@tayoxford.bsky.social
Taylor Institution Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries at Oxford. Covers modern European languages & literatures with a teaching collection and specialist research collection. https://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/libraries/taylor
๐ Vacation Loans ๐
Vacation loans have also now begun! All Taylorian and some Bodleian Offsite Storage items which are loaned or renewed after the 9th March will have a new due date of the 28th April!
๐ฃ Have a lovely Easter Vacation! ๐ผ
Today is the last day of Hilary Term 2026!
We're wishing all our students a lovely, restful, and (if needed) productive vacation period, and we can't wait to see you all back here for Trinity Term!
๐And we're finished!๐
Thank you to everyone who came to our Free Book Event- we hope you enjoy all your new books!
Don't worry if you missed out- we'll be putting the remaining books on our Freebie Book Table on the First Floor landing over the next few weeks, so there's still chance to get some!
And a bonus #TopTipThursTAY - don't forget to use your college libraries too! They can also purchase items you may need, and other colleges may be willing to let you look at a book if it's the only copy in Oxford!
And that's how you can use ILL Requests to access the resources you need!
Please remember however that this option is only open to University of Oxford members (& OUH Trust staff).
Requests are free, and you can have five active requests at one time!
If you'd like to keep an ILL for longer, contact the central Bodleian ILL team, or the library you borrowed the book from, so they can ask the lending library if they will allow a renewal.
When you want to return the book, return it to the library staff at the library you borrowed it from.
Please note however that with physical items:
๐ Whether the book is loanable or not is determined by the library who lends the book alongside the rules of the Bodleian Library it's sent to
๐The library who own the book will also decide its due date, and whether you will be allowed any renewals
How you'll receive your ILL:
Your request is processed by our team, and the item is then sent to us by a library that has accepted the request
Physical items: You will receive an email to tell you when it's arrived, and where you can pick it up from
Digital items: The scan will be emailed to you
How to request an ILL:
Log into SOLO, and click the 'Need more?' button in the top, dark blue bar
This will bring up the request form. Fill in the details of the item you would like to access, what format you would like it in, and, for physical items, where you would like to pick it up or read it
Do you only need a singular article or chapter of a book?
An ILL can be a great option! You can usually be provided with a scan of these (if it's within copyright restrictions), which can be delivered quickly, kept forever and read anywhere!
How long will you need to use it? ILL's will only be here for a few months, whereas a purchased item will remain in the Bodleian
Do you need to use the book outside the library? Some ILL's can only be used within a library, whereas purchased items are more likely to be loanable (but not always)
Should you request a purchase ๐ฐ, or an ILL ๐?
There are pros and cons to each option, especially when you'd like to look at a whole book.
Do you need to use it soon? ILL's will arrive faster than a purchase request, as they don't need to go through the processing a new book would
The Bodleian's full policy on ILLs can be found at the link below, but for this weeks #TopTipThursTAY, we'll break down how you can request these items, and how and where you can use them.
What is an Inter Library Loan (ILL)? ๐
An ILL (also referred to as an Inter Library Request) is a book that belongs to another, non-Bodleian library, that they will send to us for a reader to use in Oxford.
It's a worldwide scheme, with lots of libraries in different sectors taking part!
Need to read to a book that's not in the Bodleian's collections?
If you're a University of Oxford member, you can either:
๐Request the Bodleian purchases a copy, using the 'Request purchase' form on SOLO
OR
๐Request an Inter Library Loan- which is the topic of today's #TopTipThursTAY!
๐ Our free book event is now open! ๐
Please come and join us for some coffee and cake, and to treat yourself to some free books!
Thank you everyone who has contributed to our Common Room revamp suggestions board so far!
It's been really insightful to see how you think we could improve the space- from better facilities and lighting ๐ก to improved comfort and decoration ๐ผ๏ธ
Please keep letting us know what's important to you!
๐ Free Book Event! ๐
Study or read a modern European language? Fancy some free books? And coffee and cake?
Come along to our free book event!
๐ Main Hall, Taylor Institution Library
๐
Thursday 12th March
โฐ3-4pm
(PS: If you read Italian or German, this event will be particularly useful for you!)
A library user once said they didn't like working in the second floor stack because it "smelled like old books". To each their own, but we love the smell of books old and new!
Happy #WorldBookDay to all who celebrate!
Don't miss this Thursday's Creative Translation workshop on the poetry of Catalan poet, activist, and artist, Mari Chordร ! Designed for students of Romance languages, this seminar-workshop will bring together the practices of art and translation.
Details below:
A belated Happy St David's Day! It's starting to feel like Spring is here, especially thanks to the daffodils in our staff room.
Dydd Gลตyl Dewi Hapus!
๐ฃ๏ธWhat should we prioritise in our Common Room revamp?๐ฃ
Tell us what do you care about most: lamps, cushions, plants, crafts, games, leisure books, or something else? ๐ฑ๐ฒ๐๏ธ๐
This is certainly what @hlaehnemann.bsky.social and I have been doing with Taylor Editions! @tayoxford.bsky.social The model is appreciated by reviewers, e.g. muse.jhu.edu/article/965571
All in all, @mfoxford.bsky.social is a hidden gem in Oxford, perfect for researchers, students, and anyone who wants to relax surrounded by French literature.
If you visit, say hello from us!
For example, tonight's event at @mfoxford.bsky.social is a Medieval French Seminar titled โBalzac and Totality: Reading Les Paysans Todayโ
Have a peek at their events here: mfo.web.ox.ac.uk/whatson
@mfoxford.bsky.social hosts researchers, runs a fantastic programme of events, and best of all - is free for anyone to join. You don't have to belong to Oxford University access all their excellent contemporary French literature. They even have a children's section!
Did you know there's another library focusing on French literature in Oxford? ๐
Let's talk about our lovely neighbours at the Maison Franรงaise d'Oxford! @mfoxford.bsky.social
#TopTipsThursTAY
We can't believe it's sixth week already! Students - you're doing great (Lorca says so!) ๐
It is just a week before the OxFOS 2026 Conference Day. Running March 4th from 10am until 6pm, in the Sir Victor Blank Lecture theatre, @bodleian.ox.ac.uk Weston Library, you can check out the full agenda and register to attend now
go.glam.ox.ac.uk/OxFOS26
The faculty of Modern Languages created the post of virtual writer-in-residence to promote the voices of Ukrainian authors.
For more about Olena Stiazhkina and Oleksandr Mykhed, read their short bios below.
There are also recorded talks and blog posts here: www.torch.ox.ac.uk/ukrainian-li...