Bodleian Social Science Library — Attraction in Oxford

This library is a big, modern library — it feels huge compared to many of Oxford’s other libraries. That said, it’s not my favourite as a working space.

Light & Atmosphere There’s very little natural light. Most of the desk spaces are arranged around the perimeter of the bottom floor, but many of the windows are frosted, and where they aren’t, the view is just a wall. If you like being able to look outside to relax your eyes while working, this isn’t the place. There’s plenty of artificial lighting (not too harsh), but overall the space feels enclosed, almost like you’re in a basement — even though technically you’re at ground level.

Seating & Comfort Seating is functional but not very comfortable. There are rows upon rows of identical rectangular desks and chairs, which makes the space feel sterile. A few ergonomic chairs exist, but not many, and even with one of those the desks are all the same fixed height, which isn’t ideal for comfort. Temperature is another drawback: when I visited in mid-September it was already quite cold inside, which makes me wonder how it feels in the middle of winter.

Facilities On the positive side, there are lots of plug sockets, so it’s very laptop-friendly. There are also two large silent study rooms, plenty of self-study carrels (though I haven’t used them), and some bookable discussion rooms that are useful for practising presentations. There is a small lecture hall attached as well. The toilets are just outside the library after you sign out with your Bod card.

Staff & Resources The staff are excellent — very friendly and eager to help. The collection itself is impressive, with plenty of dissertations, theses, and even professional equipment and printing facilities available.

Overall While it’s clearly a modern and well-resourced library with lots of space, plugs, and useful facilities, the working environment just isn’t very comfortable. The lack of natural light, the sterile setup, and the chilly temperature make it less appealing for me. It might suit people who don’t mind a more utilitarian study space, but it’s not the most welcoming place if you care about light, warmth,...

A nice modern style library. Some don't like its style but I quite enjoy it. Open study areas are nice, but a bit too strict on conversational level in appropriate areas. Great collection of books with nice binding for the permanent collection version of the British General...

Some pretty good reads. Overall a few too many books. Call it social "sciences" but depend on books? I dunno. Some pretty rad socialist poetry though. And did you know there's more than one kind of...