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Published — 17 June 2026 ⏭ Bodleian Libraries

Pride in the Timurid Empire

Pride in the Timurid Empire — To celebrate Pride Month 2026 we are looking into past examples of expressions of LGBTQ+ love, sometimes in unexpected places and times. Nicholas Kontovas, Bodleian Curator for Central Asia, puts the spotlight on the poetic works of Sultan Husayn Bayqara, who - over 500 years ago - ruled the Timurid Empire with its capital in Herat, in modern Afghanistan.
Source: Bodleian Library MS. S. Digby Or. 210

Published — 11 June 2026 ⏭ Bodleian Libraries

TOSCA - Vera Dorofeeva-Lichtmann: The General Map of the Qing Empire by Li Mingche (李明徹, 1751–1832)

TOSCA - Vera Dorofeeva-Lichtmann: The General Map of the Qing Empire by Li Mingche (李明徹, 1751–1832) — Vera Dorofeeva-Lichtmann (L’École des hautes études en sciences sociales, Paris) discusses the unique large-format print of the General Map of the Qing Empire by Li Mingche (李明徹, 1751–1832) in Göttingen: tracing its cartographical origins and journey to a German university.

Published — 28 May 2026 ⏭ Bodleian Libraries

Friends of the Bodleian Annual Lecture // Richard Ovenden: Defending Knowledge: Why Libraries Matter

Friends of the Bodleian Annual Lecture // Richard Ovenden: Defending Knowledge: Why Libraries Matter — Watch the Friends of the Bodleian Annual Lecture featuring Richard Ovenden OBE, Bodley’s Librarian, as he explores the deliberate destruction of knowledge throughout history and its urgent relevance today.

Drawing from his acclaimed book Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack, Richard will discuss how libraries, librarians, and archivists bear the profound responsibility of preserving and transparently sharing information, and their critical role in safeguarding knowledge for future generations.

“Why are books destroyed? It’s about control—controlling knowledge to control societies, to control the way people behave, the way people think, the way people spend money.” – Richard Ovenden

Speaker
Richard Ovenden OBE is the 25th Bodley’s Librarian and the Helen Hamlyn Director of the University Libraries at the University of Oxford. He holds this post together with being Head of Gardens, Libraries & Museums. Richard serves as President of the Digital Preservation Coalition, and as a member of the Advisory Council of the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz. He has written extensively on the history of the book and current concerns in the library, archive and information worlds. He is the author of Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack.

Published — 26 May 2026 ⏭ Bodleian Libraries

Hottest May day on record at the Bodleian Library in Oxford

Hottest May day on record at the Bodleian Library in Oxford — 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!

Published — 22 May 2026 ⏭ Bodleian Libraries

Where have the Muses from the Clarendon Building gone?

Where have the Muses from the Clarendon Building gone? — 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.

Published — 21 May 2026 ⏭ Bodleian Libraries

Bodleian's Printer in Residence James Freemantle #short #printing

Bodleian's Printer in Residence James Freemantle #short #printing — 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.

Published — 20 May 2026 ⏭ Bodleian Libraries

Intimate access to articulate objects: the work of Factum Foundation

Intimate access to articulate objects: the work of Factum Foundation — 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.