09 Aug 07

Better access for readers should result from a funding award to remodel the 17th-century entrance to the oldest part of Oxford University's Bodleian Library.

The entrance to the Bodleian, known as the Proscholium, will be redesigned on the inside thanks to a grant from the Wolfson Foundation CURL (Consortium of Research Libraries in the British Isles) Libraries Programme. The new design should improve access to the reading rooms and provide better security.

The Proscholium was constructed in 1610-12 to create a new entrance for the 15th-century Divinity School and at the same time a new room, Arts End, was built above it to provide more space for the Bodleian Library. For 300 years the Proscholium served as an ante-room to the Divinity School, until 1968 when it became the main entrance hall for the Library. It was until recently the site of the Bodleian Shop, which has now relocated to another part of the Old Bodleian. The Library can now rethink the use of its historic entrance area.

A security review of the Bodleian in 2002 recommended that there should be separate provision for readers and visitors. The remodelling on the inside of the entrance aims to act on some of the recommendations and improve the flow of readers and visitors within the Bodleian.

As well as the renovation of the Proscholium, the project is looking at earmarking a space close to the entrance of each reading room where book reservations, enquiries, photocopying and an IT workstation are all situated together. There are plans to speed up the book delivery scheme by having books delivered directly onto reserved shelving; and signage in the building will also be made much clearer.

The project will consist of three phases: Proscholium renovation to be completed by July 2008; Upper Reading Room remodelled by summer 2008; and Lower Reading Room remodelled by summer 2009.

An exhibition of the proposals for renovation will be mounted in the Proscholium during Michaelmas term. The Bodleian Library will welcome comments on the proposals and the public and readers will be invited to join in the consultation process.