imported>R0paire-wiki at 23:32, 27 October 2024

2024-10-27T23:32:50Z

New page

{{short description|Library of the University of Oxford}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox library
| library_name = Radcliffe Science Library
| name_en =
| library_logo =
| image = Radcliffe Science Library (Parks College, Oxford).jpg
| caption = The library seen from the north
| country = England, United Kingdom
| type = [[Academic library]]
| scope =
| established = 1861
| ref_legal_mandate =
| location = [[Parks Road]], [[Oxford]], [[England]]
| coordinates = {{coord|51.7579|-1.2559|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| branch_of = [[Bodleian Library]]
| num_branches =
| items_collected = [[Book]]s and [[academic journal|journal]]s in the biological sciences, computing science, experimental psychology, history of science, mathematics, medicine and the physical sciences
| collection_size =
| criteria =
| legal_deposit = The library holds the [[Legal Deposit]] material in the sciences for Oxford University
| req_to_access = University Card or Bodleian Libraries reader's card
| annual_circulation =
| pop_served =
| members =
| budget =
| director =
| num_employees =
| website = [https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/libraries/rsl www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/libraries/rsl]
| phone_num =
}}
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.

Since 2023 the library has shared its buildings with [[Reuben College, Oxford|Reuben College]].

==History==
The physician [[John Radcliffe (physician)|John Radcliffe]] died in 1714, leaving money in his will to establish the [[Radcliffe Observatory]], the [[Radcliffe Infirmary]] and the '''Radcliffe Library''', which was intended to contain "modern books in all faculties and languages, not in the Bodleian Library". The library's building on a site south of the Bodleian Library was completed in 1749 and is now known as the [[Radcliffe Camera]].<ref name="rsl-history">{{cite web |url=http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/science/about/rsl_history |title=Radcliffe Science Library | RSL History |publisher=Bodleian.ox.ac.uk |access-date=2015-08-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019204718/http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/science/about/rsl_history |archive-date=2020-10-19}}</ref>

The scientific books housed in the Radcliffe Camera were transferred to the [[Oxford University Museum of Natural History]] in 1861. A new Radcliffe Library building opened in 1901, on land next to the museum (on the corner of [[Parks Road]] and [[South Parks Road]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oua.ox.ac.uk/holdings/MU%20Introduction.pdf |title=University Museum of Natural History |publisher=Oua.ox.ac.uk |access-date=2015-08-27}}</ref>

In 1927, the library lost its independence, for financial efficiency becoming part of the [[Bodleian Library]]. The library took on its current name, the '''Radcliffe Science Library''', and gained the right as a legal deposit library to receive a copy of all new British scientific publications.<ref name="rsl-history" />

The building has doors with relief wood carvings<ref>{{cite web| url=https://insideoxfordlibraries.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/radcliffe-science-library/radcliffe-science-library-6/ | title=Radcliffe Science Library: Door | work=Inside Oxford Libraries | publisher=[[WordPress]] | date=26 November 2012 | access-date=1 February 2016 }}</ref> by [[Don Potter]], undertaken while he was studying with the sculptor [[Eric Gill]].<ref name="guardian04">{{cite news| last=MacCarthy | first=Fiona | date=8 June 2004 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/2004/jun/08/guardianobituaries.artsobituaries | title=Obituary: Donald Potter | newspaper=[[The Guardian]] | location=UK | access-date=2009-08-25}}</ref>

With the construction of a basement in the 1970s, part of the building was used to form '''The Hooke Library''', a (separate) science lending library for undergraduates, which was named after [[Robert Hooke]], a scientist who worked in Oxford. The Hooke Library housed its collection in the ground floor of the [[Abbot's Kitchen, Oxford|Abbot's Kitchen]] which was originally part of the University Museum and on the staircase at the eastern end of the Jackson Wing of the RSL. The area which housed the Hooke Library collection became part of the RSL, with the ground floor of the Abbot's Kitchen transformed into a refreshment area and a training room.<ref name="rsl-history"/>

Until 2007, the library was a [[reference library]] rather than a [[lending library]]. During 2007 the building and collection of the Hooke Library was integrated into the RSL.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/rsl/changes |title=Radcliffe Science Library - RSL and Hooke building works 2007 |access-date=2015-08-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070117070926/http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/rsl/changes |archive-date=January 17, 2007 }}</ref>

In December 2018 it was announced that the premises would be used as the basis of a new non-residential graduate college of the university, [[Reuben College, Oxford|Reuben College]], alongside the library.<ref>{{cite web|title=Oxford unveils plans for new graduate college|url=https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/news/oxford-unveils-plans-for-new-graduate-college|publisher=University of Oxford|date=2018-12-07|access-date=2018-12-07
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200926212028/https://www.mpls.ox.ac.uk/latest/news/oxford-unveils-plans-for-new-graduate-college |archive-date=2020-09-26}}</ref> The library closed for refurbishment in December 2019 and reopened in October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |date=2023-01-17 |title=RSL Refurbishment – Update on the project |url=http://blogs.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/science/2023/01/17/rsl-refurbishment/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Bodleian Library |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604201720/http://blogs.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/science/2023/01/17/rsl-refurbishment/ |archive-date=2023-06-04}}</ref>

==The building==
The RSL building consists of three parts, developed as expansion of the library was necessary:

# '''The Jackson Wing''', parallel to South Parks Road, is [[Grade II]] listed. Designed by [[Thomas Graham Jackson|Sir Thomas Jackson]] it opened in 1901. This wing housed parts of the RSL and previously housed part of the [[Hooke Library]] on the staircase at its east end. It is arranged over 3 floors, all above ground, and contained two reading rooms and administration offices.
# '''The Worthington Wing''', parallel to Parks Road and also Grade II listed, 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 contained two reading rooms, on the first and second floors, and the library entrance hall on the ground floor.
# '''The Lankester Room and Main Stack''', a two-storey extension under the lawn of the museum, built 1971–1974. The Lankester Room was a large reading room of the library containing the book collection. The stack contained additional storage for library materials.<ref name="Conservation Plan">{{cite web |title=The Radcliffe Science Library Conservation Plan, November 2013 The Radcliffe Science Library Conservation Plan |url=https://estates.admin.ox.ac.uk/files/radcliffesciencelibrary1compressedpdf |website=University of Oxford |date=November 2013 |access-date=27 October 2023}}</ref>

From 2023 the library occupies the second floors of the Jackson and Worthington buildings, the former Lankester room and stack are a museum Collections Teaching and Research Centre for the university and other spaces are used by Reuben College or shared.<ref>{{cite web |title=About our building |url=https://reuben.ox.ac.uk/about-our-building-project |website=Reuben College |access-date=27 October 2023}}</ref>

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Radcliffe Science Library Front Entrance.jpg|Entrance
File:Worthington Wing Interior.jpg|Desk inside the Worthington Wing
File:Alexander Library of Ornithology.jpg|Alexander Library of Ornithology, circa 2018. This portion of the library closed permanently in 2020 and is now used by the nearby Natural History Museum and Pitt Rivers.
File:Radcliffe Science Library Interior Main Floor.jpg|Ground floor interior, 2018
File:Rare Book Room Door - Radcliffe Science Library.jpg|Door to the rare book room carved to a design by Eric Gill in 1935. Each panel features a famous scientist.
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last=Hassall |first=T. G. |year=1972 |title=Roman finds from the Radcliffe Science Library extension, Oxford, 1970-71 |journal=Oxoniensia |volume=37 |pages=38–50 |access-date=28 April 2011 |url=http://oxoniensia.org/volumes/1972/hassall1.pdf }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070206015010/http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/7879/rsl-boards.pdf Information boards, concerning the 2007 transformation]

==External links==
* {{commons category-inline|Radcliffe Science Library}}
* [https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/libraries/rsl Radcliffe Science Library website]

{{Libraries of the University of Oxford}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1861 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Libraries of the University of Oxford]]
[[Category:Science and technology in Oxfordshire]]
[[Category:Deposit libraries]]
[[Category:Science libraries]]
[[Category:Library buildings completed in 1901]]
[[Category:Library buildings completed in 1934]]
[[Category:Library buildings completed in 1975]]
[[Category:Reuben College, Oxford]]

Radcliffe Science Library - Revision history

imported>R0paire-wiki at 23:32, 27 October 2024