Museums, collections, libraries and information

The Ashmolean is the oldest museum in the UK and home to the University’s extensive collections of art and antiquities, ranging over four millennia. Supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Ashmolean recently underwent a £61 million redevelopment which doubled the existing gallery space, created a dedicated Education Centre and conservation facilities, and four new galleries for major temporary exhibitions.

The Ashmolean has always placed the greatest emphasis on education – not just serving as a resource for scholars, but seeking to awaken a lively interest in our cultural history in visitors of all backgrounds and ages. The museum's redevelopment has enabled the Ashmolean to fulfil this role more effectively than ever before. The new Education Centre has improved the scope of the programmes on offer, encouraging a more diverse audience to use the Ashmolean. Extra office and storage space is supporting educational outreach initiatives in the region. A separate entrance and after-hours access has made the centre a hub of community activity.

The Ashmolean's redevelopment is part of the University of Oxford's 'Oxford Thinking' campaign

Pitt Rivers holds one of the world’s finest collections of anthropology and archaeology, with objects from every continent and from throughout human history. The Museum’s VERVE project (2013-2017), supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund and other generous donors, aims to improve displays and lighting, and offer new public programming. ‘NEED MAKE USE’ events will re-engage visitors with the materials, skills and ingenuity evident in our collections - how people everywhere need, make and use 'things'.

In addition, the Museum’s free family events, talks and tours offer new ways for all ages to explore the museum and discover more about its exciting collections.

The museum houses the University's scientific collections of zoological, entomological, palaeontological and mineral specimens. With 4.5 million specimens it is the largest collection of its type outside of the national collections.

Bug Quest is one of the museum’s most popular school project, with school year 5 and 6 pupils from more than 40 primary schools taking part in 2009. Students place traps in their schools, retrieve them, identify and count the insects, enter the numbers into a spreadsheet and can then see their results on the museum website. As part of the programme visit the museum for lively Bug Quest sessions with access to the museums’ collections as well as lots of live insects to handle.

The Museum is housed in the world’s oldest surviving purpose-built museum building and accommodates early astronomical and mathematical instruments, including the largest collection of astrolabes in the world. There are also early microscopes, cameras, clocks, medical instruments and apparatus for physics and chemistry.  The museum runs volunteer-led guided tours – an innovative way for volunteers and the general public to engage with the collection.

"Universities today are encouraged to reach out to the community, creating education benefits beyond their immediate staff and students, and in Oxford the museums continue to lead the way."  
Dr Jim Bennett, Director, Museum of the History of Science

Oxford ASPIRE is a consortium of the Oxford University Museums and Oxfordshire County Museums Service. Collectively these museums receive funding from Arts Council England, which they use to support collaborative working, ensuring that Oxford’s museums stay at the forefront of the sector, delivering innovative new projects and services. ASPIRE also actively pursues opportunities to share knowledge held with the Oxford Museums with the broader museums and cultural sector. This is achieved through knowledge sharing events, an advisory service and forming new and innovative partnerships.

Recently, the Bate Collection - which houses a comprehensive collection of historical European musical instruments - has been undertaking work on connecting the collections with the national curriculum. Instruments in the collection are used to illustrate the development of the orchestra from the Renaissance via the baroque and classical periods through to the modern symphony orchestra.   

This houses an important collection of 300 Old Master paintings and almost 2,000 drawings in a purpose-built gallery of considerable architectural interest. The collection is strongest in Italian art, from the 14th to the 18th century with later works include paintings by artists such as Filippino Lippi, Tintoretto, Veronese, and Salvator Rosa. The drawings collection is regarded as one of the most important private collections of Old Master drawings in the country and includes work by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Dürer, Raphael and Rubens. 

Founded in 1621 the University of Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in Britain. With the Harcourt Arboretum, it promotes learning and glorifies nature with people of all ages and backgrounds visiting for leisure and to learn about plants and their importance in the world. The garden and arboretum engage with primary and secondary schools and 10,000 children each year benefit from the free schools programme.

The Bodleian Library, the University’s main research library, is more than 400 years old and is acknowledged to be one of the greatest libraries in the world.  But many people do not realise that more than half of its users come from outside the University.  

Substantial modernisation and change at the Bodleian through an ambitious building and refurbishment programme will secure its heritage for future generations, and ensure constant innovation in its services. As part of the remodeling, the New Bodleian Library building will be transformed into a modern special collections library and research center.  The ground floor will be opened up to the public with exhibition galleries and learning spaces, allowing the local community and visiting public to view some of the University’s greatest treasures and gain insights into research activities at Oxford. The renovation of the New Bodleian is expected to take four years to complete, with preparation work beginning in 2010.

When a group of gargoyles (or rather ‘grotesques’) on one side of the Bodleian crumbled beyond repair and no records could be found to replace them in their original design, the University launched a competition Millennium Myths and Monsters to challenge Oxfordshire schoolchildren to come up with new design ideas. The competition invited young people in Oxfordshire to seek artistic inspiration from the city’s rich heritage and then submit their own designs with a local twist, to celebrate 1,000 years of Oxfordshire. There were nine winning designs from more than 500 entries. In September 2009, the winning grotesques were unveiled by author Philip Pulman in front of the winners, their families, friends and local dignitaries. The grotesques will grace the Bodleian for many centuries to come.

Digital access to collections   More than a million items from the Bodleian’s collections have been digitised, so researchers worldwide can access them. These digital resources have been designed to serve a research audience, but are frequently used by a broader public who are able to view most of them without charge through the internet. 

Exhibitions   Every year, almost 100,000 visitors view the Bodleian’s free exhibitions, which include two annual events as well as many small displays and stand-alone exhibitions such as the Christmas Manuscript Viewing Day. The exhibition programme will be expanded when the New Bodleian Library is refurbished. The Library regularly loans items from its collections for exhibition in other institutions, both locally in Oxford, and internationally.

Events and public programmes   The Bodleian’s programme of events connects the research collections of the libraries not just with the research community but also with the public. Oxford University’s libraries have developed cultural events ranging from seminars, such as the Bruce Chatwin Seminar in July 2008, to poetry readings (such as the Archipelago Poetry Evening featuring Geoffrey Hill as part of the Oxford Literary Festival in March 2008), and from operas to dramatic productions (which have seen Shakespeare’s Globe on tour performing in the Bodleian Quad) to one-day events (for example, The Frankenstein Day at the Bodleian, and the Magna Carta Day).

Access to historic buildings   The historic and significant buildings of the central Bodleian and other University of Oxford libraries have been accessible to the general public ever since the creation of the Divinity School in the 15th century. The tour programmes currently provide access to the buildings of the Old Bodleian complex to over 20,000 people annually.

BODcast Library    The Bodleian’s BODcast library offers an increasing number of free MP3 downloads to listen to, featuring acclaimed names from the world of literature, art, music and academia. 

The Bodleian and World Book Day   Each year the Bodleian Library celebrates World Book Day by displaying one of its most remarkable books. In past years, visitors have been able to view the Gutenberg Bible, Mary Shelley’s manuscript of Frankenstein, Shakespeare’s First Folio, and Kenneth Grahame’s Wind in the Willows. In 2009, ‘Uncommon Readers: St Margaret of Scotland to Queen Elizabeth I’ showcased books belonging to four medieval and Tudor queens: St Margaret of Scotland, Queen Eleanor of Castile, Queen Katherine Parr and Queen Elizabeth I. 

The University has always moved with the times, and today is reaching out to the general public, and in particular young people, through new media.

iTunes U   Oxford’s store on iTunes U provided more than one million downloads in its first year. Its mix of free audio and video podcasts and lectures, covering courses of study, research, admissions, the colleges, museums and libraries, helped bring Oxford to the public and encouraged prospective students.

Online debating   Oxford’s termly online debates have given the public access to Oxford thinking. Academics have debated topical issues including whether the recession spells the end for laissez faire capitalism and whether the NHS should treat self-inflicted illness. Visitors to the site follow the debate online, post comments, and then vote at the debate’s conclusion.

Facebook & Twitter   The University’s Facebook (www.facebook.com/the.university.of.oxford) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/UniofOxford) pages. News is regularly posted on these sites, including links to further information on the University's website at www.ox.ac.uk.

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