Our Library

The Library is open to all current members of Oriel. The Junior Library (Pantin Library) is accessed via doors in second and third quad and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via your University (Bod) Card.

The Library office, located on the ground floor, is open from Monday to Thursday from 9am – 5pm, Friday 9am – 4.30pm, we close for lunch between 12pm – 1pm. Library staff will be happy to answer any questions you have.

We have a number of height-adjustable desks in the ground floor library study space. There are also a variety of different desks, study pods and chairs across all floors.

To find books in our Library, you can search online using SOLO, the University’s online catalogue. Click on the drop-down menu next to ‘Search everything’ and select ‘Oriel College Library’ to limit your search to our Library. Have a look at the SOLO LibGuide for tips on how to narrow your search results.

SOLO is also your starting point for finding E-Resources. On the SOLO homepage, under useful links, you can find links to Journals A-Z and Databases A-Z.

If a book you need is on loan to someone else and no other copies are available at Oriel Library or any of the Bodleian libraries, you can request the item through SOLO. The book will be placed on hold for you until it is returned, or we may look at purchasing another copy, if appropriate.

When an item is marked as ‘Lower Stack’ on SOLO, it means that the book is kept in the Library office stacks rather than the open shelves in the reading rooms. You can place a request on SOLO, in the same way you would place a hold request on an item that is on loan. We collect the hold for you and place it in the book lockers in the ground floor library.

Most books in the Library can be borrowed and returned using our self-issue terminals. You are allowed to borrow up to 30 items at a time.

Loans are for the full academic period (0th week of Michaelmas Term to 8th week of Trinity term) and can be renewed through SOLO once for the Long Vacation if required.

The Library charges overdue fees when books are not renewed or returned after the last day of 8th week Trinity Term. You will receive a reminder to renew your items in your email inbox. Once books are overdue, there will be an overdue charge of 50p a day (Mon-Fri) per book. After 4 weeks, the £10 of fines and the costs of a replacement book will be added to your battels ready for the start of Michaelmas term. Once added to battels the cost of the book can only be reversed if the item is returned and a replacement hasn’t been bought yet.

Furthermore, any books damaged, lost or not returned will be charged to your battels.

Even if you’re not currently in Oxford, or prefer not to use the library spaces, Oriel Library is still here to support you. We have a number of remote services to help you access library resources, and the library team are available via email to support your research and study needs remotely.

Access a scanned copy of up to 5-10% or 1-2 chapters (copyright-dependent) of a book, or one article in a periodical, from the Library’s collections. Alternatively, new books can be sent directly to you, as if borrowed from the Library. While it may not always be possible to fulfil your request, we will do our best to help you.

Being part of the University of Oxford gives you access to a wealth of online resources, from databases, to e-books, online journals, and much more. E-resources can be found via SOLO (SSO needed). Find subject-specific information on the Library’s WebLearn pages. The Library can also purchase e-books in some cases. Email us for support with finding and accessing online resources.

Email library@oriel.ac.uk to find out more about accessing our remote services. You can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram to keep in touch.

To suggest a book for purchase, you can use the online suggestion form, come in and ask the Library staff or send us an email: library@oriel.ox.ac.uk.

We try to obtain recommended books as quickly as possible, and will let you know when the item arrives.

We use tags on SOLO, so you can keep track of our new acquisitions each term. They are formed as follows: orl book [term (MT, HT or TT)][year], so for instance ‘orl book MT2021’. To search the tags, select advanced search on SOLO and select ‘user tags’ in the drop-down menu at ‘any field’.

There is a collection of books on or about old members named the Orielensia collection, usually housed in the Cedar Room of the Senior Library. Due to the refurbishment of the Senior Library these books are currently in storage and are unavailable.

We have lots of assistive equipment available for you to use in our Library: noise cancelling headphones, book supports, laptop stands, pens, paper, rulers, chargers, power banks, cables, computer mice, book snakes, USB sticks, magnifiers, fidget toys and coloured acetate. Just come and ask at the Library Office. Let us know if you would like us to add something.

There is a Multi-Functional Device for your use in the 2nd Quad entrance to the Library. It works by way of your University Card. Training and assistance is provided by IT services.

Please help us to keep the Library a safe, productive, welcoming space by following a few simple rules.

Apart from the Quiet Discussion Zone on the 1st Floor please keep noise to a minimum. Mobile phones must be on silent. Please remember that noise on the stairs and in the Library corridor travels.

Oriel Library is for the use of Oriel students, staff and Fellows only. If you wish to bring a guest into the Library then please contact the Librarian first.

No food is allowed in the Library at any time. Drinks in sealed containers are allowed in the Pantin Library.

Apart from in the Accessibility Zone, you may leave Library books and papers in the Library temporarily. Please fill in a slip recording your name and the date. You may not reserve a desk or leave personal belongings unattended. They will be removed by the Library team.

The Senior Library is to be used as study space only. Please do not touch the books or the objects without consulting the Librarian first. CCTV and an alarm system are in place.