We have experienced (endured? enjoyed?) the hottest May day on record. It was a weird, but a memorable one at the Bodleian, with visitors and readers moving swiftly across the quads in search of the precious shade. Our lush lawn around the Radcliffe Camera, so beautifully cut into a now famous pattern, started to fade and turn yellow. And it was becoming unbearably hot in our old buildings, so whoever could, moved over to the Weston Library, which is offering its cool space of Blackwell Hall and even cooler free exhibition areas, not to be missed on a grey, let alone a scorching day. Bring on hot Wednesday!
Removed for conservation in 2023, several of the muses have been conserved or newly cast in lead. As part of The Muddle of the Muses, three of the statues will be on display in Blackwell Hall: Clio representing History (original lead statue), Calliope representing Epic Poetry (lead reproduction) and Polyhymnia representing Rhetoric (original statue). Don't miss this rare chance to see these remarkable sculptures at eye level and discover the intriguing story behind their conservation. Starting Saturday 23rd of May 2026.
Inspired by John J. Audubon’s Birds of America, one of the most famous and most valuable books, James Freemantle, the Bodleian Printer in Residence 2025–26, is working on a project, creating a birdwatcher’s notebook referencing some of the better known pages from the Audubon. The book will record so-called ‘vagrant birds,’ those sighted outside their normal range. To see the original Birds of America, visit our free exhibition Wonder of Birds in the Weston Library.
Adam Lowe talks about his journey from the Ruskin School of Drawing and Fine Art to the creation of ARCHiOx. This collaboration between Factum Foundation and the Bodleian Libraries focuses on how new technologies can expand access and research into collections. Adam reflects on his approach to cultural heritage, and how 25 years of working at the intersection of art, technology, and preservation shape his view of how to safeguard it for future generations.
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