Category Archives: RSL services

Wellbeing in the RSL over Trinity Term

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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, 1st 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

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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
Photograph of two male students with hot chocolate smiling.
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

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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.

Write out your worry
Put it in the shredder
Feel the relief

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!

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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.

SOLO database logo

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

ORLO-logo

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

BrowZine logo next to text Explore top scholarly journals

Databases

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

A-Z database screenshot

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!

Image by Tim Kirtley

Borrow a laptop at the RSL

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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.

Wellbeing Welcome Lunch

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The Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) hosted a marvellous networking lunch for staff who work in the area of Wellbeing from across the University on the 1st of October. The 49 attendees came from all corners of the University including all the divisions, the Students Union and GLAM. The RSL wellbeing lead, Rachel Scanlon, organised the event to meet with other colleagues working in the area of wellbeing, support and mental health for staff and students.

Photograph of three women smilling in a room with nature art and fairy lights.
While eating a tasty lunch colleagues chatted about their own wellbeing work. There were great discussions around what could improve staff wellbeing from book clubs to free food to nature walks. We were also able to highlight some of the great activities coming up in the Radcliffe Science Library all available on our Wellbeing Calendar. Many of our events are open to staff and students such as our upcoming Craft and Chat sessions, taking place on the first Tuesday of the month. Keep an eye on our calendar for upcoming events.

Two women sitting at a table smiling, with cups and plates in front of them.
Attendees were also impressed with our Wellbeing Room calling it “Just what we need”, “Welcoming” and “Really lovely”. We hope to build deeper relationships with our colleagues working in wellbeing, to learn from them and share our own experiences going forward.

Young asian woman smiling and holding a cup of coffee.

Find out more about our 3D printing services

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Whether you’re experienced in 3D model making or just want to try out 3D printing for the first time, why not try out the RSL3D printing service? This service is only available to members of Oxford University.

Gif of an object wrapped in gold foil in a clear plastic bag floating in the air. A hand reaches out and touches it and starts it spinning.

What is 3D printing?

3D printing enables a three-dimensional (3D) object to be created from a model, via computer control, most commonly by creating an object layer by layer and then fusing the layers together.

3D printing allows you to “print” a 3D object out of a variety of materials, such as plastic, metal, and organic materials. In the RSL, we offer 3D printing in PLA plastic in a variety of colours or PET-G plastic in black or white. Using a process called Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), a 3D printer deposits hot plastic on to a build plate in layers that set instantly to build up a 3D object.

What have we been 3D printing?

The technology of 3D printing offers a wide range of uses and endless possibilities. We have used 3D printing for objects from a Peruvian flute to items created for a space experiment carried out on the International Space Station (ISS).

This ISS project featured a truss assembly and outer cover for an experiment investigating ferrofluids in microgravity, incorporating a series of electromagnets. This project, created by the ISSET-Oxford payload development team and developed from high school student-proposed research projects for the ISS, ran a successful experiment on the ISS in 2022.

How do I create my own 3D object?

Do you have a project of your own that you’d like to create in 3D form? To submit a 3D printing job, send us a 3D file of your model, and we’ll print it out for you. Find out more about how to submit your 3D printing project here.

3D printed models

What is the cost?

Depending on the size and scale of the model, the costs vary. Once your model has been approved for printing, we will get back to you with an estimated print time and cost. We charge £2 for the first hour, and £1 for every hour after that. A typical job takes about 5 hours and so would cost £6.

We aim to print models within 10 working days, although this may vary depending on demand and the size of the print job.

Find out more about our 3D printing services, including tips, resources, FAQs and more, here.

Make an appointment with your subject/outreach librarian

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Do you have any questions about your studies? Are you keen to make the most of your research? Do you want to know more about referencing? Are you not sure where to find key information for your essays or research? Perhaps you need help with a specific database?

If you have any questions, you can book an appointment with your specialist subject or outreach librarian. They can talk with you in person, over Teams, over the phone or by email – whichever method you prefer and are most comfortable with.

Students in the Radcliffe Science Library, University of Oxford

Photo (c) John Cairns

As well as helping with your literature search and constructing search queries, subject and outreach librarians can…

  • Provide group or one-to-one information skills training
  • Discuss Open Access issues with you and help you find the relevant information for you
  • Show you how to access and manage research data
  • Source and purchase book and resource recommendations – we are particularly interested in purchasing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion titles to improve our collections
  • Advise and train you on reference management software and how to use different styles
  • Show you how to navigate subject-specific databases
  • And so much more…

Meet the Subject Librarians at the RSL 

Photograph of Subject Librarian Karine BarkerKarine Barker
01865 272802
karine.barker@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Lead Librarian – Non-Clinical Medicine and Life Sciences, supporting:

  • Non-Clinical Medicine
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology
  • Anatomy and Genetics
  • Psychology
  • Zoology

Photograph of Subject Librarian Oliver Bridle
Ollie Bridle
01865 272856
oliver.bridle@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Subject Librarian – Life Sciences and Non-clinical Medicine, supporting:

  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Forestry
  • Pharmacology
  • Plant Sciences
  • Zoology

Photograph of Subject Librarian Rachel Scanlon
Rachel Scanlon
01865 272824
rachel.scanlon@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Subject Librarian – Physical and Applied Sciences, supporting:

  • Computer Science
  • Earth Science
  • Materials Science
  • Statistics

Photograph of Subject Librarian Thomas Corrick
Thomas Corrick
01865 272824
thomas.corrick@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Part -Time Subject Librarian – Physical and Applied Sciences, supporting:

  • Computer Science
  • Earth Science
  • Materials Science
  • Statistics

Photograph of Subject Librarian Alessandra Vetrugno
Alessandra Vetrugno
01865 272817

alessandra.vetrugno
@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Lead Librarian – Physical and Applied Sciences, supporting:

  • Chemistry
  • Computer Sciences
  • Earth Sciences
  • Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Statistics

Meet the Bodleian Health Care Libraries Librarians

Karine Barker
01865 272802
karine.barker@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Supporting:

  • Department of Biochemistry
  • Sir William Dunn School of Pathology
  • Department of Pharmacology
  • Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics
  • Department of Experimental Psychology

Suzannah Bridge
01865 289383
suzannah.bridge@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Supporting:

  • NHS staff based at the Churchill (e.g. OCDEM, Renal/Urology, Dermatology, Palliative Medicine including Sobell House)
  • NHS staff in Cancer Services

Eli Harriss
01865 221950
eli.harriss@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Supporting:

  • Nuffield Department of Medicine units
  • Department of Psychiatry

Matthew Henry
01865 740471
matthew.henry@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Supporting:

  • MSD and NHS staff and students in Acute General Medicine
  • Allied Health Therapies
  • Paediatrics (including the Oxford Vaccine Group)
  • Pharmacy
  • Gastroenterology
  • BRC

Dr Hannah McGivern
01865 740470
hannah.mcgivern@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Supporting:

  • MSD and NHS staff and students in Anaesthetics and Theatres
  • Cardiac Services
  • Critical Care
  • Intensive Care
  • Surgery
  • Trauma.

Nia Roberts
01865 289409
nia.roberts@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Supporting:

  • Primary Care
  • Public Health
  • Department of Oncology

Carolyn Smith
01295 229316
carolyn.smith@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Supporting:

  • MSD and NHS staff and students based at the Horton Hospital
  • Women’s Services
  • Emergency Department
  • Infection Control
  • Radiology
  • Health Management
  • Laboratory Medicine
  • Clinical Sciences

Kat Steiner
01865 738145
kat.steiner@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Supporting:

  • MSD and NHS staff and students in NDORMS
  • Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre

Neal Thurley
01865 222920
neal.thurley@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Supporting:

  • MSD and NHS staff and students in Anaesthetics
  • ENT
  • Neurosciences
  • Ophthalmology
  • Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
  • Plastics

If you are not sure who to contact, or have more general questions about Health Care, you can always contact hcl-enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

NB
Churchill Allied Health Professionals – please contact Matthew Henry
Cancer Hospital staff -:please contact Suzannah Bridge.

If your subject/outreach librarian isn’t listed here, check the list of subject/outreach librarians on the Bodleian Libraries website.

You said, we did

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You said, we did!

The RSL team have been working hard to gather your feedback on the newly reopened library. You may have left a suggested on the feedback whiteboard, or maybe you had a chat with one of us. We received an eclectic range of suggestions and we took it all on board and are pleased to show you some of the cool new stuff you asked for!

(To those who requested it: Sorry, we won’t be getting an RSL cat any time soon…)

Vending machines!

Our new vending machines offer snacks, cold drinks, and hot drinks

There are now two vending machines in the vending area. Here you can purchase a variety of snacks as well as cold and hot drinks. Cards and cash are accepted.

Lids for drinks!

If you’re purchasing a drink from one of the vending machines, please help yourself to a lid from the counter.

Lids can be found on the kitchenette counter

Remember:

  • Drinking water and drinks contained in a KeepCup or another container with a sealable lid are allowed throughout the RSL. Other food and drinks are not allowed in the reading rooms or on the stairs. Cold food and drinks in sealed cups are allowed in certain spaces; please check the signage.

More seating!

We’re still figuring out some aspects of the new layout, but we’ve found the space to bring in more seating.

Extra tables can be found in the social study space and reading rooms

Laptop stands!

We’ve purchased height adjustable laptop stands for all reading rooms.

Feel free to grab a laptop stand and get settled in

Sanitary products!

There’s now free tampons and pads in all RSL bathrooms for those moments when you need them. Let a member of staff know if we’ve run out or are getting low.

A range of pads and tampons are available in all RSL toilets

Wellbeing goodies!

If you’ve been to the wellbeing room recently (situated on the lower floor, floorplan here) you might have noticed an increase in activities on offer: We’ve added in more of the things you have asked for: markers, chess set, uno, and even more paper for origami.

Think you can do better? Give it a go!

Don’t forget to pop into one of our Lego lunches which run in the Wellbeing Room 1300-1400 on Wednesdays.

We’re continually looking to improve the RSL, so please do drop us a line if you have any comments or suggestions: enquiries.rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Wellbeing in the RSL

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We know Trinity Term can be very stressful with deadlines and exams.If you need a break you can always drop in to the Wellbeing Room. It has bean bags comfortable sofas and new nature inspired art. There are also a range of crafts and games available in the room to help you relax and refresh. Sometimes the room is booked for events, see someof the activities we have planned below, but you can drop in whenever the room is free. And it is always free for drop in between 2 and 5pm, weekdays.

Photograph of the RSL Wellbeing room showing a sofa bean bags and cushions.

Relax in our Wellbeing Room

Wellbeing Activities

It can be difficult to take time for yourself especially when you feel under pressure. To help  manage your stress and give you something to add to your diary the Radcliffe Science Library has arranged plenty of wellbeing activities during the term.

Along with our usual Lego Lunches (Wednesdays 1-2pm) we have also organised some experts to lead sessions for students on yoga on 14 May  09-10am, and origami on 9 May 13.00-14.00 and 23 May 13.00-14.00. Spaces are limited so remember to book your place.

Nature Walks

Due to popular demand we are repeating our bird song nature walk, this time in a morning slot to better hear the birds.Book your place on the walk 9.15-10.15, 30 April. If you prefer a lunch time strioll why not join our walk on 13 May 1-2pm. We’ll be concentrating on bees this time with handouts to help us identify which types are in the parks!

Free Tea& Coffee

Sometimes activities and classes aren’t of interest, and you just want a good tea or coffee. No booking needed just pop into the vending area in the Radcliffe Science Library on Wednesdays from 10am-12pm, during term, and get yourself a cuppa. We’ll be serving complimentary tea and coffee every Wednesday in term. You deserve it!

A picture of hot cups and biscuits. Written above is the text Time for a break? Pick up free coffee or tea in the Vending area of the RSL.To see the range of Wellbeing activities we are offering at the RSL check out our Wellbeing calendar. This shows all our activities both drop in and bookable.