Monthly Archives: March 2026

A woman sitting at a table in the Egrove Park Library using a laptop, with bookshelves filled with books behind her. A book and a smartphone are on the table nearby.

Beyond reading with the Bodleian Libraries

You might associate the Bodleian Libraries primarily with shelves of books. Beyond reading, the library also provides access to a rich range of films, TV, radio, recorded performances, audiobooks, and music. Some are available online, and some you can borrow from or use in the library.

At a glance, here are some of the key resources you can use to:

  • Stream films online: Kanopy  (Oxford SSO required)
  • Access on-demand TV & radio: Box of Broadcasts (Oxford SSO required)
  • Watch recorded Shakespeare performances: RSC Live Collection (Oxford SSO required)
  • Listen to audiobooks for skills & career development: O’Reilly Online Learning: Academic/Public Library Edition (Oxford SSO required)
  • Listen to free audiobooks: LibriVox via SOLO and 
  • Access accessible books and audio books: RNIB Bookshare (for eligible print disabled users)
  • Borrow and watch films on DVD & Blu-ray: The Humanities Library and Search in SOLO
  • Explore music on CD & LPs: Humanities Library with some items offsite at the Bodleian storage.

Films, videos, TV and recorded Plays 

Kanopy

Kanopy is a video-streaming platform with a diverse collection of over 30,000 enriching films, available to stream anytime and anywhere — from desktop to TV to tablet.

Great for:

  • Thought-provoking films and documentaries
  • World cinema and independent film
  • Viewing on phone, laptop, tablet, or smart TV

Box of Broadcasts

An on-demand TV and radio service for education. You can search an archive of over 2 million broadcasts, record programmes from over 65 free-to-air channels, and create playlists, clips and clip compilations. 

Great for: 

  • Catching up on programmes you missed 
  • Searching from the archive
  • Creating playlists and clips

RSC Live Collection (Royal Shakespeare Company Live)

If you’re a fan of Royal Shakespeare Company performances, this online collection is not to be missed. It offers access to 35 filmed productions staged since 2013, including Twelfth Night starring comedy icon Adrian Edmondson and A Midsummer Night’s Dream

Further information on audio and visual materials is listed on the Shakespeare subject guide. 

Films on DVD and Blu-ray

The new Humanities Library in the newly opened Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities holds an extensive collection of films on DVD and Blu-ray, focusing on American, British, and European cinema, as well as world cinema, including works from Latin America and Asia.

To search SOLO for DVDs and videos of specific titles, or titles by a specific director, go to Advanced Search, enter the title or director’s name, then limit Material Type to “Video/Film”.

You will need to bring your university card with you to the library. 


Audiobooks and recordings

O’Reilly Online Learning

O’Reilly’s on-demand digital library (formerly Safari Books Online) provides e-books, audio books, videos, interactive tutorials, and live online classes from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, covering a wide range of tech and business-related topics and skills. 

Oxford Single Sign-On (SSO) required for access

To search for videos or audio books related to a specific skill:

Select Explore Skills > Soft Skills > Personal Productivity

Filter by Formats: “Courses” and “Audiobooks

To search for videos and audiobooks from specific publishers (e.g., Harvard Business Review) during the last year, refresh the search, set the Formats filter to Videos and Audiobooks, set Publication date to Last year, and search “Harvard Business Review”.

LibriVox

LibriVox is a platform that provides access to audio versions of books in the public domain read by volunteers. These are closely aligned with the titles available in Project Gutenberg, including literary classics and fiction, mostly in English but also in other languages. The LibriVox  catalogue of 20,000 audio books is now available and searchable through SOLO. Titles can be searched individually in SOLO. If you would like to browse the list of titles, you can search for “LibriVox” and set “Material Type” to “Sound recordings”.

RNIB Bookshare

The Bodleian Libraries manage the University’s RNIB Bookshare account, providing free access to nearly 1 million accessible titles, including audiobooks, for students and staff with print disabilities. This includes those with visual impairments, specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and other conditions that make reading print difficult. 

If you would like more information, please contact disability.librarian@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Music

The Humanities Library has a large collection of CD and LP sound recordings. These primarily cover the Western classical tradition, but also include jazz, popular music, and world music, as well as an extensive opera collection. A selection of CDs is kept in the Multimedia Room, mostly arranged alphabetically by principal composer. Many CDs are now stored offsite and can be requested through SOLO. You can listen to CDs using the equipment in the Multimedia Room.  

LPs are stored offsite. They are not yet catalogued in SOLO. If you would like to explore the collection, please speak to library staff. 


We hope this look at the Bodleian’s wider collection has inspired you to watch or listen to some of the multitude of available items and resources. If you have questions or want to find out more, please do contact us or ask at the Enquiry Desk.

Sainsbury Library display featuring books about neurodiversity. On top of a wooden bookshelf are five upright books on clear stands, including titles such as Studying with Dyslexia, The Double Empathy Reader, Neurodiversity Celebration Week, How to Thrive with Adult ADHD, and The Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity. The display is set in a bright library space with round ceiling lights, tall concrete columns, bookshelves in the background, and study desks with people seated behind blue partitions. The lower shelves contain rows of academic textbooks.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026

From 16-20 March, the Sainsbury Library will be marking Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2026 with a book display in the Lower Reading Room. Focusing on self-help titles and practical skills to support academic development, the display complements the neurodiversity-related books in our Wellbeing Collection, located in the Annexe.

To further celebrate this week, two drop-in crafting sessions will be held in the Annexe, where participants can create bookmarks and fidget toys using paper collage, beads, and wool. These sessions will take place on Tuesday 17th March, 1-4pm, and Thursday 19th March, 1-4pm.

Summaries of the books in the display can be found below. All featured materials can be accessed via the links below (Oxford SSO required) or in person at our display in the Lower Reading Room:


Neurodiversity:
The Pocket Guide to Neurodiversity: “In this simple guide, expert speaker and trainer Daniel Aherne provides a clear introduction to neurodiversity and the four most common neurodivergent identities of autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia. Using an analogy of a cactus needing a desert to grow in, he emphasises the importance of getting the environment right for neurodivergent people, rather than expecting them to adapt to the neurotypical world.”

The Double Empathy Reader: Exploring Theory, Neurodivergent Lived Experience and Implications for Practice: “This comprehensive handbook explores Damian Milton’s ‘double empathy problem’: the breakdown in mutual understanding that can happen between any two people yet is more likely to occur when people of differing dispositions attempt to interact. It challenges the traditional view that, in exchanges between autistic and non-autistic people, this breakdown was simply the result of autistic people being inherently deficient in empathy.”

Do I Know You?: A Faceblind Reporter’s Journey into the Science of Sight, Memory, and Imagination:  “A lively blend of personal narrative and popular science, Do I Know You? is the story of one unusual mind’s attempt to understand itself – and a fascinating exploration of the remarkable breadth of human experience.”

Unmasking Leadership: Neurodivergent Leaders, Psychological Safety, and the Future of Inclusive Workplaces: “By the end of this book, you will have the language, frameworks, and confidence to design inclusive cultures, support neurodivergent teams, and lead in a way that does not cost you your wellbeing. You will understand how to unmask safely, set boundaries that support your energy, and lead from a place of honesty rather than performance. Most importantly, you will see that leadership can be more human, more sustainable, and more aligned with who you are.”

Spectrum of success: how embracing neurodiversity can revolutionize your business: “Through fascinating research and inspiring interviews with neurodiverse business leaders, mental health expert Thomas Duncan Bell uncovers how we can support and champion neurodiversity at work and beyond. Drawing upon his own experiences with ADHD and bipolar disorder, the book also offers an enlightening insight into how neurodiverse individuals can thrive in the modern world.”

Great minds think unalike : the benefits of ADHD, autism, dyslexia and OCD: “Whether you already have a diagnosis or simply feel you’re somewhere on the neuroatypical spectrum, one thing is certain: once you’ve identified your unique talents, you’ll be able to make more focused choices in your life and work. You’ll discover which jobs best showcase your talents, which colleagues complement your personality, and which environments and corporate cultures are right for you.”


Dyslexia:
Academic Writing and Dyslexia: A Visual Guide to Writing at University: “Fully revised and expanded, this book presents a unique visual approach to academic writing and composition tailored to the needs of students with dyslexia in Higher Education. It will help you to successfully structure and articulate your ideas, get to grips with critical reading, thinking and writing and fulfil your full academic potential.”

Studying with Dyslexia: “Full of practical advice and visual examples, this compact book provides learners with the tools and knowledge to work with their dyslexia. The book’s accessible layout and engaging style supports students with dyslexia and enables them to take control of their studies and learn in ways that are most effective for them.”


ADHD:
Is It My ADHD?: Navigating Life as a Neurodivergent Adult: “Darkly funny, relatable and unflinchingly honest, Is it My ADHD? gives irreverent and intersectional insight into what life is like for women living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.”

How to Thrive with Adult ADHD: 7 Pillars for Focus, Productivity and Balance: “As a leading adult ADHD psychiatrist, who himself has ADHD, Dr James Kustow passionately believes that the goal should not be to just ‘manage’ ADHD, but to thrive with it. This ground-breaking book will allow you to assess if and how the condition affects you, mapping your unique ‘ADHD signature’, before leading you through a seven-pillar plan of small but powerful habit changes.”


Autism:
University, the Autistic Guide: Everything You Need to Survive and Thrive: “Starting university is a daunting experience for any student, especially if this includes moving away from home for the first time. This helpful, informative and friendly handbook is a guide to starting university for autistic young people, covering the entire process from applying, packing and financial admin to mental health support, dealing with burnout, finding your people and experiencing new opportunities.”

Unmasking Autism: The Power of Embracing Our Hidden Neurodiversity: “Blending cutting-edge research, personal insights and practical exercises for self-expression, Dr Devon Price examines the phenomenon of ‘masking’, making a passionate argument for radical authenticity and non-conformity. A powerful call for change, Unmasking Autism gifts its readers with the tools to uncover their true selves and build a new society – one where everyone can thrive on their own terms.”


For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.

A book display in the library for International Women’s Day (8 March 2026). The books include Invisible Women by Caroline Criado Perez, The Woman President, Make Your Own Map by Kathryn Bishop, and Beyond Leaning In by Melanie Ho. A central sign reads “International Women’s Day 8th March 2026” with an image of two hands reaching toward each other. The background shows bookshelves, columns, and soft indoor lighting.

Celebrating International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day takes place on Sunday 8th March 2026. To celebrate, the Sainsbury Library is hosting two book displays – one at Park End Street and Egrove Park. The 2026 International Women’s Day theme is Give to Gain, encouraging contributions to women’s advancement and promoting a collaborative environment to discuss gender equality.

Further reading can be found both on the International Women’s Day website and on the library’s Women in Business LibGuide page.

All featured materials can be accessed via the links below (Oxford SSO required) or in person at our displays in the Lower Reading Room and Egrove Park site.


Sainsbury Library: 
Beyond Leaning In
The Woman President: Leadership, Law, and Legacy for Women Based on Experiences from South and Southeast Asia
Feminine Capital: Unlocking the Power of Women Entrepreneurs
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results
Make Your Own Map: Career Success Strategy for Women
Female Entrepreneurs
Mental Load

Egrove Park:
Coaching Women to Lead: Changing the World from the Inside
Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men
That’s What She Said: What Men (And Women) Need to Know About Working Together
Radical Candor: How to Get What You Want by Saying What You Mean
How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back
What Works: Gender Equality by Design
The Gifts of Imperfection
Women Don’t Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide
Shortchanged: Why Women Have Less Wealth and What Can Be Done About It
Make Work Fair: Data-Driven Design for Real Results
Women in Business: Navigating Career Success
The Promise That Changes Everything: I Won’t Interrupt You


For more resources, see our posts about other recent book displays.