Radcliffe Camera for disabled readers

A row of three pale red chairs in front of a desk, bookshelves are in the background

The main entrance to the Radcliffe Camera has reopened to readers.

 

Accessibility  

Only the lower reading room of the Radcliffe Camera and the upper floor of the Gladstone Link are accessible to those with reduced mobility. Entrance is via the Radcliffe Camera or the Old Bodleian Quad. If you have reduced mobility, you must register your card and agree a personal evacuation plan. For more information, please contact access@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

You can find detailed accessibility information for the Radcliffe Camera and the Gladstone Link in the University Access Guide.

Services and support

If you have queries about services and facilities for library users with a disability or SpLD at the Radcliffe Camera and Gladstone Link, please email these to access@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.

Assistance animals, such as guide dogs and hearings dogs, are always allowed into the Bodleian Libraries.  

Some material is held in galleries accessed by spiral staircases. Staff are always happy to help get books from high shelves, or from less accessible areas in the library.  

A hearing loop is available at the staff desk in the Lower Camera.  

The library can provide the following assistive equipment:

  • one daylight reading lamp (Radcliffe Camera)
  • three magnifiers (Radcliffe Camera)
  • five coloured acetate sheets (Gladstone Link and Radcliffe Camera)
  • six height-adjustable desks (Gladstone Link and Radcliffe Camera)
  • four ergonomic chairs (Radcliffe Camera)

Please ask library staff if you would like to use any of this equipment. 

History Faculty Library

You can request a tailored one-to-one user education and induction session. To discuss your requirements, please contact Rachel D'Arcy-Brown (email rachel.darcy-brown@bodleian.ox.ac.uk or phone 01865 277264).  

If you are a University member with a disability, you can be registered as an HFL privileged reader. This provides extended loans in term (28 days) on all HFL lending books except for high use, short loan items (7 days), and allows you to borrow up to 15 books at a time.  

University readers can request proxy borrowing on their account by a support worker or designated helper. You can contact us by phone (01865 277262) or email library.history@bodleian.ox.ac.uk with a list of the books you need and ask staff to put them aside for collection by yourself or your support worker. At busy times there may be a delay before we can fulfill your request. All items borrowed in this way remain the responsibility of the reader.

All items (except high use material) can be renewed online twice via SOLO unless there are outstanding hold requests. If you experience any difficulties renewing an item, please contact us in person, by phone (01865 277262) or by email before the item is overdue and staff will be able to offer advice.