Bodleian Library

Bodleian Library, library of the University of Oxford, one of the oldest and most important nonlending reference libraries in Great Britain. A legal deposit library entitled to free copies of all books printed in Great Britain, the Bodleian is particularly rich in Oriental manuscripts and collections of English literature, local history, and early printing.

A library was established at the University of Oxford by Thomas de Cobham (died 1327), but it was not completely secured by the university until 1410. Then Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, endowed the institution with books and money for a room between 1411 and 1447. Completed in 1450, the room is still in existence.

With the impoverishment of the university, the development of printing, and the growth of college libraries, the university library declined in importance; and in 1550, Edward VI’s commissioners withdrew what books were left. Soon after, the shelves were also dismantled. About 50 years later the library was restored by Sir Thomas Bodley (a collector of medieval manuscripts) and reopened in 1602. Bodley added new buildings, surrounding university buildings were taken over, and additions were made at various times up to the 19th century. A new building, connected with the old buildings by an underground way and designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, was opened in 1946.

By agreement with the Stationers’ Company in 1610 and later by the Press Licensing Act of 1662, the Bodleian was entitled to receive a free copy of all books printed in England. The library built up a collection of more than 4,200,000 printed volumes and 50,000 manuscripts. The Bodleian Library includes the Old Library, the Radcliffe Camera, the New Library, and four dependent libraries.