Oxford Union Old Library

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Oxford Union Old Library
Welcome to the Oxford Union Old Library
Built in 1857 and originally the Society’s debating chamber, the Oxford Union Old Library is one of the most beautiful libraries in the world and a striking example of Victorian architecture. The murals adorning its walls were painted by William Morris and Dante Gabriel Rossetti, and retain the stunning vibrancy typical of Pre-Raphaelite art.
Opening Hours

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

Borrowing
  • All members of the Oxford Union Society may borrow from the Library.
  • Book and DVD loans are for two weeks at a time during term time and for the duration of any vacation period.
  • Members may borrow up to 8 books and 5 DVDs at a time.
  • Books and DVDs may be renewed on SOLO.

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.

Facilities

  • Wifi

  • Printing, scanning, and photocopying: 5p per b&w sheet, 25p for colour. Documents for printing should be emailed to print@oxford-union.org

  • IT equipment to borrow: A selection of chargers and cables.

Accessibility Support

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

  • Extended loans if requested.
  • Proxy borrowing: If you aren’t able to access the library in person, you can send someone to borrow on your behalf.
  • Book retrieval service: Staff will happily fetch a book that you may not be able to access.
  • Postal loans and returns.
  • Renewals can be requested via phone and email, there’s usually no need to come in person.
  • Staff-mediated printing, scanning, and photocopying service.
  • A well-trained and professional Library Team who undergo regular refresher accessibility training.
  • Reserved seating if required for accessibility.

Equipment

  • Height adjustable desk.
  • Noise-cancelling headphones.
  • Book rests.
  • Magnifiers.
  • Coloured acetate overlays.
Non-Members Visiting the Old Library

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

Supporting the Oxford Union

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.

How to Donate

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.

Debating Chamber
Click here to take a tour of the Oxford Union Debating Chamber
 
Find Us
The Oxford Union Society, Oxford Union, Frewin Ct, Oxford OX1 3JB, United Kingdom
Contact Us

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:
librarian-in-charge@oxford-union.org

Laura Johnson, Deputy Librarian: 
cataloguer@oxford-union.org

Elizabeth Piper, Assistant Librarian: 
assistant.librarian@oxford-union.org

​​​​​​Rosie Ruixi Zhang, Graduate Trainee: 
​​​​​​​library.assistant@oxford-union.org