The Bodleian Library

Left: Just one of the many buildings which comprise the Bodleian Library.
Below: Inside part of the Divinity Section. This is near where the Infirmary scenes from the Harry Potter movies are filmed.
You may be wondering, what's so great about this Bodleian library? Well, I'll tell you. First of all, it's ancient. Second of all, it's gorgeous. Third of all, it houses over five million books spanning from the last 1000 years. It is more expansive than our own Library of Congress. Every book that is ever published is located here, and they get about 5,000 new books a week. It's located in the heart of the city centre, and it's truly magnificent. I haven't had time to explore it yet, but here are a few teaser photos. For those of you coming to visit, you will definitely get to see this place up close and personal. It's fabulous.

Interestingly, these photos were taken at our induction into the library. In order to be inducted and allowed access to the Bodleian's ancient halls, we had to each personally take an oath written in old English promising not to eat food, destroy books, or "kindle flame" to the place. Back in the old days, the books were so precious, the scholars were not allowed to use candlelight to read. The library would close when the sun set, and that was that. Because of this rule, the Bodleian was constructed to have many glorious windows to let in as much sunlight as possible.

For more pictures, please see my picasa album: http://picasaweb.google.com/laura.ingram/TheBodleianLibrary