Enriching Bodleian's collections

The Bodleian Library needs to acquire documents on a huge variety of topics, and on an international scale. Its collections are a vital preservation of our academic and cultural heritage, as well as being key to the recruitment and retention of the University's students and academics.

The Bodleian benefits greatly from its status as a library of legal deposit - entitling it to a free copy of every book published in the UK - but there are still substantial costs for library acquisitions. Thousands of overseas books and journals must be bought each and every year to keep up with the pulse of international academia, while purchases of rare books and manuscripts open up items of immense scholarly and historical value to research and the public view.

Founded in 1925 and one of the oldest organisations of its kind, the Friends of the Bodleian work alongside the Bodleian on many important acquisitions, helping to provide funds for material that would otherwise be beyond the Library’s reach. The Friends enrich the Library's collections by encouraging donations and providing an income for the purchase of manuscripts and printed books. The Friends also help to preserve the Bodleian's priceless collections and explain their significance through lectures and a diverse selection of events.

Notable acquisitions made with the help of the Friends include a 14th-century manuscript Book of Hours, the Sheldon tapestry map, the final working autograph of Mendelssohn’s Hebrides overture and the manuscript of the earliest known opera in the English language, Cavalli’s 17th-century Erismena. If you are interested in joining the Friends of the Bodleian or supporting Library acquisitions, please visit the Friends of the Bodleian website.