This document outlines plans for refurbishing the New Bodleian Library at the University of Oxford. The key objectives are to safeguard collections, modernize research facilities, and promote wider understanding of the collections. Plans include upgrading environmental controls and fire suppression, completely renewing storage facilities, creating a conservation center, modernizing reading rooms, and adding facilities for digital scholarship and teaching. Renderings show proposals to improve the entrance, add exhibition and event spaces, and refurbish reading rooms. The refurbishment is described as the most important library development in Oxford for 400 years and will transform infrastructure for scholarship at a decisive moment in the University's history.

1. New Bodleian Library Refurbishment
9 March 2010
‘A storehouse of knowledge … an engine for scholarship:
Modernising the Bodleian Library’

2. 2
Client Brief Key Objectives:
- Safeguarding the collections
- Modernising research facilities
- Promoting the collections for wider understanding

3. 3
Objectives: Safeguarding the collections
Standards:
Environmental control
Fire suppression
Common services
Oxford has ‘skipped a generation’
Space:
Growth
Good management
Complete renewal of storage facilities
Meet British Standards
Satisfy Government
Conservation Centre
High-level care for the special collections
Leading institution for research into science of
preservation.

4. 4
Objectives: Modernising research facilities
Changing modes of scholarship
Evidence-based learning
Graduate studies
Research skills
Masterclasses
Digital scholarship
Visiting scholars and research culture
Dissemination of research
Exhibitions
Digital resources
New reading rooms
Operational efficiency
Facilities for digitally-based scholarship
Digital Media Centre
Facilities for teaching
Masterclasses
Visiting Scholars Centre
Research culture

5. 5
Objectives: Promoting the collections for wider understanding
New Bodleian a ‘shy’ building
Great collections cannot be shared by
public
Contribution of the University to science,
learning and culture
New audiences
Exhibitions
50, 000 visitors per exhibition
‘Permanent’ treasures
Loans
Research outputs

6. 6
• LIBRARY STRATEGY
New Bodleian and Giles Gilbert-Scott
The New Bodleian was designed for a different world:
The University of Oxford was smaller and less research-intensive
Researchers operated in different ways
The general public had a different view of ‘the heritage’.

7. Giles Gilbert-Scott

8. Broad Street – as existing

9. Perception – Public identity
What do we want the New Bodleian to say?
Seat of learning & academia
Sought after destination for academics
Reservoir of accumulated knowledge
Public not excluded
Gravitas versus accessibility

10. Existing View from Sheldonian

11. New Bodleian – Concept

12. Ground Floor Public Areas – Perspective Section

13. Site Plan

14. Forming the entrance – Proposed Perspective View from Broad Street - West

15. Forming the entrance – South Faç ade Proposed

16. Forming the entrance – Proposed Steps and South
Colonnade

17. Forming the entrance – Proposed Steps and South
Colonnade

18. Forming the entrance – Proposed Perspective View from Broad Street - East

19. Ground Floor Public Areas – Perspective View of Proposed Entrance Hall

20. Ground Floor Public Areas – Perspective View of Proposed Exhibition Gallery

21. Ground Floor Public Areas – Perspective View of Proposed Seminar / Auditorium

22. Level H – Ground Floor Plan - Reader Access Areas

23. Reader Access Areas - Original Photos of Existing East Entrance, Corridor and Vestibule

24. Reader Access Areas – Proposed East Corridor

25. Reader Access Areas – Proposed East Corridor

26. Reader Access Areas – Perspective View of Refurbished East Corridor

27. Reader Access Areas – Perspective View of Refurbished Parks Road Lobby

28. Level F – First Floor Plan - Reader Access Areas – General Enquiries

29. Reader Access Areas – Perspective View of Proposed General Enquiries

30. Reader Access Areas – Perspective View of Proposed General Enquiries

31. Reader Access Areas - Original Photos of First Floor Catalogue Room and Reading room

32. Reader Access Areas - Original Photo of First Floor Catalogue Room

33. Reader Access Areas - Proposed Refurbished Reading Rooms 1 & 2

34. Reader Access Areas - Existing Photo of former Catalogue Room

35. Reader Access Areas – Proposed Perspective View of Refurbished Reading Room
1

36. Preservation and refurbishment of Reading Room

37. Study Centre - Proposed Perspective View from East

38. Study Centre - Proposed Perspective View from West

39. Reader Access Areas – Reading room 3 – Perspective view

40. Section – G-G - Basement Bookstack Areas

41. Level L - Basement -3 Plan

42. Level K - Basement -2 Plan

43. Level J - Basement -1 Plan

45. ‘An ark to save learning from the deluge’ (Francis Bacon: 1620)
At a ‘decisive moment’ in the University’s history:
Major project to renew Library facilities
New Bodleian project at the heart of these plans:
the most important library development in Oxford for 400 years
New Bodleian will result in the transformation of the infrastructure for
scholarship