Gladstone Link

Last updated

Gladstone Link
Gladstone Link
General information
Location Oxford, England
Coordinates 51°45′13″N1°15′15″W / 51.7537°N 1.2541°W / 51.7537; -1.2541
Affiliation Bodleian Library

The Gladstone Link is an underground library of the University of Oxford that connects the Bodleian Library with the Radcliffe Camera. [1] It was developed and opened to readers on 5 July 2011. It is named after former Prime Minister William Gladstone, who had also studied at Christ Church. [2] It is more modern than traditional Oxford Libraries, many of which are members of the Bodleian Libraries. [3]

Contents

History

The tunnels in which the library is now located were previously the Underground Bookstore. [4] The tunnels were used for transporting books between the Old Bodleian and New Bodleian libraries (now Weston Library) and to the Radcliffe Camera. The books were transported via conveyor; a section of this system is preserved in the New Bodleian tunnel. [5]

When the New Bodleian was developed into the Weston Library, a shift to open shelving was made so that the transportation of books from the vaults was no longer needed. [6] This development changed the way books and materials were moved around the Central Bodleian Complex. [4] This system of movement, however, is now being refurbished and reinstated. Since the Weston Library stores delicate and rare materials, the tunnel will be used to prevent these materials from facing exposure to the elements during their transportation. [5]

Layout

The Gladstone Link has two levels, the upper and lower levels. The Gladstone Link is accessed via the lower reading room in the Radcliffe Camera. A platform lift provides greater access for readers with disabilities. [7] From the Bodleian side, access is available via a tunnel from the north staircase. [3]

The Upper Gladstone Link is home to the History Faculty main lending library, which continues from the Lower Camera Reading Room. [3]

The Lower Gladstone Link houses a collection of widely read Bodleian library material which was previously only available by request off closed stacks. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Oxford</span> Collegiate university in Oxford, England

The University of Oxford is a collegiate research university in Oxford, England. There is evidence of teaching as early as 1096, making it the oldest university in the English-speaking world and the world's second-oldest university in continuous operation. It grew rapidly from 1167, when Henry II banned English students from attending the University of Paris. After disputes between students and Oxford townsfolk in 1209, some academics fled north-east to Cambridge where they established what became the University of Cambridge. The two English ancient universities share many common features and are jointly referred to as Oxbridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radcliffe Camera</span> University library building in Oxford, United Kingdom

The Radcliffe Camera is a building of the University of Oxford, England, designed by James Gibbs in a Baroque style and built in 1737–49 to house the Radcliffe Science Library. It is sited to the south of the Old Bodleian, north of the Church of St Mary the Virgin, and between Brasenose College to the west and All Souls College to the east. The Radcliffe Camera's circularity, its position in the heart of Oxford, and its separation from other buildings make it the focal point of the University of Oxford, and as such it is almost always included in shorthand visual representations of the university. The Radcliffe Camera is not open to the public.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodleian Library</span> Research library of the University of Oxford

The Bodleian Library is the main research library of the University of Oxford, and is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It derives its name from its founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. With over 13 million printed items, it is the second-largest library in Britain after the British Library. Under the Legal Deposit Libraries Act 2003, it is one of six legal deposit libraries for works published in the United Kingdom, and under Irish law it is entitled to request a copy of each book published in the Republic of Ireland. Known to Oxford scholars as "Bodley" or "the Bod", it operates principally as a reference library and, in general, documents may not be removed from the reading rooms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Notting Hill Gate tube station</span> London Underground station

Notting Hill Gate is a London Underground station near Notting Hill, London, located on the street called Notting Hill Gate. On the Central line, it is between Holland Park to the west and Queensway to the east. On the District line and Circle line, it is between High Street Kensington and Bayswater stations. It is on the boundary of Travelcard Zone 1 and Zone 2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don Potter</span> English sculptor, wood carver, potter and teacher

Donald Steele Potter was an English sculptor, wood carver, potter and teacher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Peter Rigaud</span> English mathematical historian and astronomer

Stephen Peter Rigaud FRAS was an English mathematical historian and astronomer. Rigaud was born into a French Protestant family. His father, Stephen Rigaud, was Observer at the Kew Observatory. The painter John Francis Rigaud, who painted a portrait of Rigaud, aged four, and his sister Mary Anne was not his uncle but other possible connections are unknown.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radcliffe Science Library</span> Library of the University of Oxford

The Radcliffe Science Library (RSL) is the main teaching and research science library at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Being officially part of the Bodleian Libraries, the library holds the Legal Deposit material for the sciences and is thus entitled to receive a copy of all British scientific publications.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parks Road</span> Road in Oxford, England

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 south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radcliffe Square</span> Square in central Oxford, England

Radcliffe Square is a square in central Oxford, England. It is surrounded by historic Oxford University and college buildings. The square is cobbled, laid to grass surrounded by railings in the centre, and is pedestrianised except for access.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Catte Street</span> Street in central Oxford, England

Catte Street is a historic street in central Oxford, England.

The Indian Institute Library is a dependent library of the Bodleian and part of the University of Oxford in Oxford, England. Opened in 1886, the library specialises in the history and culture of South Asia, Tibet and the Himalayas. The Indian Institute and its library were originally based in the building on the corner of Holywell and Catte Street. It was subsequently occupied by the History Faculty and History Faculty Library.. Traces of the building's original function are still visible, including the gilded weathervane which depicts an elephant with a howdah.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodleian Law Library</span> Library in Oxford, England

The Bodleian Law Library (BLL) is an academic library in Oxford, England. It is part of Oxford University, the Bodleian Libraries and is also the library of the Faculty of Law. It is situated in part of the Grade II*-listed St Cross Building on St Cross Road in the parish of Holywell, on the corner of Manor Road.

ebook Book-length publication in digital form

An ebook, also known as an e-book or eBook, is a book publication made available in electronic form, consisting of text, images, or both, readable on the flat-panel display of computers or other electronic devices. Although sometimes defined as "an electronic version of a printed book", some e-books exist without a printed equivalent. E-books can be read on dedicated e-reader devices, also on any computer device that features a controllable viewing screen, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edward Nicholson (librarian)</span> British author and Bodleys Librarian

Edward Williams Byron Nicholson was a British author and Bodley's Librarian. He was the head of the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford, from 1882 until his death in 1912. Nicholson was also an early advocate of animal rights.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bodleian Libraries</span> Group of research libraries at the University of Oxford

The Bodleian Libraries are a collection of 28 libraries that serve the University of Oxford in England, including the Bodleian Library itself, as well as many other central and faculty libraries. As of the 2021-2022 report year, the libraries collectively hold 13.5 million printed items, as well as numerous other objects and artefacts.

The Faculty of History at the University of Oxford organises that institution's teaching and research in medieval and modern history. Medieval and modern history has been taught at Oxford for longer than at virtually any other university, and the first Regius Professor of Modern History was appointed in 1724. The Faculty is part of the Humanities Division, and has been based at the former City of Oxford High School for Boys on George Street, Oxford since the summer of 2007, while the department's library relocated from the former Indian Institute on Catte Street to the Bodleian Library's Radcliffe Camera in August 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daniel Meadows</span> British photographer, video-maker and teacher

Daniel Meadows is an English photographer turned maker of digital stories, and a teacher of photography turned teacher of participatory media.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vere Harmsworth Library</span>

The Vere Harmsworth Library is a dependent library of the Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of Oxford</span> Timeline of English town

The following is a timeline of the history of the city, university and colleges of Oxford, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weston Library</span> Library in Oxford, England

The Weston Library is part of the Bodleian Library, the main research library of the University of Oxford, reopened within the former New Bodleian Library building on the corner of Broad Street and Parks Road in central Oxford, England.

References

  1. "Gladstone Link". Bodleian Libraries. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  2. "BBC - History - Historic Figures: William Ewart Gladstone (1809 - 1898)". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Bodleian Library (Old Library & Radcliffe Camera): Radcliffe Camera & Gladstone Link". Bodleian Libraries: University of Oxford. Archived from the original on 15 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Gladstone Link (previously Underground Bookstore)". Bodleian Libraries. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  5. 1 2 "Bodleian tunnel refurbishment planned for 2023". estates.web.ox.ac.uk. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
  6. "Gladstone Link (previously Underground Bookstore) - Bodleian Libraries". 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 14 March 2021.
  7. "Gladstone Link (previously Underground Bookstore) - Bodleian Libraries". 17 June 2011. Archived from the original on 17 June 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2021.