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The College Library occupies the ground and first floors of 60 Banbury Road (Geoffrey Thomas House). It is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, when College is open. Please direct any queries to library@kellogg.ox.ac.uk

Library access

Library floorplanKellogg College Library exists for current members of the College, though access may be granted to others from time to time. Please read the Library Access Policy for details.

Access requires a College-registered University Card, which must be used to release the doors both on entering and on leaving the Library. It is helpful if each individual uses their card rather than allowing others access without swiping their own card, primarily for the safety of Library users but also because the system provides useful data for the management and future development of the Library. The Library is also protected by CCTV in each room and in the circulation area.

All Library users must ensure they are familiar with the Library rules.

Library collections

The book stock is the result of a number of significant donations, which have created research collections in some areas, and a programme of purchases. The latter is largely suggested by students.

The College is part way through a programme of cataloguing and shelving in systematic order. In common with several other colleges, the Library uses the Dewey classification, which works decimally. The catalogue is part of the Bodleian system and is consulted using SOLO. New items appear on SOLO as they are added, but it may take a few days longer for them to reach their correct position on the shelves. Catalogued items are identified by the white spinelabels at the bottom of the spine.

While cataloguing and shelving are proceeding, an effort has been made to cluster non-catalogued items by subject; however, the order of shelving is, in places, random and catalogued and uncatalogued items relating to the same subject may be located in different rooms. At the start of the academic year, the main subject clusters for non-catalogued books are:

  • Architectural History – Stopforth Metcalfe Room (Cathy Oakes Collection)
  • English Literature – Computer Room, Lillian Butler Davey Room
  • French Literature – Lillian Butler Davey Room (H T Barnwell Collection)
  • History – Upper Reading Room; Lilian Butler Davey Room, Stopforth Metclafe Room (Cathy Oakes Collection), Herbert Lane Room Annexe, Kate Tiller Room
  • History of Art – Lilian Butler Davey Room, Stopforth Metcalfe Room (Cathy Oakes Collection)
  • Local History – Kate Tiller Reading Room
  • Race and Migration Studies – undergoing cataloguing: Upper Reading Room

Please note that the Library already has many catalogued items in these subject areas and more.

Aside from its main collection, the Library also houses some special collections:

  • The Kate Tiller Collection in the Kate Tiller Reading Room is a substantial collection of books on local and wider history, which was donated to the College by founding Fellow, Kate Tiller OBE.
  • The National Resource Centre for Historical Dance (Early Dance Circle Collection), in the Lillian Butler Davey Room, contains much that is relevant to the history of dance, gesture and costume, and some history of art and history of music. This collection is fully catalogued.
  • The Migration Studies Collection in the Upper Reading room covers international migration.
  • The Philip Healey Collection in the Stopforth Metcalfe Room centres on English poems, prose and letters from many of the great writers. It also covers philosophy, religious history and history. This collection is fully catalogued.
  • The Cathy Oakes Collection in the Stopforth Metcalfe Room predominantly deals with history and historical architecture.

Students are welcome to browse and to use the books in all rooms. All books are for reference only. They may be moved between Library rooms, but under no circumstances may an item be borrowed or removed from the Library. When readers have finished with books they are requested not to re-shelve them, but to put them in the location marked ‘awaiting shelving’ in each room (dark brown in each room apart from the Herbert Lane Room, where the shelves are white).

Requests for Purchase

The Library welcomes suggestions for book purchases. There is a small annual budget for the purchase of books and requests may be made directly to the Library at library@kellogg.ox.ac.uk or to the Fellow Librarian, Dr Jonathan Healey, at jonathan.healey@kellogg.ox.ac.uk. Please read the Acquisitions Policy.

Group Study Rooms

The Library is a space for silent, private study. Please contact library@kellogg.ox.ac.uk for more information on booking group study rooms where conversation and group study is welcomed.

Students with disabilities

The ground floor of the Library is wheelchair accessible, though it is advisable to let Reception know in advance of a visit. There is a ramp at the front door (not usually in use and is locked) and there is a lift from the Reception area. Assistance with fetching books from upstairs or from higher shelves may be requested from Reception during opening hours.

There is a height-adjustable desk (sitting to standing position) in the Computer Room and on the first floor in the Lilian Butler-Davey Room. At the adjustable desk in the Computer Room there is a larger and fully adjustable screen, and an ergonomic keyboard. At one of the ordinary desks, there is an even larger screen. All these facilities may be used by anyone, but priority should always be given to those whose need is greatest.

The Library has a Summary Statement of Provision for Students with Disabilities.

Health and safety

On each floor of the Library is a large, wheeled ladder for reaching items on the higher shelves. The ladders may be moved between rooms, but are never to be carried up and down the stairs. For readers’ own safety, please do not stand on chairs or tables.

The desks in the Herbert Lane and Lilian Butler-Davey Rooms have power sockets attached to them, and in the Stopforth-Metcalfe Room there is a power box in the floor near the window. Please use these sockets rather than those round the perimeter of the rooms in order to avoid the hazard of trailing wires across the floor.

IT Equipment

Computers, computer screens and the photocopier are property of the College’s IT department. They can assist with questions relating to the IT equipment or give training as required it-support@kellogg.ox.ac.uk

Library Rules

To allow all students to be able to work effectively in the Library, please ensure you keep to the following rules at all times and be considerate of other users of the Library. The Library is a space for silent study. The Rules apply throughout the entire Library space.

Books

  1. The borrowing of materials from the Library is not currently permitted.
  2. Books should not be re-shelved, but should be placed on the ‘awaiting shelving’ shelves located in each Library room.
  3. Library materials may be used in any room within the Library.
  4. Writing in books or any other form of wilful damage is forbidden.

Food and Drink

  1. No food is permitted in the Library at any time.
  2. Bottled water or hot drinks in sealed containers (such as KeepCups) are permitted as these are more resistant to spillage.

Noise

  1. Silence is requested: conversations, phone calls and video calls should remain Please remember that noise on the stairs and in the Library corridors travels.
  2. Mobile phones must be kept on silent.
  3. No music or other audio material should be played in the Library. If you are using headphones, please check that absolutely no sound is audible to other people in the room.

General Conduct

  1. The library is restricted to current members of Kellogg only. Non-members, including partners, are not permitted without prior arrangement.
  2. Smoking and the use of e-cigarettes is prohibited.
  3. Please clear any desk you have been working on when leaving the Library for more than an hour or so. This helps to ensure that everyone who wants to can find a space. Items left unattended will be removed by College staff to create space and also to facilitate cleaning in the morning. Small lockers are available to store your items for up to 24 hours at a time; please ask at Reception to borrow a key.

Fines and/or suspension of Library privileges may be imposed if these rules are not followed.

If you feel that other people are not keeping to these rules and are disturbing you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact the Librarian Fellow, Dr Jonathan Healey, at jonathan.healey@kellogg.ox.ac.uk, the Junior Deans at junior.dean@kellogg.ox.ac.uk, or the Dean at college.dean@kellogg.ox.ac.uk.