My favorite day of the entire month in London was our day trip to Oxford. Before we had even finished the day I knew I'd have to come back and stay for a week to get any sort of "fill" of the place, and attempt to experience it properly.
Our day was broken into two visits: the first to the Bodleian Library of Oxford University, and the second to Christ Church College, within the university system.
A gloriously rainy day in Oxford
Oxford University
Radcliffe Camera
Bodleian Library
Like many of the institutions we visited over the course of the program, we were not permitted to take photographs beyond the ground floor rooms at the start and conclusion of our tour. However, I was thrilled we were taken up to the gorgeous Duke Humfrey's Library. Our lovely tour guide gave us waves of information, like the horrifying fact (to any library school student) that because of the Reformation, in 1549, any book deemed "too Catholic" of the initial book collection of Duke Humphrey's was chucked out the window and burned. Only 50 survived to see the resurrection of the library in 1602 by Thomas Bodley, who was responsible for the 4 year renovation and the addition of 2,500 donated books to the library's scarce collection. Bodley is also responsible for the oath that is still used today, 400 years later, requiring users to swear not to bring any fire or flame, or damage of any kind, to any materials in the library.
Our guide definitely knew her audience when she told of Thomas James, the first Bodleian librarian, who spent 3 years creating the first catalog. Pressmarks, or numbers written on the fore-edges, were used as identifiers on the chained books, which were maintained until students boycotted the library in protest of the noise - the chains were then removed.
Now the second largest national library in the United Kingdom, behind only the British Library, the steady collection intake rate is due to the continued Stationer's Company agreement Bodley made in 1610 to ensure one copy of every printed book in the country be sent to the Bodleian. This fixed the Bod's place as one of 6 national depositories today. This massive growth required more storage, utilized first in the Radcliffe Camera (formerly Library) until 1860 when it joined with the Bodleian. The first underground library storage in Europe exists to link the Bodleian and the Rad Cam. The New Bod was built in 1937-40 to solve the lack of space that such a massive intake rate required, it could house up to 5 million books, and was rebuilt in 2015.
Filming at Oxford University
The Divinity School, the oldest room in the University
Convocation Room
Leaving the Bod, we passed Blackwell's, Oxford's academic book store and longstanding library supplier. It was probably for the best that I didn't have time to go inside.. next time!
I was advised ahead of time that eating at The Eagle & Child was a must when I finally made it to Oxford, and our Bodleian Library tour guide quickly affirmed this idea when I mentioned it at the end of our tour. She was right! It was delicious, if a little busy on a rainy Friday, but so worth it. I savored every rushed bite before we rushed to make our afternoon tour at Christ Church.
Christ Church College
Our tour of Christ Church College was lead by College Librarian Steven Archer, who took us first through to the Old Library, a gorgeous small room lined with every antique book lover's dream library aesthetic on every wall big enough to hold the many floor to ceiling bookshelves. Archer showed us many noteworthy items in the prestigious collection, including the actual Bible that belonged to and was used by Queen Elizabeth I. Cue jaw drop #1.
(The Old Library)
We left the Old Library and were taken through several points of interest within the college, likely known for their appearances in various films, including the Harry Potter series. Of which I have been a MASSIVE fan since I first read the Sorcerer's Stone when it came out in 1998 (U.S.). Lifelong fan here. So these next 2 stops on our tour were especially special.
As soon as we reached this staircase, I could instantly picture which scenes in the first 2 Harry Potter films took place here. Definitely nerded out. Jaw drop #2.
Christ Church College Dining Hall - aka the Hogwarts Great Hall.
More nerding out. Jaw drop #3.
Archer then led us to the new main library of Christ Church College up to the second floor (the left half pictured below) and to his office where we could all sit and chat with him about librarianship operations at Oxford and his experiences. He indulged our many questions with the attentive care of a fellow librarian; again our field of study came in handy for both tour guide and students.
He had some more items on the table for us to look at, and wrapped up our visit with a final jaw drop (#4!) moment of mentioning that his office happened to be the former office of Lewis Carroll. All 16 of us shared very audible reactions of shock, and gained further appreciation for the countless treasurers we saw up close that day.
Needless to say, Oxford took my breath away. Definitely on my list to go back.
