Term time
Monday to Friday 09:30 – 19:00
Saturday 11:00 – 17:00
Vacation
Monday to Friday 09:30 – 17:00
Fixed Closed Dates
Closed 18 August. Reopen 5 September
Vacation borrowing for books starts on the Monday of 7th week in each term. Items borrowed for the vacation are due back in 1st week of the following term. Members may borrow up to 10 books and 5 DVDs for the vacation.
Researchers from outside the University of Oxford may visit the reading rooms for reference only, if we have resources which are unavailable elsewhere.
The Library Team aim to create an inclusive environment for all our members, especially those particular accessibility needs. If you require extra support from us, please speak to a member of the Library Team, email our Librarian-in-Charge, or call us on +44 (0) 1865 951073, and we will be happy to discuss what we can offer.
We currently offer a variety of services and equipment:
Services
Equipment
We welcome visitors to the Old Library who wish to view the murals or simply have a look around.
For small groups of up to 5 there is no need to book ahead. For larger groups and tour groups, please email library@oxford-union.org with proposed visitor numbers, date, and time.
There is a charge of £5 per person, increasing to £8 per person should you also wish to view the debate chamber as part of your visit (subject to availability). School groups are not charged.
For more information, including bespoke tours, please email: library@oxford-union.org or call 01865 951073
For questions pertaining to the Union’s records and archives, please contact: librarian-in-charge@oxford-union.org
Click here to Donate
As we enter our third century, securing our future is tantamount to securing our independence - the freedom to self-govern and the freedom of speech. Central to our ability to retain our independence is our historic grade II* listed debating chamber and other rooms where debates and interactive speaker meetings take place.
We have therefore launched an Urgent Appeal to raise £5M by mid-2024 to carry out essential maintenance works to prevent the closure of the buildings.
The loss of our buildings, however temporary, would pose a serious threat to our ability to operate independently and with legitimacy. Unlike colleges and other higher education institutions, the Union does not receive taxpayer funding.
Scroll down and click 'donate now' below to support The Oxford Union. You can choose whether to make a one-off donation or to give regularly, selecting from the options presented or by selecting 'Other Amount' to customise the value and frequency of your gift (due to processing fees, the minimum donation is £5).
Gift Aid
Donations from UK Taxpayers benefit from the government’s Gift Aid Scheme. For every £1 donated, OLDUT can claim 25 pence of tax at no additional cost to you - a gift of £100 is worth £125 to OLDUT. Higher rate tax payers can also benefit from tax relief by claiming back the difference between the higher rates of tax at 40 or 50 per cent and the basic rate of tax at 20 per cent on the total value of their gross donation. Some companies also offer ‘matched giving’, significantly increasing the value of your gift at no extra cost to you. See here for a list of companies that we believe offer matched giving.
US taxpayers can make a tax deductible gift via American Friends of the Oxford Union ('OXUF'), a registered 501(c)(3) by clicking here.
Please note that we are only accepting donations through this website from UK bank accounts at this time. Donations by cheque should be made out to "The Oxford Literary & Debating Union Trust" and posted to The Oxford Union marked for the attention of OLDUT. To request a gift aid form (for UK taxpayers) please email: development@oxford-union.org
As per our fundraising promise, which you can view below, we are committed to compliance with the law as it applies to charities and fundraising. Therefore, in some cases, we may need to contact you to request additional information. You are invited to read our Fundraising Policy which can be viewed here.
For general enquiries, please contact:
library@oxford-union.org or call 01865 951073
For specific enquiries, please contact the relevant person below:
Thomas Corrick, Librarian-in-Charge: