MSt deadlines.

There will be no library access after the closure date, until the opening of the new library in late September (exact date to be confirmed). Readers will be able to borrow books for the long vacation before 4th July, and then return them to the new library the following term. If you need to return books during the long vacation, the best way to do this is to use the drop box at the Philosophy & Theology Faculties Library. You can see some further information and FAQs on the new library website, where we will continue to post updates in the coming months.

We will also keep you updated here as the move progresses. That being said, if you have any questions at all, feel free to reach out to us using the contact details below.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or need help with anything, our library staff will always be available during opening hours to speak with you.

You can also contact us via:

• Telephone: 01865 271050
• Email: efl-enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
• ‘X’ (formerly known as Twitter): @EFLOxford

All our details can be found on the English Faculty Library webpage.

Introduction

Grab your Keep Cup coffees, consult your reading lists, and water your carnations – it’s term-time and the library is here to help! We’re delighted to see the bustle back in the EFL, and our fully-stocked Library team is ready at hand to assist you in all your reading needs. To get your academic year off on the right foot, we’ve compiled the library updates into a quick read for your convenience.

Bodleian Inductions

For undergraduates who are new to the library service, the Bodleian Libraries are running multiple online induction sessions to help you get to grips with accessing library resources. These sessions will cover topics such as:

• The structure of the Bodleian Libraries
• How to find the books you need
• How to use library WiFi, Computers, and Printing
• Where to get help if you need it

Multiple sessions will be offered through the day from Wednesday 4th October to Friday 6th October. New undergraduate students should already have been sent a link directly, but if you’ve not received it, feel free to contact us at efl-enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

English Faculty Library Tours

In addition to the central inductions, we’re also offering in-person library tours of the English Faculty Library. Each tour will last roughly 20 minutes, and will be led by a member of EFL staff. These will be offered throughout the day from Wednesday 4th October to Friday 6th October, every 30 minutes from 10am-11:30am and from 2pm-4:30pm.

These sessions are run on a drop-in basis – no booking required!

SOLO Changes

For our returning readers, you may have noticed that our catalogue SOLO has undergone a few changes over the summer, because we’ve updated our staff-facing library management software. There are a couple of noticeable differences, like a very generous new lending allowance and the importance of reserving books!

If you’d like any help navigating these changes, some guidance has been published on navigating SOLO changes. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask any member of our library team for help.

Contact Us

If you have any questions or need help with anything, our library staff will always be available during opening hours to speak with you.

You can also contact us via:

• Telephone: 01865 271050
• Email: efl-enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
• Twitter: @EFLOxford

All our details can be found on the English Faculty Library webpage.

Final Words

With that, we hope you feel well equipped to face the new academic year. We wish you nothing but the best of luck, and we’ll always be around to help you along should you need us. Happy reading!

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 service updates can be addressed to efl-enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.