We are pleased to announce that the Bodleian Libraries are now offering extending lending on items housed at Bodleian offsite storage. Eligible items will be able to be taken out of the library by Oxford University students and staff members.

• An additional 1.4 million books housed in Bodleian offsite storage are now available to borrow for University members, bringing the total to 2 million.
• Items published after 2000 will be available to borrow unless they fall into excluded categories. 
• Older offsite items that can already be borrowed will stay that way.

Borrowing terms

Items can be borrowed according to our usual rules for borrowing and reserving books.

All Bodleian card holders can reserve books that are currently on loan. Items will have a one-week loan period, so they should be unavailable for no longer than 7 days.

Why this matters

• This creates a more inclusive service for readers who face challenges in accessing collections during available opening hours.
• It offers more flexibility for readers who find library spaces difficult to use, allowing them to choose environments that suit their study preferences or needs.
• It responds to feedback from 2024 University consultations and repeated concerns from reader surveys.

Review and feedback

The Bodleian Libraries will closely monitor extended lending for items held offsite. A formal review will take place in 2027.

Please send any feedback, or forward any comments from readers, to reader.services@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.