Radcliffe Science Library
Encyclopedia
The Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) is the main teaching and research science
library
at the University of Oxford
, England
.
Being officially part of the Bodleian Library
, although with a completely separate building, the library holds the Legal Deposit material for the sciences and is thus entitled to receive a copy of all British
scientific publications. The library holds around a million items, with about a quarter of the holdings on display in the reading rooms and the rest held in storage. The library was a reference library
rather than a lending library
until October 2007 http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/rsl/changes. The nearby Hooke Library
which was a science lending library for undergraduates, was integrated into the RSL during August 2007. It is one of the busiest libraries in Oxford, with just over 120,000 visits by approximately 16,000 individuals, and 272,000 items checked out or renewed, in 2008/9.
The library was originally housed in the Radcliffe Camera
, but now stands on the corner of Parks Road
and South Parks Road
in the Science Area
of the University, next to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History
. Much of it is underground — the Lankester Reading Room is beneath the southern half of the lawn in front of the museum.
The library is named after John Radcliffe, a major benefactor of the University, like a number of other buildings in Oxford.
The Jackson Wing was designed by Sir Thomas Jackson
in 1901 and is listed Grade II. This wing currently houses parts of the RSL and formally housed part of the Hooke Library
on the staircase at its east end. It is arranged over 3 floors, all above ground, with two reading rooms and administration offices.
The Worthington Wing was designed as an extension to the Jackson Wing in 1934 by Hubert Worthington
. The wing extends to the north of the western end of the Jackson Wing and contains two reading rooms, on the first and second floors, and the library entrance hall on the ground floor.
The Lankester Room and Main Stack extension was built in 1975. The Lankester Room is a large reading room of the library containing the book collection. The stack contains additional storage for library materials - readers do not have direct access to this, but can request items from it.
Science
Science is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Being officially part of the Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
, although with a completely separate building, the library holds the Legal Deposit material for the sciences and is thus entitled to receive a copy of all British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
scientific publications. The library holds around a million items, with about a quarter of the holdings on display in the reading rooms and the rest held in storage. The library was a reference library
Reference library
A reference library does not lend books and other items; instead, they must be read at the library itself. Typically such libraries are used for research purposes, for example at a university. See List of closed stack libraries...
rather than a lending library
Lending library
A lending library is a library from which books are lent out. The earliest reference to or use of the term "lending library" yet located in English correspondence dates from ca. 1586; C'Tess Pembroke Ps. CXII. v, "He is .....
until October 2007 http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/rsl/changes. The nearby Hooke Library
Hooke Library
The Hooke Library was the main teaching science lending library at the University of Oxford, England for undergraduates. During August 2007, the Hooke Library was incorporated into Radcliffe Science Library, which became a lending library from 1 October 2007....
which was a science lending library for undergraduates, was integrated into the RSL during August 2007. It is one of the busiest libraries in Oxford, with just over 120,000 visits by approximately 16,000 individuals, and 272,000 items checked out or renewed, in 2008/9.
The library was originally housed in the Radcliffe Camera
Radcliffe Camera
The Radcliffe Camera is a building in Oxford, England, designed by James Gibbs in the English Palladian style and built in 1737–1749 to house the Radcliffe Science Library.-History:...
, but now stands on the corner of Parks Road
Parks Road
Parks Road is a road in Oxford, England, with several Oxford University colleges along its route. It runs north-south from the Banbury Road and Norham Gardens at the northern end, where it continues into Bradmore Road, to the junction with Broad Street, Holywell Street and Catte Street to the...
and South Parks Road
South Parks Road
South Parks Road is a road in Oxford, England. It runs east-west past the main Science Area of the University of Oxford, where many of the science departments are located....
in the Science Area
Science Area, Oxford
The Science Area in Oxford, England is where most of the science departments at Oxford University are located.-Overview:The main part of the Science Area is located to the south of the University Parks and to the north of South Parks Road, bounded by Parks Road to the west. Some departments are...
of the University, next to the Oxford University Museum of Natural History
Oxford University Museum of Natural History
The Oxford University Museum of Natural History, sometimes known simply as the Oxford University Museum, is a museum displaying many of the University of Oxford's natural history specimens, located on Parks Road in Oxford, England. It also contains a lecture theatre which is used by the...
. Much of it is underground — the Lankester Reading Room is beneath the southern half of the lawn in front of the museum.
The library is named after John Radcliffe, a major benefactor of the University, like a number of other buildings in Oxford.
The building
The RSL building consists of different wings developed as expansion of the library was necessaryThe Jackson Wing was designed by Sir Thomas Jackson
Thomas Graham Jackson
Sir Thomas Graham Jackson, 1st Baronet RA was one of the most distinguished English architects of his generation...
in 1901 and is listed Grade II. This wing currently houses parts of the RSL and formally housed part of the Hooke Library
Hooke Library
The Hooke Library was the main teaching science lending library at the University of Oxford, England for undergraduates. During August 2007, the Hooke Library was incorporated into Radcliffe Science Library, which became a lending library from 1 October 2007....
on the staircase at its east end. It is arranged over 3 floors, all above ground, with two reading rooms and administration offices.
The Worthington Wing was designed as an extension to the Jackson Wing in 1934 by Hubert Worthington
Hubert Worthington
-Early life:Worthington was born at Chorley, Alderley Edge, the youngest son of the architect Thomas Worthington. He was educated at Sedbergh School from 1900–1905 and then at the Manchester University school of architecture, before being articled to his half-brother Percy...
. The wing extends to the north of the western end of the Jackson Wing and contains two reading rooms, on the first and second floors, and the library entrance hall on the ground floor.
The Lankester Room and Main Stack extension was built in 1975. The Lankester Room is a large reading room of the library containing the book collection. The stack contains additional storage for library materials - readers do not have direct access to this, but can request items from it.