Leave for work. I’m lucky to live walking distance from the Art library and don’t have to rely on public transport- the only things that slow me down are my own legs or crowds on Cornmarket Street!
08:45
Arrive at work. I pop up to the staff room to put my lunch away, probably get distracted talking to everyone else doing the same, then head to the front desk. At the Art library, desk shifts are usually 3 hours long, either in the morning or afternoon, and two people sit at the desk together.
Today I’m on desk in the morning, so I turn on the self-issue machine and login to a PC. Our Reader Services Teams chat is named after an animal and changes most days- and today I change it to Pleasing Fungus Beetle.
08:55
Get started on the lapse list. At the Bodleian Libraries, readers can request books from our offsite storage facility to be sent to libraries. Some of this material is loanable and can be given to readers to take away, but some of it has to stay in the library. This is stored on the Self-Collect shelves, and the lapse list involves taking items off the self-collect shelves that needs to be sent back offsite. I take these books off the shelves, scan them out and put them in crates that get picked up every afternoon.
09:15
The Art library opens at 9am, and even outside of term time can get quite busy. By this time we already have a fair few readers, some of which have been queueing to get in! Now I’ll sit at the desk and help readers. Most of the time, readers need pretty straight forward help- loaning or returning books, finding the toilets, locating a printer or PC they can use… but sometimes people ask a tricky one and you have to hit them with a “let’s try and find out together…”
The Art library can be quite confusing to use as there are a lot of different shelfmark systems on the books, and the library is round so you can end up walking in circles for a while. It took me a while to feel confident helping readers find books, but I’m getting a hang of the collections and can usually direct people to where their book is. I still sometimes walk readers in a loop around an entire floor before I know where to look!
10:30
Break time. I head up to the staffroom to make a coffee, browse the biscuit tin and chat to people over the jigsaw. We always have a jigsaw on the go in the staffroom, right now it’s Agatha Christie themed.
10:50
Back at the desk, and now it’s a bit quieter I can do some new book and journal processing. We get sent a lot of new material each week that we need to check is catalogued properly, has all the correct stickers on, and then we can scan it into the library. New books are displayed on our ground floor New Books Displays each week. I’ll do processing in between helping readers and responding to emails and Teams messages.
12:00
I’m off desk now, so take all the books I’ve processed to our workroom to be put on display next week. While there, I hear that we’re swamped with scan requests so I roll up my sleeves and help out. The Bodleian offer a scan and deliver service for PDFs of journal articles or sections of books. If readers don’t feel like trekking all the way into the library for a single article, they can send us a request and we’ll usually get it back to them by the next day. Among the scans today are a chapter on Tudor portraits, an article about ancient Greek poetry and a chapter on food in Bronze Age Britain.
1:00
I go up to the staff room, warm up my lunch, eat it while half-heartedly helping people with the jigsaw, then pop out for a walk. I try and walk every lunch time if the weather’s okay, and today I go to the University Parks and listen to a podcast.
2:00
I head back to the Art library and go to the Haverfield room on the ground floor to work on my trainee project. The Haverfield room is a small, slightly chaotic room mainly filled with books about ancient coins. My project is to do my part in making it slightly less chaotic, which for now involves doing an audit of some large folios at the back that haven’t been looked at in a long time. I take each one off the shelf, note down the barcode (if it has one), note the condition of the item and if it’s in poor condition, measure it so it can be boxed in conservation approved boxes. There’s very little information available for some of the items, so I have a look through and try to see if a) it’s relevant to our collections and b) where it came from. It’s easy to get distracted looking at books on early Christian art in catacombs, or the symbology in German coats of arms.
A page of coats of arms from Numismatisches Wappen-Lexicon des Mittelalters und der Neuzeit : Staaten und StädtewappenA drawing of a bird in Bildzeichen der Katakomben
3:10
I go for another break, omitting coffee this time and instead have a tea and chat to people.
3:30
I’ve finished the shelf I was working on in the Haverfield room, so now I go down to the Craft Cave (also referred to as the Repairs Dungeon, or more politely, the Basement Office) to do some book repairs.
At the Art and the Taylor we’re trialling a scheme where reader services staff carry out small repairs on books to extend their lives and get them back on the shelves quickly (the previous Art trainee Emma made a great triaging system and resources for minor repairs that we still use now, you can read about her project here).
Down here I carefully repair broken covers, loose pages and fraying corners, and nearly forget to look at the clock close to home time!
5:00
I say goodbye to the evening staff who are just arriving, and head home.
The evenings are getting quieter, the libraries are getting chillier, and the returns trolleys are piled high with books… it must be the end of Michaelmas term! It’s been an eventful eight weeks across the libraries: we’ve marked Black History Month and Disability History Month, contributed to Green Libraries Week, put on exhibitions about great academics and gothic artists, and even found a little extra time to do some library tours. The work doesn’t stop just because the students have gone home, and we’ve got plenty to do over the holidays, but the end of term is a chance to breathe out and get ready for the new year. In the meantime, here’s a quick blog update looking back at our first few months on the job.
Some very crafty book displays made by Summer!(Social Science Library)
This term has gone as quickly as the daylight hours, but it’s been great to watch the business school get steadily more festive – especially after the fairy lights were strung up outside the library window! I’ve had so many enjoyable moments over the past eight weeks: learning the curious (and sometimes frustrating) world of Leganto with Anna (our Collections & Instructional Materials Assistant), getting involved with the Oxford Futures Library archives, and even running a crochet workshop with Cui (our Circulation & Customer Service Librarian) – she’s already made some beautiful bookmarks despite only taking up crochet this term! I’ve also greatly appreciated the variety of work I’ve been able to do with the Rare Books team at the Weston Library during my time there this month. All in all, this term has encouraged me to approach the rest of the traineeship with confidence, and I’m excited to keep developing my skills and shaping my trainee project as we head into the new year.
Heidi Cruft, Sainsbury Library
A lot has happened in the Art library this term- I’ve scanned a lot of book chapters, issued and returned a lot of material, packaged a lot of interlibrary loans, filled and emptied a lot of crates, helped (at least I hope) a lot of readers- and endured a few broken lifts, exploding radiators and technical issues along the way. It’s been really satisfying to slowly get the hang of more things and better understand the scale of things going on to keep a library running- it’s not just stamping books! I’ve really enjoyed the training sessions this term- especially the visit to the special collections at the Weston- and loved spending a full week at the Taylor Institution. Next term I plan to get stuck into my trainee project in sorting out the chaotic Haverfield room, and helping the subject librarians with some collections management.
Olly Marshall, Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library
Term passed in the blink of an eye, but it’s been a lot of fun. The HFL is a really interesting place to work because there’s always something going on: from VIP events to student inductions to spontaneous explosions (not a joke!), this job definitely keeps you on your toes. I’ve reviewed reading lists, done inventory checks, sent damaged items off for repair, hunted for missing books, and kept track of the infinite spreadsheets required for all those tasks. I’m really enjoying getting to work behind the scenes and keep things operating smoothly for readers, and I appreciate the amount of work that goes into running an academic library even more now. While it’s hard to pick out just one thing, a highlight of my term has been getting started on my very collections-focused trainee project, and I’m looking forward to delving deeper into archives and special collections next term. For now, though, I need a few calm weeks to take advantage of the millions of books just waiting to be read (the real perk of the job). Catherine Birch, History Faculty Library
Isaac Newton is feeling festive (Old Bodleian)
Voltaire wanted to dress up too! (Taylor Institution)
Michaelmas has gone by so quickly! This term has been a lot of desk time, displays, photography, and using the mysterious trainee power to arrange meetings with interesting people within the Bodleian. I’ve made themed displays (I especially loved my Halloween one), started photographing all the rooms in the Taylorian for a social media bank, and helped readers find many a book. The most interesting training for me this term has been the visits to the Weston to see the rare books and conservation work, and to CSF (the Bodleian Offsite Storage facility). I’ve made a lot of headway on my project, which involves designing a creative public outreach event for the Strachan collection of Livres d’Artiste / Artist’s Books. I’ve sent a lot of emails to all sorts of people, who have been more than happy to help me with my idea. My favourite days are the ones I can sit in the archives room and go through the collection while listening to music. In Hilary term, I’m looking forward to the training with the Centre for the Study of the Book, where we’ll learn about printing methods, and get to use a hand-operated printing press! Jules McGee-Russell (they/them), Taylor Institution Library
It’s been a busy Michaelmas term here at the SSL. Going from the whirlwind of over 100 library tours for new students in 0/1st week to emptying out after 8th week, the library almost feels eerily quiet without the readers. But just because most students have gone, does not mean the workroom has got any quieter – from an influx of new reading lists to review and books to process, to hunting for missing books and working on my two projects – there’s been plenty to keep me busy! The SSL has received 2 donations that make up the bulk of my project work – 40 boxes of working papers from the University of Bradford and 70 shelves of books from a single donor. I now have endless hours of work transcribing book spines and embellishing Alma catalogue records to keep me busy when the rest of the library gets too quiet! Along with enjoying getting stuck into my project work, one of my highlights this term has been working on the new book displays – from Black History and Disability History months to Bonfire Night and Winter Wellbeing, it’s been great fun researching interesting and unusual books in the CSF that I can add to my displays. I’m looking forward to the training sessions of next term, particularly the one around student wellbeing initiatives in the libraries, and I’m sure Hilary term will go by as quickly as Michaelmas did!
Who doesn’t love a book display? We’re sure you want to know all about the books we’ve displayed this month, and we are here to provide!
Trainees often end up working on book displays throughout their year, and we’re no different. A few lucky trainees got to start working on their first displays within our initial few weeks. Each library has their own approach to displays, with unique spaces, signage, and book selections.
The theme for Black History Month 2025 is ‘Power and Pride’, where Power represents ‘the influence, leadership, and capacity to effect positive change’ and Pride reflects ‘cultural identity, heritage, and the celebration of Black excellence.’
Here’s our takes on the Black History Month theme this year, with a spotlight on some of our favourite books.
Taylor Institution Library – Jules McGee-Russell
My first reaction when I found out I’d be taking on the displays at the Taylor was, admittedly, panic. I had one week to research suitable books from our collections, which are mostly made up of books in languages I can’t read, with historical contexts I don’t know much about. Luckily, after many hours searching our catalogue on SOLO, chats with Subject Librarians and colleagues, and several trips up and down all our stairs, I had a very nice stack of books from both the Teaching and Research Collections.
I wanted to stick closely to the theme and include as many different languages and cultures as I could. I chose books that focused on Black European visionaries and icons of influence, Black excellence in the arts, the power of Black protest movements, and Black experiences across Europe. I made an effort to include books from as many areas of our library as possible. I ended up with books including Germany, Portugal, Brazil, France, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Wales, Russia, Linguistics, fiction (poetry), and biography. Not bad for a speedy one-week display!
I hope my display showcases the breadth of our collections and will encourage readers to explore this area in their studies.
I was able to put the large display in the Teaching Collection, right next to the Issue desk and the Self-Issue machine, where plenty of people will see it!
Books included:
Aimé Césaire : inventor of souls by Jane Hiddleston.
This biography focuses on one of the most influential Caribbean literary writers, Césaire. Césaire was a Martinican poet, playwright, politician, and co-founder of the movement ‘Négritude’, which sought to restore the cultural identity of Black Africans.
Black Paris : the African writers’ landscape by Bennetta Jules-Rosette ; foreword by Simon Njami.
Black Paris explores three generations of African writers in Paris between 1947 and the mid-1990s. Using archival, ethnographic, and historical research in addition to interviews with writers of the new generation, this book explores their writing and identity.
Blues in schwarz weiss nachtgesang : Gedichteby May Ayim.
This poetry collection is written by established Afro-German writer/activist, May Ayim.
Farbe bekennen : Afro-deutsche Frauen auf den Spuren ihrer Geschichte by May Ayim, Katharina Oguntoye, Dagmar Schultz (Hg.)
A collection of texts by Afro-German women about their experiences.
Mapping Black Europe : monuments, markers, memories by Natasha A. Kelly.
This text highlights unrecognised contributions by Black communities to the cultural landscapes of eight European cities. Black scholars and activists examine monuments, markers, and memorials to excavate these obscured narratives.
This biography centres on Frantz Fanon, an influential Martinican psychoanalyst and social philosopher, known for his notable works Black Skin, White Masks and The Wretched of the Earth, about the effects of colonialism on racial consciousness.
Language in the inner city; studies in the Black English vernacular by William Labov.
Originally published in 1972, “Labov probed the question “Does ‘Black English’ exist?” and emerged with an answer that was well ahead of his time, and that remains essential to our contemporary understanding of the subject.”
Mobilizing Black Germany : Afro-German women and the making of a transnational movement by Tiffany N. Florvil.
“Tiffany N. Florvil examines the role of queer and straight women in shaping the contours of the modern Black German movement as part of the Black internationalist opposition to racial and gender oppression…including Audre Lorde’s role in influencing their activism; the activists who inspired Afro-German women to curate their own identities and histories; and the evolution of the activist groups Initiative of Black Germans (ISD) and Afro-German Women (ADEFRA).”
Signs of dissent : Maryse Condé and postcolonial criticism by Dawn Fulton.
“Maryse Condé is a Guadeloupean writer and critic whose work has challenged the categories of race, language, gender, and geography that inform contemporary literary and critical debates. In Signs of Dissent, the first full-length study in English on Condé, Dawn Fulton situates this award-winning author’s work in the context of current theories of cultural identity in order to foreground Condé’s unique contributions to these discussions.”
The stolen prince : Gannibal, adopted son of Peter the Great, great-grandfather of Alexander Pushkin, and Europe’s first black intellectual by Hugh Barnes.
This book focuses on the historical figure of Gannibal, a kidnapped and enslaved young African who was adopted by tsar Peter the Great, who “soared to dizzying heights as a soldier, diplomat, mathematician and spy” and “founded a dynasty of his own in Russia, where he came to embody the strengths and weaknesses of the country itself.”
Terms of inclusion : Black intellectuals in twentieth-century Brazilby Paulina L. Alberto.
“In this history of black thought and racial activism in twentieth-century Brazil, Paulina Alberto demonstrates that black intellectuals, and not just elite white Brazilians, shaped discourses about race relations and the cultural and political terms of inclusion in their modern nation.”
Tribuna Negra : origens do movimento negro em Portugal (1911-1933)by Cristina Roldão, José Augusto Pereira e Pedro Varela.
This book highlights the little-known Black movement in 1911-1933 Lisbon that “fought racism, demanded rights for populations in colonized territories, and… engag[ed] in dialogue with forms of Black internationalism, such as Pan-Africanism.”
Globalising Welsh studies : decolonising history, heritage, society and culture,edited by Neil Evans and Charlotte Williams.
This text explores “the development of Welsh Studies through the lens of race/ethnicity. Contributors from history, heritage studies, literature, film, policy, social and cultural studies offer case analyses adopting new perspectives, theoretical routes and methodological innovations, with the aim of illustrating aspects of the decolonising of knowledge production.”
Voices of negritude in modernist print : aesthetic subjectivity, diaspora, and the lyric regimeby Carrie Noland.
“Carrie Noland approaches Negritude as an experimental, text-based poetic movement developed by diasporic authors of African descent through the means of modernist print culture. Engaging primarily the works of Aimé Césaire and Léon-Gontran Damas, Noland shows how the demands of print culture alter the personal voice of each author, transforming an empirical subjectivity into a hybrid, textual entity that she names, after Theodor Adorno, an “aesthetic subjectivity.””
Luckily, unlike some of the other trainees, I had plenty of notice to work on my Black History Month display – it’s been in the works since mid-September! With 22 books covering a broad range of social science subjects from our collection, it proved to be quite the research challenge for my first month!
My aim for the display was to represent as many areas of the social science subjects as possible, while showcasing broader aspects of Black British history. During my research, I was particularly interested to discover several titles in the Bodleian’s collection that focus on Black activism within the University of Oxford. Two that stood out were Malcolm X at Oxford Union: Racial Politics in a Global Era by Saladin M. Ambar and Rhodes Must Fall: The Struggle for Justice at the Heart of Empire ed. by Brian Kwoba, Roseanne Chantiluke, and Athinangamso Nkopo.
This made it all the more disappointing when some books arrived from Swindon in plain black hardback covers, with their vibrant dust jackets removed for preservation. As a result, there are a few titles I would have loved to include in the SSL’s book display that, unfortunately, didn’t make the final cut. Overall, though, I’m happy with the selection of titles in the book display and the balance between academic texts, Women political leaders in Africa by Rosemari Skaine, alongside poetry and fiction texts: Saluting our sisters ed. by Cherron Inko-Tariah, and Girl, woman, other by Bernardine Evaristo.
Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library – Olly Marshall
With our collections split into a few distinct subject areas, it can be difficult when making displays for all of them to be properly represented. We have loads of fantastic resources on black artists in our upper floor collections, but I was particularly keen on displaying resources on black voices in archaeology which are often overlooked both within the wider field of archaeology and within our own collections. Some of the highlights included:
The first Black archaeologist: a life of John Wesley Gilbert by John W.I. Lee.
This biography looks at the life of John Wesley Gilbert, from his education in segregated Georgia in the late 19th century, his research trip to Greece with the American School of Classical Studies at Athens in 1890-1891, returning to become Paine College’s first black faculty hire and his missionary work later in his life.
Black Feminist Archaeology by Whitney Battle-Baptiste.
This book is the first of its kind in outlining how black feminist thought and philosophy can be applied to archaeological theory and practise. Battle-Baptiste calls for a more sensitive look at race and gender within the archaeological field, and offers Black Feminist Archaeology as a method by which to look at the plantation home of Andrew Jackson, the W. E. B. DuBois homesite and the Lucy Foster homestead- the first archaeological excavation of an African American home.
African Connections: Archaeological Perspectives on Africa and the Wider World by Peter Mitchell.
Peter Mitchell offers an analysis of Africa’s identity within the wider world- looking at what archaeology can illuminate about trade routes, the spread of farming systems and the experiences of the African diaspora. Though the book looks at early expansion out of Africa in the Pleistocene the story is mainly that of Africa in the Holocene, a sorely neglected subject in the field. Mitchell confronts this neglect by emphasising early on that “Africa’s inhabitants interacted with those of other landmasses, not merely as consumers or dependents, but as equal partners in exchange and active donors of goods, ideas and people.”
Documenting activism, creating change: archaeology and the legacy of #MeToo edited by Hannah Cobb and Kayt Hawkins.
Multiple authors contributed to this volume sharing their experiences as women in working in archaeology and how women within the sector navigate social media in the face of online harassment based on gender and race. Several chapters look at the state of sexism and online activist circles in specific countries. Chapter 19, “In Pursuit of Systemic Equality: The UK’s First Network For Ethnically Diverse Staff In Development-Led Archaeology” reflects on the state of diversity in archaeology in the UK, the groups, committees and alliances that work to improve it and how this aim for diversity can affect the practise of archaeology itself. This book also has a chapter on mentorship for women in archaeology and could be an enlightening resource for anyone working in the sector.
A full list of the books and a more in-depth look at some of our art collections can be seen on the art library blog.
Bodleian Library – Catherine Birch and Rebecca Cartwright
While trainees in the Old Bodleian aren’t in charge of curating our library’s displays, we thought we should let everyone know what the Bodleian has been doing to mark Black History Month.
Our physical book display in the Gladstone Link is focused on themes of activism, resistance, and liberation in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, taking material from the History lending shelves. We’ve also signposted a few ebooks from our collection, looking at black identities and intersectionality in Britain. There’s a broad range of texts spanning different historical disciplines, time periods, and places, reflecting the richness of Black history in the United Kingdom. If you’re unsure where to start, try checking out these texts:
There Ain’t No Black in the Union Jack by Paul Gilroy.
Originally published in 1987, this book examines racial politics and race relations in the UK and argues that the (then contemporary) sociological model of race and culture is inherently flawed. Predominantly researched and written during a period of significant racial tension in Britain, the book caused controversy after Gilroy accused left- AND right-wing intellectuals and leaders of failing to properly consider race in their politics. Almost 40 years later, it has held up as a foundational study of the relationship between race, class, and nationality. This edition also contains an edited introduction, where Gilroy reflects on the change he had seen since the book was first published.
Rhodes Must Fall: The Struggle to Decolonise the Racist Heart of Empire by the Rhodes Must Fall Movement (Oxford).
This collection of writings on the Rhodes Must Fall movement has close links to the university. It was compiled and edited by members of Rhodes Must Fall Oxford, a group founded in 2016 in solidarity with anticolonial student protests at the University of Cape Town. The Oxford chapter’s aim was to decolonise the university’s curriculum and remove a statue of Cecil Rhodes from Oriel College. The book sets out their arguments as to why Rhodes shouldn’t be honoured, exploring the modern legacy of colonialism and the enduring impact of racism and empire on all aspects of Western life. While much has changed in the 7 years since this book was published, it reflects a pivotal moment in the university’s history, and it remains a thought-provoking read.
We Were There by Lanre Bakare.
On this “road trip around Black Britain… this time, London is in the back seat, and Bradford’s our driver. Liverpool’s choosing the music. Edinburgh’s navigating.”[1] Often, black history in Britain is confined to the urban southeast. Areas like Cardiff, Manchester, or Bradford (where Bakare was born) are a footnote, and rural black lives are overlooked entirely. This book seeks to move beyond this conception and illuminate aspects of British history we’re yet to fully explore. It’s a recent publication which looks to the future as well as the past, emphasising that blackness and black culture is not universal, modular, or static. Filled with humour and introspection, it questions what it actually means to be a Black Briton, not just a Londoner.
We’ve also picked out some books from our wellbeing display in the Old Bodleian which embody this year’s theme. When you next need a study break, take a look at these:
Celebrations: Rituals of Peace and Prayer by Maya Angelou.
Maya Angelou is widely recognised as one of the most significant poets of the twentieth century, and this anthology brings together some of her most famous works. Angelou was not just a great writer and artist – she was closely involved with the civil rights movement in the USA, and was a fierce activist throughout her life. Her life and her writings truly embody the theme of “Standing Firm in Power and Pride”, and her legacy is one felt here as well as in the United States. ‘Celebrations’ contains 12 poems about peace, love, and hope, and is a great book to dip into whenever you need some joy.
Self-Care for Black Men: 100 Ways to Heal and Liberate by Jor-El Caraballo, LMHC.
‘Self-Care for Black Men’ does what it says on the tin: the book is a guide to coping with racism, prejudice, and intergenerational trauma as a modern Black man. Carabello is writing for men who feel like they don’t have access to the support that they need, offering guidance on how to take care of yourself and your wellbeing in a constructive manner. The book is full of Black pride and empowerment, with 100 meditations on identity, respect, and personal dignity. For those feeling insecure or emotionally drained, it could be a very useful read.
If these have interested you, or you want to learn more, check out our HFL blog post for a full list of the books on display in the Upper Link. Our Wellbeing display is available year-round and is located at the top of the North Stairs in the Old Bodleian.
Signpost – Events
If you liked our displays and want to see more of what the university have to offer, come along to the Weston Library on Wednesday 29th October for a chance to see some unique items from the university’s Special Collections. There’ll be a show-and-tell of archival material focused on black lives in history, with the opportunity to learn about racial activism and black culture in Britain from the nineteenth century onwards. The event is free to attend – to learn more and register attendance, visit the Oxford SU website.
The Ashmolean has also recently unveiled a new display: ‘Shedding Light’. An evolution of the earlier installation ‘A Nice Cup of Tea?’, this room was carefully crafted to tell a story about the interconnected histories of slavery, colonialism, sugar production, and ceramics. It takes the form of a 1950s-60s Caribbean living room filled with books, records, ceramic, and life – viewers are encouraged to literally read the room. It’s an interesting lens into British Caribbean heritage and intergenerational experiences, with a particular focus on the sugar trade and how this shaped black lives and culture. It’s located in the European Ceramics Gallery on the second floor and is intended to be a permanent fixture in the museum.
The second part of the 2023/24 Trainee Showcase comprised of presentations by Leah Brown (English Faculty Library), Sorrel Fenelon (St John’s College Library), and Erin Minogue (Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library). The projects ranged from a deep-dive into the offprints owned by a renowned professor, work to widen access to special collections, and an investigation into how social media and digital outreach can work to highlight collections and engage audiences.
Leah Brown: A Sérprent Saga: Professor Turville-Petre and his Literary Network
By Clara Oxley
Offprints from Turville-Petre’s collection in archive folders.
Leah’s trainee project was a fascinating deep dive into the offprints of Professor Turville-Petre, a prominent Oxford scholar in Old Norse-Icelandic Studies who, as a student at Christ Church, was tutored by none other than J. R. R. Tolkien himself. When Turville-Petre died in 1978, he donated his entire library to the English Faculty Library. This, along with the rest of the EFL, will be moved to the Schwartzman Building in 2025 (a fact which motivated this project to begin with).
For anyone unsure of what an offprint was, Leah began by helpfully describing it as a ‘printing of a single piece of work that is part of a larger body,’ such as an article from a periodical. On top of exploring his offprints, another aim of the project was to create a handlist of them and store the items carefully to ensure that they were protected and conserved. This was because the off-prints were originally stored in magazine files, something which might have sent any conservationist into a frenzy.
To reduce damage to the items and make the collection more accessible, Leah created a spreadsheet detailing each Turville-Petre offprint. These details included, but were not limited to, author details, publication information, as well as language. Leah also paid close attention to the contents and notes that he made in the margins of the off-prints, which gave a unique insight into the way his relationships with colleagues changed over the years; something Leah went on to explore in more depth. Once the helpful handlist was completed, Leah moved the offprints to conservation boxes, and a quiet sigh of relief was heard from the conservation community across the country.
Next, Leah’s deep-dive into the contents and contexts of the offprints proved to be effective in bringing Turville-Petre to life, letting us catch a glimpse of his personality and work style. By exploring the historical context, as well as his academic engagements, correspondences and notes, Leah painted an image of a man who was clearly very academically driven, yet also dedicated to and supportive of his colleagues. These colleagues included the first woman to be Professor of Old Norse at the University of Oslo, Professor Anne Holtsmark, with whom he remained in correspondence for over 30 years. Furthermore, Leah’s inclusion of items in which he conveyed personality beyond the academic rigour of his work really helped humanise this great scholar. We particularly liked his artistic endeavours, such as the doodle of a Viking in his lecture notes. It’s always reassuring to learn that even the brightest can lose focus from time to time!
From Leah’s presentation, we learnt about a truly fascinating man who dedicated his life to Norse studies. So much so, that the Prime Minister of Iceland award him with the Grand Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Falcon.
A touching addition to the presentation was the inclusion of correspondences Leah had had with those who remembered Turville-Petre with fondness and respect. This included a former pupil of his, who recalled how, ‘Gabriel was, in his own way, as much of a teacher as a scholar and researcher, and a devoted teacher at that.’
Before completing her traineeship, Leah informed us that she will be creating box level records for the new offprint boxes, making the items accessible for all and ensuring that Turville-Petre and his legacy is kept alive for future scholarly endeavours.
Sorrel Fenelon: Widening Access to Special Collections at St John’s College
By Connie Hubbard
You might think that St John’s College, who have a special collection of manuscripts, would be overly protective of their collection. Sorrel, however, made increasing access and interest in early manuscripts her goal. Not an easy task.
To prepare, Sorrel shadowed school tours run by the Public Engagement team at the Weston Library, learning and magpieing tour-guiding techniques. She then began planning a tour for sixth form students visiting St John’s College as part of the Inspire programme. This initiative is a free, two year course for pupils from non-selective state schools, which includes a research presentation day onsite at St John’s. As part of this day, Sorrel planned a special collections visit, complete with a tour of the old library, and a session getting up close to an array of rare works. Sorrel had a brainwave while planning the event and, before the students arrived, she asked each what interested them and created the exhibition based on their answers. Talk about customer service!
On the big day, eighteen eager pupils got to see and interact with six items, including: a letter written by Jane Austen; Peter Apianus’ Astronomicum Caesareum* illustrated with a beautiful dragon, and an 18th-century autograph book which also housed a tapeworm – gross, but when entertaining teenagers, disgust is usually a safe bet. The chosen items highlighted the breadth of St John’s Special Collections with works from a range of time periods and in a range of languages, with different quirks.
Sorrel presenting her trainee project on Widening Access to Special Collections at St John’s College.
As with any ambitious project, Sorrel experienced complications. The most notable being that a condition check of the items revealed the Astronicum Caesureum would have been too fragile to move across college to the room booked for the event. Luckily Sorrel had been unreasonably organised and had a backup; a stunningly illustrated atlas. Crisis averted!
During Sorrel’s showcase presentation, she shared with us, not only her positive feedback from the College Access team and the students themselves, but suggested improvements, for example: to include more STEM subject manuscripts (though she noted the Astronomicum, gone AWOL, would have remedied this somewhat).
If that weren’t enough, Sorrel has also been working on a database of the John Rose letters, picking up where a previous trainee left off.
*an instrument for predicting the occurrence of solar and lunar eclipses.
Erin Minogue: Developing a social media presence for the Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library
By Xanthe Malcolm
Wrapping up the morning session, Erin told us all about the process of establishing an X (formerly known as Twitter) account for the Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library.
Erin began her presentation with a discussion of how she had chosen her project – which translated neatly into some tips for those trainees from next year’s cohort who were in the audience. For example, she knew from the start that she wanted something with a tangible outcome, which would be useful to the library, and have potential for continuity in the future. Marrying all that with her personal interest in outreach and increasing access to the library’s collections led her to the decision to develop a social media account.
Walking us through the timeline of her project, Erin started with her research into existing library social media accounts. This helped her to develop her initial thoughts on the aims of creating this account: who the target audience would be; what sort of content would meet the needs of the diverse groups within that target audience – from current readers to prospective students, and the local community to a broader audience who might have an interest in the library’s collections; and which platform to choose.
A screenshot of the Bodleian Art Library’s new X profile.
Having established the purpose of the account, Erin then made formal proposals to her own library and the central Communications team for the Bodleian. She also began work on branding for the account. We heard about how she had decided on a colour scheme that would be cohesive with the central Bodleian X account and her library’s blog, as well as the importance of finding high resolution images and the difficulties of fitting the words “Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library” into a profile picture!
All Erin’s hard work paid off on launch day. With some carefully crafted initial posts and a takeover of the central Bodleian X account to harness the power of their huge pool of followers, she was able to surpass her target of 100 followers by the end of the first day.
Since then, the account has gone from strength to strength. Erin gave examples of how she ensures she continues to meet the account’s aims of highlighting the collections, providing reader service updates, improving the accessibility of the building and engaging with readers and visitors (for example, by linking posts to exhibitions at the Ashmolean). She also talked us through how she has planned to ensure the continuity of the account after the end of the year.
Erin rounded off her presentation by talking us through some of her personal highlights from the year – a fantastic reminder of the wide range of opportunities open to trainees who are keen to get involved.
And if you haven’t done so yet, go and follow @BodArtLib on X!
Hello! I’m Erin – this year’s trainee at the Bodleian Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library (we’re going with Art Library for short, the acronym BAAAWL doesn’t quite roll off the tongue!).
The Art Library brings together collections on a range of subjects, including Classics, Ancient History, Archaeology, Art and Architecture, and Egyptology, among others. I also work across both the Taylor Institution and the Nizami Ganjavi Library and have immensely enjoyed working out the quirks of each of the three libraries. The past month has largely involved getting to grips with ALMA, processing new acquisitions, as well as helping readers out with enquiries, and beginning to grow more familiar with the shelf-marks of our collections!
I’m delighted to be returning to Oxford, having completed my undergraduate degree in English at Mansfield College in 2020. Upon graduating, I spent the pandemic teaching A Level English Literature and literacy intervention lessons in a secondary school, whilst also working in the school library. I particularly enjoyed matching student readers with the perfect book to get them started with reading, and enjoyed the thrill of connecting reluctant readers with books as much as I’ve enjoyed helping academic researchers track down academic articles about Ancient Greece this past month.
Books about museums and curating in the Art Library
I’ve recently completed an MPhil in English Studies at the University of Cambridge, specialising in contemporary novels, examining attention and reading practices in works responding, either explicitly or more obliquely, to the climate crisis. Having made the most of my year in Cambridge with numerous visits to the extraordinary Kettle’s Yard – a house and exhibition space belonging to Jim Ede, one of the first Tate Modern curators – I knew I wanted to combine my love of art and literature into a job. As a result, working in the Art Library has allowed me to combine these interests and means I come across works by a range of artists as I process new books for our New Books Display. I’m also immensely excited to put on some displays in the Art Library in the coming months, delving through the breadth of our collections whilst addressing contemporary concerns including the climate emergency and conversations around current museum practices, questions of ethics and display, and cultural restitution.
What excites me most about the traineeship is the possibility of getting involved in many distinct aspects of libraries, including spending time working with special collections and learning the ins and outs of cataloguing. I intend on fully making the most of the generosity and goodwill of the excellent Bodleian Libraries staff to learn as much as I can!
It’s easy to get distracted by how beautiful my commute is!
Although my day doesn’t officially start until 8.45, I’m usually at the Sackler a bit earlier to give me time to lock my bike and change out of my cycle gear. There’s usually time for a quick cup of tea, and today I drink it while doing the latest Sackler jigsaw, which is, of course, book themed.
8.45
I’m working on the desk from 9.00 today, so I spend the first fifteen minutes logging on to the computers (which involves battling with my nemesis Microsoft Authenticator), turning on the self-issue machine, and double checking the rota so I can plan my tasks for the day.
9.00
During term time, there’s usually a steady stream of queries from readers while I’m on desk, but at the moment it’s fairly quiet so I can get on with some other tasks. Today, I spend some time preparing for upcoming blog posts and then continue with some bibliographic checking. This involves checking SOLO (our online catalogue) to see if we hold certain items in our collections. We have to make a note of which libraries house the items and if there are any online or electronic legal deposit copies. This helps subject librarians know which books to prioritise when it comes to acquisitions. Bibliographic checking requires a fair bit of concentration, so it’s nice to take breaks to help the occasional reader.
11.00
Once my desk shift is over, I take my morning break. As I’ve spent most of the morning sitting down, I go for a quick walk and have just enough time to listen to a podcast episode (I’m currently relistening to the Magnus Archives because apparently cycling home in the pitch dark isn’t scary enough already).
11.20
My next task for the day is the trolley sweep. This is another daily task that helps us keep the library organised. Because the Sackler has five floors and houses books for multiple subjects, shelving can build up quite quickly. I start the sweep by taking a trolley up to the third floor and working my way round, picking up books from the reshelving points and desks. We also have a reservation point on every floor, where readers can leave up to 10 Sackler books so they can keep consulting them at a later date. I check the slips that the readers fill out to make sure none of the books have been left there for too long. I also make sure that the books are from the same floor as the reservation point they’re on. If books need to be reshelved on the current floor, I add them to the reshelving trolleys; if they are from elsewhere, I add them to my trolley and drop them off on the correct floor as I repeat this task on my way down to the basement. Today, the sweep doesn’t take too long, so I head back to the second floor to do some of the shelving that has built up.
12.00
The BookEye Scanner
I don’t have any tasks assigned until the delivery later this afternoon so I head back to the workroom. One of my ongoing tasks is to write some instructions for the BookEye scanner, which we can use to scan books or articles that people request. Although we can use the PCAS machines for this, the BookEye is better because it allows the book to rest in a V-shaped cradle, which helps to prevent books being damaged. It’s also easier to see what you’re doing as you go along, so you reduce the risk of doing a 50-page scan where half of each page has been cut off (as a completely hypothetical example, of course). I also keep an eye on our Microsoft Teams chat, to see if whoever is on desk needs any help, for example with fetching books for a reader. Once I’ve finished my first draft and inserted some images, I send it over to my supervisor.
13.00
Lunch time! I normally make my own sandwiches with my supplies in the staff fridge, but today I’m in the mood for some hot food. I head over to Italiamo Café for a calzone and a cannoli. Once I’ve eaten, I go for a stroll around the city centre, stopping off at Blackwell’s Art and Poster shop to stare longingly at The Wes Anderson Collection before heading back to the Sackler.
14.00
The delivery from the BSF has arrived! I wheel the crates into the workroom so I can start scanning the books, listening to music as I do so. When each book is scanned, an email is automatically sent to the person who requested it. I place a red flag inside that informs the reader that the book is confined to the library, and stack the books on the trolley in alphabetical order to save some time later. Because it takes a little while to go through the delivery, sometimes, especially if the reader is already in the library, they will head to the self-collect shelf before I’ve had a chance to put their books out, so occasionally I will get a message from whoever is on desk duty asking me to bring a specific book out! Once I’ve loaded up the trolley, I take the books out to the self-collect shelves.
All sorts of interesting books get delivered to the Sackler
We also received two crates of new books, so I head back to the workroom to do some processing. Although this isn’t difficult, it does require a lot of concentration, so I put some instrumental music on (I find that the soundtrack to The Grand Budapest Hotel is the perfect accompaniment to processing). I begin by dividing the books from the journals and periodicals and piling them up based on which floor they go on. We keep track of how many items arrive for each floor so I add a new row in our statistics spreadsheet. The majority of our stickering and stamping is done by the Cataloguing Team at Osney, so most of the time it’s just a case of double checking that everything matches the online record and adding ‘library use only’ stickers to confined items on the lower three floors and changing the statuses to ‘new book display.’ Books go on some shelves in the workroom to wait for the next update of the book display, and I take the journals out to the reshelving trolleys.
Processing supplies
15.00
After finishing the delivery, I tidy up the workroom a bit and check the scanning dashboard. We’ve had quite a few requests pushed through, so I make a note of the floors and shelfmarks and go and collect the books so I can do multiple requests in one go. It’s easy for me to get swept up in scanning, so by the time I have transferred files, double checked that the correct pages have been scanned and uploaded them, it’s time for me to head over to the Nizami Ganjavi Library to cover my colleague’s afternoon break.
15.40
The NGL is only a few minutes away, which is useful when it’s raining or cold. Because I’m only on the desk for 20 minutes, I don’t really have time to start a more complicated project, so I look through the feedback on my BookEye instructions and make some edits, helping with the occasional reader query.
16.00
I decide to take my break as well, and head back to the staff room at the Sackler. There’s just time for a quick cup of tea and whatever snack I left in the cupboard and forgot about (Jaffa Cakes today).
16.20
I head back to the workroom and finish up any small tasks like replying to emails and editing a blog post. I had to email a reader for clarification about a scan request, and they’ve now replied so I do one last scan before shutting the machine off. I then have about 20 minutes left, so I head up to the second floor to do a bit more shelving.
17.00
Home time! I head back downstairs and get changed into my cycling gear. I say my goodbyes and pass on any relevant information to the evening team before heading out to the bike shed and making my way home.
[NB the Sackler Library has now been renamed to the Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library]
‘Never give up, you might be closer than you think’ seems like the kind of statement you would find on a fridge magnet, but also has surprising relevance when it comes to one of the greatest archaeological discoveries in modern history.
After several fruitless dig attempts, Howard Carter and his team were almost at the point of downing tools and leaving the Valley of Kings for good when, one hundred years ago exactly, the steps to the tomb of Tutankhamun were suddenly unearthed, and the field of Egyptology changed forever (Carter, 1972).
Although Carter seemingly adopted an air of nonchalance, simply recording ‘first steps of tomb found’ in his diary (The Griffith Institute, 2022a), the excitement at such a significant discovery must have been palpable. 100 years on, Tutankhamun remains somewhat of a figurehead of Egyptology, and our fascination with the Boy King shows no signs of slowing. In Oxford alone, there are talks and exhibitions celebrating the anniversary of the discovery, and I was lucky enough to assist the Egyptology subject librarian, Susanne Woodhouse, with a book display in the Sackler.
As the Sackler houses a large collection of Egyptology books, there is naturally a plethora of resources related to Tutankhamun. Fortunately for me, Susanne had already decided which books should be featured in the display, focusing on four clear categories: the excavation of the tomb; Tutankhamun and the British Museum; Tutankhamun and Oxford (Howard Carter’s excavation archive was moved to the Griffith Institute, housed within the Sackler by his niece, Phyllis Walker after his death (The Griffith Institute, 2022b)); and Tutankhamun’s place in history. All that was left for me to do was track down the required titles (with a little help from the incredible interactive floorplan of the Sackler) and create a mock-up of the display to make sure it was aesthetically pleasing but with enough structural integrity to prevent collapse if readers wanted a closer look at some of the items, before setting up the final display on the ground floor. As well as the books and journals, we also added some flyers for the exhibition on Tutankhamun at the Weston Library and used a reproduction of one of the painted sides of a box found in the tomb to create a visually striking display (Davis and Gardiner, 1962).
As someone working in the library sector, I particularly enjoyed learning how objects from the tomb were handled- Carter had no formal archaeology training, but working with a small team, managed to carefully catalogue, transport and protect over 5000 items (López and Healy, 2022).
Tutankhamun has captivated people around the world for one hundred years- from cigarette cards and hieroglyphic wallpaper in the 1920s (Masters, 2014/ Riggs, 2019) to today’s increase in Egyptian-led excavations in and around the Valley of the Kings. And with the new 889-million-pound home for the objects found in Tutankhamun’s tomb (The Grand Egyptian Museum) hopefully opening in 2023 (Mueller, 2022), Tutankhamun’s popularity shows no sign of waning.
Although we may never know the full truth about Tutankhamun’s short life and unexpected death, the tomb and its contents still have secrets to share. Professor Yehia Gad, a geneticist and expert in the field of DNA analysis of ancient mummies, is currently studying samples from Tutankhamun with the hope of shedding some light on his family history and potential hereditary conditions (Mueller, 2022).
It’s clear that although Tutankhamun may be long gone, his legacy continues to inspire- who knows what the next 100 years will uncover?
Tutankhamun: Excavating the Archive is a free exhibition at the Weston Library (in collaboration with The Griffith Institute) running until the 5th of February 2023. More information can be found here.
[NB the Sackler Library has now been renamed to the Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library]
The finished book display at the Sackler Library
Carter, H. (1972) The tomb of Tutankhamen. [Abridged]. London: Sphere. CHAPTER 5, p.31
Davies, N.M. and Gardiner, A.H. (1962) Tutankhamun’s painted box : reproduced in colour from the original in the Cairo Museum. Oxford: Griffith Institute.
López, A.L. and Healy, P. (2022) Filled with riches- and meaning. Washington: National Geographic. November 2022, pp.74-75
Riggs, C. (2019) Photographing Tutankhamun : archaeology, ancient Egypt, and the archive. London: Bloomsbury Visual Arts (Photography, history: history, photography).
My name is Jenna, and I’m the new graduate trainee at the Sackler Library, which houses several collections including archaeology, art and architecture, and Egyptology. Opening in 2001, it has a more contemporary design in comparison to many of the other libraries in Oxford, but many of its features are inspired by the Classical origins of some of the collections housed there.
After graduating with a BSc in Psychology in 2021, I worked in Switzerland for 6 months in order to improve my German and consider my next steps career-wise. A visit to the stunning Stiftsbibliothek in St. Gallen inspired me to consider a career in libraries, and I began my application for the graduate scheme not long afterwards.
I did gain some experience working in a school library after I returned from Switzerland, and although a little familiarity with library management systems was helpful when starting my current role, a lot of the skills required can be gained through other experience such as retail or office work. I didn’t have any library experience when I submitted my application, so it is definitely not a requirement when applying to the scheme.
I am really enjoying getting involved in all of the different tasks that go on behind the scenes at the Sackler, from unpacking the daily deliveries from the BSF to tracking down obscure journals in some of our special collections. I’m excited to build on my knowledge of academic libraries and see where this year takes me!
[NB the Sackler Library has now been renamed to the Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library]
The Sackler Library is a five-floor tall hub for multiple humanities subjects: archaeology and the ancient world, art and architectural history. It is also known as one of the principal research libraries within the Bodleian family. In other words, if you work here, there is always something to do!
Trainee life is incredibly varied – I attend weekly training sessions with my cohort, swap libraries with my fellow Taylorian counterpart, or work on my project with the library’s former Art & Architecture Librarian. However, for this ‘Day in the Life’, I will be documenting a more typical day at the library and the important tasks that keep it functioning.
8:45 – Arrival
I arrive at the Sackler Library after – very thankfully – a walk through Oxford in the sunshine! On my way in, I’ll check our book display table and make sure everything is neat and presentable. Once I’ve settled down at my desk, I will sign in on teams and check any emails which have come through. Generally, I will set some rough objectives for the day, and plan how to fit these in alongside my duties. Sometimes I’ll check in with my colleagues, which is the best way to start the day.
9:00 – Book processing and classifying
I first decide to look over some “problem books” set aside by my colleagues during processing. This normally means there is an issue with their ALEPH record (ALEPH is the library’s current cataloguing system: it contains information about the book’s contents and how it might be stored in a library). For example, occasionally these books will be missing a shelfmark, be allocated to an incorrect floor, or the physical book will be labelled differently to its online record.
At the Sackler, we have a range of shelfmarks; there are several in-house systems, as well as the more common Library of Congress Classification which marks most of our Art & Architecture books. Given this mix, it’s very important to double check books when they arrive here. Today I was looking at books with incorrect shelfmarks.
A taster of some of the current shelfmarks held in the Sackler Library (March 2022)
One fun thing about being the Sackler trainee is that I also get to work once a week at the Nizami Ganjavi Library (NGL), just down the road from the Sackler. Here, we’ve been working on a big reclassification project. My supervisor there has been kind enough to teach me how to either find, or manually work out, Library of Congress shelfmarks. This is something which – after six months of library work – brings me a lot of satisfaction and joy. It’s a bit like learning a new language or understanding a code. This means I can identify LCC shelfmarks, and add them to our Sackler books when they are missing!
Once I had updated the records on ALEPH to have the correct shelfmark, I then print new labels and write the new code inside. Some of the books are reader requests, so I’ll get in touch and let them know that they are ready for their consultation. The others are placed on a shelf, ready to go on our New Book Display every Monday. Here, readers can explore new titles in the Library, which they may not otherwise think of consulting.
Our New Book Display for Art and Architecture books
9:30 – Lapse list
Next, I move on to the lapse list. These are BSF (offsite book storage facility) books with expired loans, so they need scanning through ALEPH (which also, handily, is our circulation system) and packed up in crates. The Sackler Library gets a lot of books from the BSF, probably because of the library’s size and how central it is. Often I’ll listen to a podcast whilst I work through this.
10:00 – Morning break
Break time! This morning I pop to the staff room and make a coffee. For me, its really important to take a break from my desk to give my mind space to focus on something different.
10:20 – Post
Donations sent through the post, with a donations flag at the top
One of my trainee duties is looking at the library’s post. We get a range of things sent to us, from journals to donated books. Today I look at my favourite part, our donations: for example, books sent to us from Art Galleries which might be added to our collections.
Once I have unboxed them, I check if books are held at either the Sackler or Bodleian library, or we have a legal deposit copy. This can take some time as I often need to translate titles to get more information – and it’s easy to get engrossed looking at some of the art books’ beautiful images! Once I’ve looked at whether there are other copies of the book, I fill out a ‘donations flag’. These books then need to go to the relevant subject librarian, who will decide what to do with them next.
11:15 – Long office
Once I have filled out all the donation information, I take the post upstairs to the Sackler’s ‘long office’. This is where the subject librarian shelves are held. With the help of our little ladder (indeed, working in libraries is a fast cure for any fear of heights you might have), I place the books accordingly, and then pick up more post on my way down to look at over the next few days.
11:30 – Problem-solving
Once I have returned to my office desk, I meet with our senior library assistant to discuss what to do with donations which are less relevant to the Sackler’s subject areas. I email relevant libraries which the books may be of interest to, and write out a rough plan for the rest of the afternoon.
Another donation from the post
12:00 – Lunch
For lunch, I always go outside to stretch my legs. The Sackler is in the centre of Oxford, so I am never without beautiful walks and things to see. Sometimes, I’ll meet my friends for coffee – Saint Michael’s Street down the road is home to some of the best cafés, which is a bonus of the Sackler’s location!
New journals at the Sackler Library
13:00 – Journals
Whilst I wait for the afternoon’s delivery, I process new journals. As I mentioned, the Sackler holds a variety of subjects. This means we hold a lot of journals, which each need checking when they arrive. Like the books, I check ALEPH records , label those which are confined, and write the shelfmark on our special journal stickers.
Delivery crates from the Book Storage Facility (BSF)
13:30- BSF Delivery
The delivery arrives, stacked five crates high. This contains books from the Bodleian’s offsite storage facility, which readers can order to consult within the Sackler Library. Each book needs to be scanned through, and given a flag with the conditions of the loan on them. Given the size of the day’s delivery (a few inches shorter than your average library assistant), this takes some time. I pop on another podcast to have on in the background, and get to work. Once the books are scanned in, they go on our ‘self collect shelves’ for readers to find.
After this, I tidy up the workroom arrange new books to be processed for the following day.
14:40 – Afternoon break
Coffee time again before my desk shift for the rest of the day.
15:00 – Desk duty
At the Sackler Library issue desk, we circulate books and answer reader enquiries. Sometimes readers struggle to find books, have questions about their hold requests, or need their Bod card registering. For the first, I am always happy to help; the Sackler reading rooms are circular, which makes it trickier to navigate if you don’t know the library well. It definitely took me several weeks to get used to the set-up!
The Issue Desk is quieter at present, given that many readers have left Oxford for Easter break. I use my time to research books for future displays, create graphics for the Trainee twitter account, or process more journals. I like working on desk as it mixes tasks with reader interaction, providing a steady flow of library work for remaining afternoon.
The current Ukraine display at the Sackler Library which I have been working on
5:00 – End of the day
Home time! I hand over the desk to the evening team and head out. Springtime is upon us, and walking through Oxford in the setting sun is the best way to unwind from work.
[NB the Sackler Library has now been renamed to the Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library]
With the holidays fast approaching, decorations have started to appear in the Libraries and a festive spirit is in the air. For some of our Graduate Library Trainees, it has been the perfect opportunity to reflect on the year so far, and talk about some of the highlights of their role.
Heather Barr, St Edmund Hall
We brought Christmas to St Edmund Hall’s Old Library this year with a display of books and archive materials with fun festive facts and college celebrations throughout the years. Our display includes beautiful wintery paintings, including one of Teddy Hall’s Front Quad in Snow (1966), given to Principal Kelly by the artist, Alexandra Troubetzkoy (see right). Our Old Library is home to the first scientific publication to interrogate the shape of snowflakes (see left): Johannes Kepler’s C. Maiest. mathematici strena seu De niue sexangula (1611) (SEH Shelfmark 4° G 18(6)).
Keplerconjectures that they must be formed as such to optimise their tessellation, like a honeycomb. Or, perhaps there is some quality in the water that causes them to freeze in their signature hexagonal shape? Most importantly, he identifies a link between the shape of snowflakes and other crystalline formations in rocks.
And, of course, it wouldn’t be Christmas without some cards! We showcased Christmas cards from the Archives, collected and saved by Principal Emden during the Second World War (see right). These cards were sent from all over the world,including from H.M.S. Satellite, a naval ship in the middle of the ocean. Some have rather topical designs, such as a bull charging Hitler, or the three wise men being guided by a shining Intelligence Corps crest! Today, these cards serve a positive reminder that even in the midst of worldwide suffering and disaster, small messages of hope and love can go a long way.
Izzie Salter, Sackler Library
As term draws to a close, the Sackler Library has become quieter and quieter. Between issuing books on the main desk, my colleague and I have donned it with decorations. Crafted out of library paraphernalia – who knew archival tying tape could be so versatile – I hope this has brought some cheer to our more loyal readers, staying here until closure. To those based locally to the Sackler, do walk past the Ashmolean one evening. It looks beautiful this time of year.
My first term as a trainee has been wonderfully varied. I have been so fortunate to work on some amazing projects at the library, as well as spending time learning alongside my fellow trainees. A few highlights of this term include presenting Japanese photography books (which I have researched regularly over the past 3 months) at the History of Art Show and Tell, working with the trainees to produce Black History reading recommendations, and learning about conservation and special collections at the Weston Library. I can’t wait to see what the new year brings, after a restful Christmas break.
[NB the Sackler Library has now been renamed to the Art, Archaeology and Ancient World Library]
Jemima Bennett, New College Library
New College Library Christmas started particularly early, even by Oxford standards, as by mid-November we had begun to put together a Christmas exhibition, and our Twitter advent calendar, choosing items and writing captions. I have also spent several very enjoyable afternoons wrapping books for our Surprise Christmas Loan scheme, as well as decorating our Christmas tree, and helping create an iconic book sculpture (pictured here). This term has been a blast – a wide-ranging and really relevant set of training sessions, an excellent trainee cohort, and being able to work with such beautiful manuscripts are definitely some highlights.
Lucy Davies, Social Science Library
At the SSL, we got into the Christmas mood by celebratingChristmas Jumper Day.Wearing our best festive jumpers (and masks!), we raised £142 for Save the Children. A highlight of this term has been the training sessions every week and gaining an insight into all the different jobs within the Bodleian Libraries. I especially loved the trip to the Conservation Studio at the Weston Library! I also really enjoy seeing the variety of books that arrive from the BSF every day and talking to readers about their research.
Georgie Moore, St John’s College Library
If you are following any Libraries, Museums, or Archives on Twitter, you’ll probably have noticed the annual December deluge of Christmassy content.
Outside of term time, I’m responsible for scheduling one Tweet a week, so I have been prowling our catalogue for festive material. Drafting a Tweet was part of the application process for this Trainee position, but even still I didn’t realise quite how much thought goes into maintaining a consistent tone and diversity of content.
Credit: Georgie Moore
Here are three of the tweet ideas that didn’t make the cut in December (and why not):
1. A Christmas Carol is a festive favourite for many, but Charles Dickens also contributed other seasonal stories to volumes like Mugby Junction: the extra Christmas number of All the year round (Vet.Engl.76). The small font and lack of illustrations aren’t very eye-catching for a Twitter photograph, but these advertisements provide a wintery window into Victorian buying habits: juvenile gift books, patented pickles and miniature billiards. (see left)
Credit: Dominic Hewett
2. ‘The Exaltation of Christmas Pye’ – this might be cheating, but the only reason I haven’t shared this is because I didn’t find it! There are some highly quotable moments in this 17th-century mock-sermon (HB4/3.a.5.8(23)) such as when the author elevates the invention of
Christmas plum pies to the same level as ‘Guns and Printing’.
Credit: Georgie Moore
3. The Psalter (MS 82) includes some beautiful medieval illustrations. I’d wanted to caption this ‘When the waiter brings the final bill to the table after the work Christmas do’ but given the cancellation of so many Christmas parties this festive season, that felt like rubbing salt in the wound. (see left)
Josie Fairley Keast, Bodleian Law Library
Although I enjoy handling books as much as the next librarian, a surprising highlight for mehas been working with various forms of online resource provision.(This is perhaps less surprising to anyone who has had to listen to me talk about scanning recently).Fromtracking down resources for reading lists and LibGuides to navigating copyright restrictionsandexploring the UK Web Archive,I’ve really enjoyed my traineeship so far, and I’mlooking forward to getting more involved with certain areas in the new year.During a recentweekend shift, I was entrusted with decorating the LawBod Christmas tree – picturedis our resident angel,which I’m told was handmade by a previous trainee.
Sophie Lay, English Faculty Library
J. R. R. Tolkien and Nevill Coghill have donned now their gay apparel – the former in a classic Santa hat and the latter in a crown of golden holly tinsel – and the festive season has fully hit the English Faculty Library. As Graduate Trainee, it’s my job to decorate the library with the aforementioned festive headgear, as well as paper chains, miniature Christmas trees, and seasonal rubber ducks to join our regular desk companion, Bill Shakespeare.
The end of term has also left a little more time for reflection on the past few months. I’d be delighted to share with you just one of the parts of my job that I’ve enjoyed the most since starting here at Bodleian Libraries. Not to be incredibly corny, but interactions with readers really do add a delightful element to your average desk-shift. From friendly and familiar faces to unexpected compliments to charming lost-and-found items (including returning a child’s hand-written note which read ‘momy I luv yoo’), there is so much joy to be had in interacting with readers.
I’ll leave you off with a final festive treat. I’ve done some digging through the rare book room and have uncovered a little treasure. While it’s not the genuine article, we do have a delightful facsimile of Dicken’s original manuscript for A Christmas Carol, in his own handwriting and with his own edits – including his signature looping and cross-hatching. Just holding it makes me feel more festive!
Emily Main, History Faculty Library
The end of term was definitely noticeable in the library as students started heading home for their holidays. However, the arrival of Warner Brothers and the closure of the Upper Camera for filming has made for an interesting end before the Christmas closure. As well as being dazzled by extremely bright lights when sitting at reception and dodging crowds of fans, we’ve had to implement a book fetching service for books in the Upper Camera and trundle our BSF book crates on a circuitous route through the Old Bod and Gladstone Link! I have loved getting to know the trainees and the team here and enjoyed the variety of my role. A highlight of the role for me has been answering enquiries of readers that require me to dive into a search and investigate their question, for example, in helping them to locate primary resources.
Ben Elliott, Pembroke College Library
Christmas is here, and it is time to reflect. This term has flown by, but it’s been a good one. Pembroke’s library consists of the librarian, me and the archivist and because it is a small team it has meant my traineeship has been distinctly unique and varied. For instance, I have delivered a library induction to visiting fellows from Pembroke’s ‘The Changing Character of War Centre’ which involved talking to a room of senior military officers and a UN advisor… definitely not daunting at all! As well, I have met some truly fascinating and brilliantly eccentric individuals along the way, some even coming as far as from Utah.
It’s been particularly fun getting acquainted with Pembroke’s special collections, rare books and art collection and sharing them with students through object sessions and talks… especially when a talk discusses a naturalist’s book in our collection which attempts to convince readers that the platypus is, in fact, a real animal despite it looking odd!
Working with the college art has been brilliant. Inspecting the conditions of the college oil paintings with a freelance art conservator and the college archivist was a highlight. Staring at a painting of a 19th-century fellow whilst listening to ghost stories of said fellow is a moment I never expected in this job, but an enjoyable surprise, nonetheless.
Juliet Brown, Old Bodleian Library
As the year draws to a close, it is nice to see everyone getting excited about the holiday season. The decorations have gone up in the Bod, and it wouldn’t be Christmas without the Old School Quadrangle Christmas tree in pride of place.
As everyone gets ready to head home for the holidays, it is also a nice time to reflect on my first few months at the Old Bod, and the experiences that have shaped my role as the trainee in this incredible building. I have been very lucky to work within an incredibly supportive team, who put up with my constant questions and have made me feel at home in my new role. As the Old Bod trainee, I have been very fortunate in having an extremely varied working schedule. From duties in reader services (answering enquiries, issuing and returning books, leading tours, shelving, assisting with book deliveries, completing book scans), through to the more technical aspects of the role (helping with interlibrary loans, book processing, preparing books for repair, relabelling), my role has allowed me to complete an extremely diverse range of tasks. In addition, my manager has been keen for me to take on my own responsibilities, which have included designing new posters for the Lower Gladstone Link, creating instructional sheets for the evening team and rehoming a cupboard of abandoned books.
A highlight of the traineeship is the opportunity to take part in sessions designed to expand our knowledge about the various areas that make up librarianship. We have learnt about the technical skills needed for cataloguing, the complex world of Open Access, the importance of social media skills, and discovered the digital tools available to students and researchers at the University. In addition, the traineeship has allowed us to visit the Weston (for an insight into the role of the conservation team and special collections) and even spent an afternoon at the BSF.
I can’t wait to see what the New Year brings, both in terms of training and with my role, after a very restful break at home with my family, dog and lots of good food.
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