Group Study Spaces in the RSL

Do you work better with others? Have a group project deadline looming? Need access to an AV suite?

The RSL has 5 group study rooms and a seminar room available for any reader to book for academic purposes!

You can book a room here.

Group Study Rooms

Photograph of a group study room featuring a desk surrounded by chairs and shelving, along with a monitor attached to the wall.

Group Study Room second floor reading room

Two of our rooms are equipped with screens, cameras, and microphones and all group study rooms have whiteboards. There is step free free access to all rooms and height adjustable furniture is available in selected rooms.

Group study room with Teams functionality

The booking page gives you a full breakdown of which facilities are available in each room.

Seminar Room

For Trinity Term the Seminar Room can be booked by groups from 9am to 11am. At other times it will be available as a drop in study space.

Seminar Room in meeting layout

You can book a room here.

You asked for more space so we’re providing it!

 

Other Bodleian Libraries

Spaces, spaces, where are the spaces?

Since the RSL reopened in October 2023 we have had record numbers of students through our doors. We’re very pleased to have so many people using the library but we’re aware that this busyness has a downside. We’d love to fit everyone into the RSL but we only have so many seats (226 for now). We’re looking into possibilities to get more seating in the library but in the short term we have some suggestions.

Book a group study room

If you are working with friends or colleagues consider booking one of our group study rooms. The group study rooms can be booked up to 10 weeks in advance.

Photograph of Group Study Room 1 showing a desk surrounded by 6 chairs with a screen on the wall.

If you are working alone, you can book one of our individual study carrels by emailing enquiries.rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk

Avoid peak times

The library tends to get quite busy between 11 and 3pm. You could try coming earlier in the morning, we open at 9am. During term we are open until 10pm so consider an evening session of study.

Photograph of several students in the RSL reading room.

Photograph by John Cairns.

Try one of the other Bodleian Libraries

As wonderful as the RSL is we just can’t fit everyone, but there are 25 other wonderful Bodleian Libraries that you can try. As a member of the University, you have access to all the Bodleian Libraries. A full list is available on the Bodleian Libraries website along with a list of all the different group study rooms available. The list includes information on room size and how to book so check it out.

We have also highlighted some of the Bodleian Libraries sites that are near the RSL so you don’t have to walk too far.

Bodleian Law Library

The Law Library isn’t just for lawyers. Located a few minutes from the RSL in the St Cross Building, the library has four spacious floors of study spaces including individual study carrels and group study rooms which can be booked online. The main entrance to the Law Library is at second floor level via a set of 36 steps, but there is an alternative entrance at the front of the building for those who can’t use stairs. More information on how to access the building is available on the their website. During term the Missing Bean café is open in the St Cross Building.

Photograph of students and desks in the Law Library taken from above. By John Cairns.

photo (c) John Cairns

Social Science Library

Located next door to the Law Library, in the Manor road building, the Social Science Library (SSL) hosts a range of well-lit seating areas. The library is located all on one floor so it is accessible to most people. The SSL also has two bookable group study rooms and ten soundproofed study carrels. The carrels work on a first come, first served basis. There is a café in the Manor Road building also has a café and comfortable seating are on the first floor. During term, the SSL is also open until 10pm.

Photograph of a workspace in the Social Science Library with white desks and bright pink chairs.

photo (c) John Cairns

Taylor Institution Library

For those who prefer a more classical library, the Taylor, established in 1845 is an excellent choice. Enter on St Giles through the majestic columns, to gain access to five floors of library space. The main entrance has ramp access but due to the age of the building some parts of the library are not accessible. More details are available on the website.

Photograph of a student at a desk in the Taylorian Institute reading room.

photo (c) John Cairns

Exterior photograph of the Taylor Institute, Ashmolean Museum.

Image By Philip Halling, CC BY-SA 2.0

Vere Harmsworth Library

Our home away from home. We shared a space with the Vere Harmsworth Library, located in the Rothermere American Institute, for over 3 years. Now that the RSL has moved out there is even more space available. They also have group study rooms that can be booked online and seating areas across multiple floors.

Students sitting at desks in the Vere Harmsworth Library. e Vere

Weston Library

It’s the big building at the end of Broad Street, you can’t miss it. Along with the three main reading rooms there are further sofas and comfortable seating outside the reading rooms. Every floor is accessible by lift or stairs so everyone can use the space. Excellent for those who enjoy silent study. If you need a break from studying you can pop down to the café or check out the excellent exhibitions in Blackwell Hall.

External photograph of the Weston Library by James Brittain.

Image credit: James Brittain.

Photograph of the Weston Library Manuscripts Reading Room by John Cairns.

photo (c) John Cairns

These are just a few of the many sites available across the Bodleian Libraries. Try exploring them all and see which is your favourite.

Booking Rooms at the RSL

At the Radcliffe Science Library, we have five group study rooms and a seminar room available for any reader to book for academic purposes.

We recently launched a new room booking tool to book any of our group study rooms. We are using this tool as part of a pilot along with our colleagues in the Social Science Library and the Vere Harmsworth Library. The aim is to make booking rooms as quick and easy as possible.

To book any of our group study rooms using the new room booking tool, use the search options on the page to check availability and place a booking for your chosen times. Use the Search by Space tab to select a room and browse for available times.

When booking a room please use your Oxford email (email ending ox.ac.uk). If you don’t have have an Oxford email address, please email enquiries.rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk with details of your requested booking, including the date, start time, finish time and the number of attendees.

Screenshot of Room Booking Tool with the 'search by space' option selected.

Other spaces in Bodleian Libraries

Even though we think the RSL is great there are many other great libraries in Oxford. The Bodleian Libraries website has a page on all the group study rooms available across Bodleian Libraries. It includes seating capacity and information on how to book. Hopefully, that will make finding a space to work with your group easier.

Room Booking Tool

As part of the RSL reopening we have launched the use of a new room booking tool in the Radcliffe Science Library (RSL). We are using this tool as part of a pilot along with our colleagues in the Social Science Library and the Vere Harmsworth Library. The aim is to make booking rooms as quick and easy as possible.

Photograph two students having an interactive video call. The screen shows a man smiling and talking.

photo (c) John Cairns

We recently made a blog post about our 5 group study rooms, including two Teams enabled rooms. Ccheck it out if you want to learn more about our spaces. You can book any of our group study rooms by using our new room booking tool. You can use the search options on this page to check availability and place a booking for your chosen times. Use the Search by Space tab to select a room and browse for available times.

We want your feedback!

Now that you have had a chance to book a room we’d like to hear your feedback. We want to know what you think of our new room booking tool. We have put a poster in each of our group study rooms. Use a sticker to let us know how you feel about our booking tool. The tool should be accessible by screen reader but let us know if you are having any problems using it.

Photograph of feedback poster with three columns. One with a happy face, one a neutral face and one an unhappy face. The happy face column has four stickers under it.

We already have some positive feedback 🙂

You can also give us feedback by replying here, letting staff know at the desk, or emailing enquiries.rsl@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Other spaces in Bodleian Libraries

Even though we think the RSL is great there are many other great libraries in Oxford. The Bodleian Libraries website has a page on all the group study rooms availalbe across Bodleian Libraries. It includes seating capacity and information on how to book. Hopefully, that will make finding a space to work with your group easier.

Group Study Rooms

Our readers told us they wanted more group study rooms and we have listened. The RSL has not 1, not 2, but 6 bookable spaces that can be used for group study. All our group study rooms are located outside of the reading rooms and so cold food and drinks are allowed. They all have WiFi access and power points to charge your devices. We are launching a new online booking tool for all of our group study rooms. It should make room bookings quick and easy. Remember to book using your ox.ac.uk email. Keep reading for the details of our different spaces.

Photograph two students having an interactive video call. The screen shows a man smiling and talking.

photo (c) John Cairns

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