Holidays are coming, holidays are coming….

Posted on 10 December 2025 by kharris

Before you go

As we move past the end of the teaching term, thoughts start to turn to the holidays or, as we know many of you like to call it, working from home!

The RSL is now open in line with the vacation timetable until Sunday 18th January, this includes a Christmas break between the 24th December & 1st January (inclusive) where the library will be closed.

Books borrowed during this period are taken on extended terms and will be due for return or renewal the first week of Hilary Term (exclusions may apply).

Help & assistance

Reader Services remain available to support you either in person or virtually throughout the holiday season when the library is open. The desks will be staffed as usual and, whether you are physically in the library or now working remotely, you can address any queries via e-mail enquiries.rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk or use the Live Chat function between 9am – 5pm on weekdays.

Accessing library services from home

Gone are the days when being unable to visit the library meant that you could not access the library….. Using your Oxford University Single Sign On (SSO) you are able to access a huge variety of resources from the RSL at home (or indeed wherever you may find yourself this holiday season).

Solo

Search for the books that you need and apply filters to access those titles that are available online, wherever you are.

Screenshot of a search in the SOLO system. It features a festive Santa Claus query in the search bar and three listings for books. Each has a flag highlighting that they are available online

ORLO

Oxford Reading Lists Online (ORLO) brings together almost 200 reading lists and can be accessed and searched at anytime using your SSO.

E-Journals

You can access E-Journals through SOLO and Browzine. Browzine provides access to all journals licenced by Oxford University from 2005 onwards

Screenshot of the Browzine search facility. On the left of the screen is an alphabetical list of subjects starting with Arts and humanities. The Central image is a collage of magazine covers illustrating the large collection of journals all stored in one place.

Databases

Databases are also accessible through SOLO. You can filter your resources to Databases in your search or use the Database A-Z function on the home page. Overall there are almost 2000 Databases available including our recently publicised new resources – the Global Health Archive and the Science of Synthesis.

Subject & Research guides

Like a dog, Subject & Research guides are not just for Christmas (!) but this a handy time to remind people of these resources at your disposal. The A-Z Subject guides provide a summary of the tools to support your work in each area including details of key journals and Databases.

Guidance for researchers provides insights on services, materials and tools for researchers in all disciplines.

We hope that you all have a fantastic holiday and wish you and all of your families the very best for a happy and prosperous 2026.

A cat and two dogs sat in front of a Christmas tree wearing festive headgear

Chocca block with happy readers

Posted on 25 November 2025 by kharris

New traditions

Over the last two weeks we hosted the latest events from our Wellbeing Calendar, providing free hot chocolate to any member of the University community who dropped in during the sessions held on the mornings of Thursday 13th and Tuesday 18th November.

As we approach the end of term, and deadlines loom, we know it can seem even more difficult to take the breaks you should so we thought there was no better time to offer an incentive to enjoy a sweet, warming treat on us.

Free Hot Chocolate at the RSL is rapidly becoming amongst the most looked forward to dates in our Wellbeing Calendar and we are well on the way to establishing them as a real winter tradition of our own, almost two years after the inaugural event.

New Records!

Back in 2024, we served almost 90 hot chocolates to grateful readers as part of our Wellbeing week. In 2025 we doubled that filling and giving out almost 200 warming cups over the two days as over 60 people visited us on the 13th November and a whopping 120 waited patiently for their turn between 10.00 & 11.30am on Tuesday 18th. That’s something like 50 litres of hot chocolate (and a whole lot of marshmallows) going out at an average rate quicker than a cup a minute to some very happy students. The efforts of the RSL team were much appreciated by the readers. They made sure that everyone was served promptly but never forgetting that the perfect hot chocolate is always properly stirred (not shaken!)

Some took the opportunity to take five and relax with friends whilst for others it was pour into the takeaway cup, on with the lid and straight out back to work (with that extra warm spring in their step).

Four female students smile with their hot chocolate

A close up shot of a cup of hot chocolate. The cup is full of small marshmallows floating in the top

Old Friends and New…..

The best part of any event is knowing that the people who took the time out to visit enjoyed it. We met everyone from RSL Wellbeing Room regulars to the casual library users. Everyone had a big smile on their face but hey, chocolate and marshmallows are supposed to do that to a person!

For a couple of undergraduates, it was a first ever visit to our library having been rounded up by an RSL regular who had insisted that the provision of free hot chocolate must dictate study location on the groupchat the night before

We received some fantastic feedback including a first time visitor who said that the Wellbeing space was wonderful (and so was the chocolate). A frequent reader noted that the evolving nature of the Wellbeing Room and the different things we are able to offer had them coming back “…to see what great stuff you have added next.” Another commented that they thought the free chocolate was such a lovely idea, thanked the team and said they thought that the “… RSL is the only library doing nice things like this”.

New Chocolate dates, New Events & New ideas

The value of taking regular breaks should never be underestimated so remember that outside of the events calendar, the Wellbeing Room is available to everyone, every day from 2pm – 5pm.

Don’t be blue if you missed out on the free hot chocolate this time, we’ll be back with more dates in the Hilary term. Keep an eye on the events calendar on the RSL website for this and other activities you can be a part of. Enjoy a break and aid your studies by taking the time to look after your own wellbeing.

If you have any ideas for events (or items) that you think would enhance the offering of the RSL Wellbeing Room then why not drop us a line to rsl-wellbeing@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

A group of student women sit on a corner sofa enjoying their hot chocolate. Another student is writing on the desk. Only his arm is in shot

Two smiling female students stand wrapped up ready to go out into the cold with their take away hot chocolate. There is a snowy plastic fir tree in the background behind them

Wellbeing at the Radcliffe Science Library

Posted on 8 October 2025 by kharris

As we start a new term, we wanted to take the opportunity to let both new undergraduates and returning readers know about the facilities and events here at the library to support your personal wellbeing. Making the time to take a break will allow you to be more rested, energised, and prepared for your everyday challenges.

RSL Wellbeing Room

The Wellbeing Room is located on the lower ground floor of the library and can be accessed using your library card. The room is spacious, calm and full of diversions to help clear the mind of ever growing to-do lists. From jigsaws and board games to bean bags and soft toys, there’s something for pretty much everyone who just wants to enjoy that bit of quiet time. We have a selection of wellbeing books, which are available to borrow, and the room itself can be booked by e-mailing rsl-wellbeing@bodleian.ox.ac.uk. The Wellbeing Room is kept free for drop in visitors every weekday from 2-5pm so you can be sure that, in the event of a stressful morning, there is always some respite available in the sanctuary of this space.

Photograph. A wide shot of the interior of the Wellbeing Room. It shows shelving full of books and games with a large screen in the centre. There are comfy armchairs and potted plants in the foreground

Photograph of a colouring book and a set of coloured pencils on a table top. One page of the book is completed and coloured in, the other just the unused outline

The regular building blocks of wellbeing…

As well as the daily drop in slot, the library offers a series of regular events to get your creative juices flowing and help sooth body and mind. Every Wednesday we host a double header, starting with free tea & coffee available from 10am-12 noon in the vending area. After a caffeine hit, remind yourself that everything is awesome with Lego Lunch from 1-2pm in the Wellbeing Room. There are various sets to choose from – will you follow instructions or simply freeform your way to master builder status? No bookings are required for either of these weekly sessions.

Need to slow the pace and chill with like minded others? On the 1st Tuesday of every month the Wellbeing Room hosts ‘Craft & Chat’ where you can wax lyrical about wool or let off some steam with a good old chunter as you crochet. You can book these sessions through our Wellbeing calendar here.

Things get on top of all of us from time to time and we are here to help you shed those nagging woes as the Wellbeing Room houses the RSL Worry Box. Pour in your concerns, big or small, throughout the course of term and we’ll get together for an extremely cathartic shredding event at year end.

Photograph of a Peacock made out of Lego. The colourful Lego feathers are on full display

Image features a desk top post box. Red in colour featuring the words 'Worry Box' above the letter slot. A female had is posing a piece of paper into the box

Can we interest you in one of our specials?

Keep a regular eye on the Wellbeing calendar as additional events are added throughout the year. Highlights this term include a warming winter treat where we’ll be dishing out free Hot Chocolate and a Mindfulness session with Susan Hargreaves (helping us with the tools to gather scattered thoughts and train our attention). Registration for these special events will open a few weeks prior to the date of the activity.

Stylised image of a blue and white mug in the snow. Steam is coming off the brown liquid and a caption reads 'Get a warm hug in a mug'

Suggestions

What’s missing? The current offering in the Wellbeing Room was developed through the feedback of library users and it will be you that helps us with the next steps. There is a whiteboard in the Wellbeing Room where you can jot down anything that occurs to you or use the rsl-wellbeing e-mail to share your thoughts on the facilities themselves or any ideas for potential new events.

Wider wellbeing

The commitment to supporting you and your wellbeing extends beyond the RSL, throughout the Bodleian libraries estate and across the wider University. Find details of what the Bodleian has to offer and explore the University of Oxford student Welfare & Wellbeing hub.

Focus Fix: Pomodoro Sessions for Science Researchers

Posted on 16 June 2025 by rachelscanlon

Photograph of woman staring at a laptop looking stressed biting down on a pecil so that it is out either side of her mouth.

Do you find it hard to focus on your thesis writing without interruptions? Procrastinating over finishing a conference poster? Never enough time to read that new paper? If you’re having issues like these a library pomodoro session might be just the thing for you!

What is a pomodoro session?

A pomodoro session is a study technique that aims to create protected, distraction free time for you to work. Many people find maintaining focus on a task for more than 25 – 30 minutes at a time challenging. In a pomodoro session, work is broken into 25-minute chunks, separated by 5-minute breaks. These 5-minute breaks allow your concentration to ‘reset’ meaning you can be more focused and productive across the session. Pomodoro sessions usually last between 2 – 3 hours.

Why is it called ‘Pomodoro’?

Photograph of a tomato shaped timer — Il pomodoro by Francesco Cirillo via Wikicommons CC BY-SA 3.0

The original creator of the pomodoro technique was Francesco Cirillo. He used a mechanical, tomato shaped kitchen timer. ‘Pomodoro’ is the Italian word for ‘tomato’.

Why do a pomodoro session at the library?

Photograph of several students in the RSL reading room. — Photograph by John Cairns.

All you need for a pomodoro session on your own is a quiet space and a timer. However, when doing pomodoro on your own, you can be more susceptible to distractions or not following the timings. In a library pomodoro, you will be working in a quiet group study area with other people. A librarian will run the session and manage the timing. Working around other people may help you stay motivated and focused. At the end of the library session, there is an opportunity for you to socialise with colleagues over free tea and coffee.

Top tips for getting the most out of pomodoro

Set a goal – decide what you want to achieve at the session before you come. Make a to-do list if you have several tasks.
Kill distractions – no phones, no e-mail or social media notifications and switch devices to ‘Do not disturb’ and silent mode.
Review – at the end of the pomodoro take a few minutes to review what you’ve achieved and update your to-do list.

You’ll find further tips on our guides: Getting the most out of a pomodoro and a Pomodoro etiquette.

Getting_the_most_out_of_a_pomodoro_session Download

Pomodoro_Etiquette_Guide Download

Where can I find more information about the Pomodoro technique?

YouTube Video from the Open University on the Pomodoro technique
Background information with further literature links from Derby University
Book ‘Pomodoro Technique Illustrated’ / Francesco Cirillo

Can I come to a pomodoro session at the library?

We are offering Pomodoro sessions in the first week of each month from July to December. You can book online using the link below. Booking opens 6 weeks before the date of each session. We offer a choice of 2 or 3-hour sessions.

Book a pomodoro study session space

Library events at the MPLS Mental Health Awareness Week 2025

Posted on 22 May 2025 by rachelscanlon

The theme for this year’s MPLS Mental Health Awareness Week (MHAW) was community and to reach out and help our community the Radcliffe Science Library hosted 6 different events during 3rd week if term (12-16 May).

This was our first year helping to support this great event organised by the MPLS division but our events seemed popular and we had over 75 attendees at a range of events throughout the week. It was great to see the mixture of staff and students attending, many who were coming to the Radcliffe Science Library for the first time. Two events were particular highlights.

A Blooming Good Time

Our colleague Rodger Caseby from the of the Oxford Botanic Gardenns and Arboretum led an energising planting session. Attendees planted plugs, very young plants, into small post that they could take home with them. Many enjoyed getting to feel real dirt on their hands and the compost we used was created in part from the worries we shred in Michaelmas Term. See or previous blog for more on our worry box. It was great to be able to work with the wider GLAM community to support our readers.

Photograph of young woman smiling and holding two small plants.

Photograph of of small pieces of shredded paper on a pile of soil and compost.

Photograph of a woman smiling and holding up a plant with the worry box in the background.

Blind Date with a Book

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover can apply to books and dating so we made it easy for our attendees by covering the books. Wrapped in paper each book had a brief bio on the cover to entice readers to select them. The books chosen for the blind dates were selected form our Wellbeing and Curiosity Collections. Our attendees were allowed to select up to two books and several wished there were more! One participant said “I’ve never been to anything like this, it was so fun”.

Woman smiling and holding a book wrapped in wrapping paper

Photograph of a book display of books wrapped in wrapping paper below a banner stating Blind Date with a Book.

Woman smiling and holding a book with a cat on the cover.

More Wellbeing

We have further wellbeing activities this term including regular items like our Lego Lunch and an ice cream event! Check out our Wellbeing Calendar to see more RSL events or the Bodleian Libraries Wellbeing page. If you’d like to collaborate with the Radcliffe Science Library on a Wellbeing event then please get in touch rsl-wellbeing@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Wellbeing in the RSL over Trinity Term

Posted on 7 May 2025 by rachelscanlon

We Trinity term can be particularly stressful with exams and projects due. Even so, taking a break is important for your mental health and overall wellbeing. To help with this the Radcliffe Science Library has a range of activities available for students as part of our Wellbeing Programme. Below we’ve listed some of our upcoming

Yoga for students

Take a break from the hustle and bustle of student life and treat yourself to some well-deserved self-care. Our expert instructor Hinny Wass will lead you through an energising and stress relieving yoga session suitable for beginners.

Friday 9 May or Tuesday 20 May

Book your place on our calendar.

Photograph of three women in a row performing a yoga pose. They are facing away from the camera.

Mental Health Awareness Week

The Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) is working with the MPLS division to help support Mental Health Awareness Week 2025 (Week 3 Trinity Term, 12—16 May). There are a range of great events taking place in the RSL including: A Blooming Good Time, our planting event, and Blind Date with a Book. All members of the University of Oxford are welcome to book on events.

Find booking and information on the MPLS website.

Photograph of two young women putting young plants in pots and smiling.

Free Ice Cream

Whether you’ve finished your exams or are still studying hard, you deserve a break! Pop in to the Radcliffe Science Library and pick up a free ice-cream on us. There are vegan and gluten free options, so something to please nearly everyone.

We’ll serve 10am-12pm or until it is gone.

Photograph of three female unioversity students smiling and holding ice cream cones.

Regular events

We will continue to arrange our regular events including Lego Lunch, every Wednesday 1-2pm, Craft & Chat, 1^st Tuesday of the Month, free tea and coffee every Wednesday morning in term and making our Worry Box available all term. Check our Wellbeing Calendar for more.

Photograph of two male students with hot chocolate smiling.

Wellbeing Week in the Radcliffe Science Library

Posted on 24 February 2025 by rachelscanlon

Week 5 of Hillary Term is notorious for being a high stress time of year for students and staff. To help our community feel refreshed and rested, the Radcliffe Science Library prepared a range of activities across Week 5 of Hilary Term (17-21 February) as part of a Wellbeing Week.

Highlights from the week

Across the week we had over 230 participants at our events. That encompasses 88 hot chocolates drunk, 56 origami creations folded, countless inkings of 5 different lino print designs and biscuits. So many biscuits!

Collage of photographs of smiling young people some holding cups some holding bags and jeans with prints on them. At the centre is the text Radcliffe Science Library Wellbeing Week.

Craftiness and creativity were in abundance. Many beautiful paper creations were folded into being at our origami sessions and many people upcycled jeans, bags and t-shirts with lucky lino prints. Elizabeth McIntosh, RSL Library Assistant, designed 5 wonderful prints based on the Bodleian Libraries Oracles, Omens and Answers exhibition. Staff and students engaged the artistry and expression by arranging the prints to their own specifications.

Two young women smiling and holding cotton tote bags with lino printed designs.

Student holding up a pair of jeans with lucky you printed on them

A woman sitting at a table holding a stamp against a cotton tote bag

Across the library we have whiteboards asking for feedback. The people have made their voices clear. They asked for hot chocolate and we provided it. We can’t provide it every day, even once in a while is a “morale booster” acccording to one of our students.

Smiling female student holding cup in two hands

Female and male student smiling and holding paper cups.

Our nature walk on Thursday was a somewhat damp affair but it was amazing to see the signs of Spring bursting through in University Parks. Nature lovers can continue to boost their wellbeing at the Winter Wonders events in Oxford Botanic Gardens, every Tuesday until 18 March. After origami sessions, Lego Lunches and free coffee the week was closed out with a well attended mindfulness session on Friday.

Photograph of a park with high pine trees and green grass. At the centre is a tall grass like plant with red tips.

Photograph of two young women smiling and half hugging.

Photograph of a Lego peacock, dragon, dinosaur, small piano and tiny space shuttle.

Thanks to all the staff in the Radcliffe Science Library for facilitating and to our great session leaders for hosting such interesting and engaging sessions.

Future Wellbeing events

We have more events coming up this term and over the break, including Craft & Chat on 4 March and the shredding of the Worry Box on 11 March, so remember to check out our Wellbeing Calendar and take a little time for your wellbeing.

If you have any feedback or suggestions for wellbeing events reply here or email rsl-wellbeing@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

The Worry Box

Posted on 20 December 2024 by rachelscanlon

What is a worry box?

Photograph of the worry box. It resembles a small wooden post/mail box.

A worry box is a tool used to manage anxiety and stress by providing a place to “store” worries. The idea is to write down your worries, fears, or concerns on a piece of paper and place them inside the box, symbolically setting them aside. The activity helps people to release their worries and stresses. It can be helpful to know that the worry is gone and is aiding in the growth of something new.

Launching the worry box

Near the start of November we launched a worry box in the Wellbeing Room in the Radcliffe Science Library. Whilst eating some cake to celebrate the launch, students wrote down their worries and posted them in the worry box.

Throughout the term students and staff continued to add their worries to the box.

Two smiling female students posting worry in worry box.

Shredding the worries

In 8th week of Michaelmas Term we had a little ceremony to shred the worries. With more cake, tea and coffee, naturally.

We kept the the worries anonymous but had a lot of fun shredding them. Students gave some very positive feedback on the worry box.

This is great. I wrote a really long note and felt so much better once I posted it.
Student feedback

The shredding was then taken by Rodger Caseby from the team at the Oxford Botanic Gardens and Arboretum. The worries that people released during the term will become fertiliser helping plants in the Botanic Gardens grow. The paper chosen for the worries was specially selected to be be biodegradeable.

Rodger Caseby holding plastic bag. — Rodger bringing the shredding to the gardens.

Going forward

Photograph of hand posting worry in worry box .

Our worry box will be in the Wellbeing Room again in Hilary Term. Pop in and try releasing some of your worries.

We’ll have another shredding ceremony on Tuesday 11 March. Join us for some shredding, and more cake. More details are available in our Wellbeing Calendar.

Have a great break!

Posted on 19 December 2024 by rachelscanlon

Accessing resources from home

Term is finishing up and the break is fast approaching. We hope you have a restful and relaxing break – but if you need to get in a bit of work, we have plenty of tips on how to access the RSL and our resources.

Dog reading a book — Image from 2Photo Pots via Unsplash

While you’re away

While you’re away from Oxford, we have a wealth of online resources to enable you to continue your studies remotely.

You can access the full text of many resources via SOLO when logged in with your Single Sign-On (SSO) ID – look for the green Online access icon to find these.

If a book you need is not available as an ebook, then we may be able to purchase one – complete the book recommendation form to put in your request.

Oxford Reading Lists Online (ORLO) provides 24/7 access to reading lists from a range of devices via your Oxford Single Sign-On ID.

Ejournals

All e-journals can be found on SOLO and BrowZine. BrowZine provides access to journals licensed by the Bodleian Libraries from 2005 onwards.

Databases

All of Oxford’s databases are accessible via SOLO (filter by Databases under Resource Type) and also via Databases A-Z.

Check our Subject Guides for key subject-specific resources, including ebooks, ejournals, databases and other resources available online. We also have some great guides for researchers covering reference management, patents and tips on getting published.

Have a wonderful well earned break!

Borrow a laptop at the RSL

Posted on 14 November 2024 by rachelscanlon

We know most people have their own devices these days, but sometimes you forget your laptop, the battery is dead or it’s too heavy to lug all the way to the library.

We have you covered, just borrow one of the laptops we lend in the RSL.

Ask at the ground floor library desk and sign in with your Bodleian Libraries password. The same one you use for Bod Wifi and PCAS. Laptops can only be used in the Radcliffe Science Library.

Anyone who uses this laptop must comply with the Regulations Relating to the use of Information Technology Facilities (also known as the IT Regs or the IT Rules), just as you do using your own device.

Do you think this will be helpful? Let us know what you think.