§ 3. The Radcliffe Library.

The Radcliffe Library was founded under the will of Dr. Radcliffe, early in the eighteenth century, and the building now used as the Camera Radcliviana was in the first instance built to receive it. At present it is placed in the University Museum, and is wholly confined to scientific literature. Most of the leading works in the several departments of Physical Science, and almost all scientific periodicals, will be found on its shelves.

The Library is arranged in two parts: (1) the Principal Bookroom; (2) the Reading-room.

In the Principal Book-room, the books are arranged in subjects, viz. 1. Philosophy; 2. Mathematics; 3. Astronomy; 4. Physics; 5. Chemistry; 6. Mineralogy; 7. Geology; 8. Voyages and Travels; 9. Biological Science; 10. Medicine; II. Biographies, &c.; 12. Miscellaneous.

The many large illustrated works, such as those of Audubon, Gould, and Mascagni, or the Voyage de l'Astrolabe, have places conveniently allotted to them apart from the general classification. They are for the most part in cases, standing in the body of the room, and constructed for folios of any size. The works on Medicine, and the older and less used volumes, are in the galleries.

The Reading-room has wall-cases, floor-cases, and an eastern gallery. In the presses No. 179 to No. 187 are placed General Transactions of Academies, and Journals: those of the British Empire commence the series; they are followed in alphabetical order by those of other countries, America (U.S.), Denmark, France, &c.

In other wall-cases, from No. 154 to No. 178 inclusive, are journals relating to special subjects, in the order of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Geology, Biology, Medicine. On a shelf before each window is placed the current number, weekly or monthly, of the serials belonging to the adjoining case. A special catalogue of the serials has been printed, and may be purchased of the Sub-Librarian in attendance.

In the south-eastern corner of the room, presses No. 188 to No. 191, is a collection of standard books, for the most part

It contains also

elementary, called 'The Students' Library.' books of reference, and monographs, referring to the subjects which are the special study of the Museum.

A catalogue of the works in the Students' Library may be had from the Sub-Librarian.

Then follow, in an adjoining case, Dictionaries, and Encyclopædias of the subjects just named.

On several stands in the centre of the room, are, 1st, Maps and Plans; 2nd, such Geological, Anatomical, and Zoological works as consist chiefly of large plates; and 3rd, the newer books which have been added to the Library.

Opposite each window is a table calculated to accommodate four readers.

At the south end of the Reading-room is a stand for holding catalogues and other books pertaining to the management of the Library, as well as shelves for bibliographical works, and for keeping the books of such readers as propose to return and again to require the same volumes.

The Reading-room is open daily from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.; and on Mondays and Thursdays during Term-time from 7 till 9 P.M. All persons who are allowed to use the Museum may enter this room, and obtain orders to read from the Sub-Librarian; all the books in it may be removed from the shelves by them without further permission, or any condition except the observance of the regulations of the Library.

The regulations are as follows:

1. All persons who are admitted to study in the Museum will be admitted to the Reading-room of the Library, for the purpose of reading.

2. Persons who desire to use the Reading-room without studying in other parts of the Museum, may obtain an order for the Reading-room by letter, addressed to 'The Radcliffe Librarian-Oxford Museum,' enclosing, if personally unknown, a sufficient letter of reference or introduction.

3. All persons entering the Reading-room are at liberty to use all books, maps, and documents in it, and to take any such from their places. They are requested to leave them on the table, and not to return them to their shelves.

4. Readers may, by application to the Sub-Librarian in attendance, obtain any book which is in the Library, other than those in the Reading-room. They may apply orally, or in writing on one of the slips provided at the Catalogue Stand.

5. There are two forms of slips for written application, one for books to be used in the Reading-room, one for books to be taken into the Central Court.

6. Books may be removed according to the regulation on the slips, for study of objects in the Court, but readers may bring from the Court to the Reading-room such objects as osteological specimens, if the rules of the Court allow it; such as are calculated to injure the books cannot be so introduced.

7. The permission to use books in the Court does not extend to the Work-rooms, Private Rooms, or Laboratories.

8. By means of the Catalogue, and by application to the SubLibrarian, it is believed that readers will obtain everything which they require; under special circumstances an order may be obtained from the Librarian to consult works in the Principal Book-room without removal to the Reading-room.

9. Readers who intend to frequent the Reading-room may have part of a table reserved for them, if they leave their names with the SubLibrarian-subject, of course, to the condition that they retain their right by use. If they wish books in use to be reserved for the next day, they should express their wish to the Sub-Librarian.

10. Readers who desire to draw, either from objects in the Museum or from plates existing in the Radcliffe Library, may have an easel and water (for water colours) on application to the Sub-Librarian. At present an artist is ready to take pupils in Natural History Drawing.

II. The Master in the Ruskin Drawing School (see p. 65) is ready to hold Evening Classes for teaching the Anatomical drawing of the Figure, on certain evenings during Term.

12. A first-class microscope by Powell and Lealand (including a object-glass) is attached to the Library, for reference, and for comparison of real objects with the illustrated works.

13. Readers are earnestly requested to observe silence. They can communicate to the Sub-Librarian any wants they may find unsupplied, and any inconvenience which they desire to have remedied.

§ 4. College Libraries.

At University, the College Library is open to all members of the College, and books may be taken out at all times, the borrower being only required to enter his name in the Register kept in the Library.

At Balliol, the College Library is especially rich in Divinity and modern books bearing on Classical Literature. Undergraduates

can obtain books by depositing in the messenger's box a slip containing the name of the book which they require. There is also a small Library of books bearing on academical studies which is managed by Undergraduates themselves.

At Merton, the College Library is open without restriction to all members of the College: a special reading-room for Undergraduates is attached. The Library is especially rich in Medieval Theology and Medicine: it will hereafter be devoted chiefly to books on Modern History.

At Exeter, (1) the Fellows' Library is open to Undergraduates every Saturday in full Term between the hours of II and 12 A.M. Books may be taken out at that time on application to the Librarian, and at other times on application to a Fellow. (2) There is a Library for the special use of Undergraduate Members of the College, which is open every week-day from 9 A.M. to sunset, and from which books may be taken out under certain conditions.

At Oriel, (1) the College Library is open to Undergraduates under certain restrictions; (2) there is a separate Library for Undergraduates which is open to them without restriction.

At New College, the College Library is open to Undergraduates, and books may be taken out under conditions prescribed by the College or by the Librarian.

At Queen's, (1) the College Library is especially rich in Modern Literature. It is open to all resident Graduates of the College, who may on application to the College obtain a private key for use during Term: also to all Undergraduate members of the College, who are allowed to take out books, not being books of reference, for any period not exceeding three weeks. It is also open to all Graduates of the University, residing in Oxford, who may take books out, under certain conditions, on application to the Librarian. (2) A special reading-room for Undergraduates is open until II P.M. It is provided with books of reference and other works likely to be of use to candidates for Honours in the Schools of the University. The books are during Term confined to the room, but may be taken out in Vacation on application to the Librarian.

At Lincoln, (1) the College Library is especially rich in Scholastic Theology, in pamphlets of the period of the Civil War, and in books bearing on the Old Testament. In future it will be chiefly confined to works on Theology. It is open to Fellows of the College only, except by special leave. (2) The Undergraduates' Library is furnished with books bearing on the subjects of the several University Examinations. It is open to Undergraduates of the College, without restriction, between 9 A.M. and 10 P.M. on every day during Term.

At All Souls', the Library is especially rich in works bearing upon Modern History and Law. A Reading-room is attached to it, which is open to all Graduates of the University, to Barristers on the Oxford Circuit, and to Undergraduates who produce a written recommendation from either a Chichele Professor or their College Tutor, from 11 A.M. to 4 P.M. every week-day, except during the months of August and September, and some few other days during the year, when it is entirely closed.

At Magdalen, the Library is rich in Divinity, Natural Science, and Topography. Standard works in Classics and other branches of University education are added as required. Undergraduates can obtain books from it by application to the Librarian or one of the Fellows, and it is open at stated periods in the morning and afternoon, when an assistant is in attendance, and Undergraduates can either take out such books as they require or use them in the Library itself.

At Brasenose, the College Library is at present specially devoted to Modern History: there is, in addition, a special Library and Reading-room for the use of Undergraduates.

At Corpus, the Library is rich in Divinity, and in Early Printed Classics. The archives contain a large collection of valuable MSS., and also a curious collection of Italian works relating to Italian history and topography.

At Christ Church, (1) the Library is rich in old Divinity, and is continually receiving additions, chiefly with reference to academical studies: (2) a Reading-room is open to Undergraduates four hours every week-day in full Term, and they may, subject to certain regulations, take out books.