Talk:Bodleian Libraries

Edit request: Factual updates
I'm making this request rather than editing directly because I'm a paid employee of the Bodleian. Some of the basic info on this page is now out of date (simply due to consolidations, acquisitions, etc). I've listed items needing updating, along with a reference for each:

Intro para

 * Number of libraries - current 30, not 40 (see our about us page
 * Number of printed books (not all items!): now 12 million - see external news story and our own website for the event
 * Reference to OLIS - the term OLIS is no longer used externally. A more appropriate sentence would be: 'A major product of this collaboration has been a joint integrated library system with a public interface, SOLO'
 * Social Science Library - out of date. Please remove (don't have up to date statistic)

History

 * Info on founding doesn't really make it clear that although the Bodleian Libraries as a whole were founded in 2000, they are centred round the 400+ year old Bodleian Library
 * 11 million items - see above
 * 117 miles of shelving - no longer correct. Either remove or refer to related statistics, such as amount of shelving in our off site storage facility, where the majority of our collections are kept
 * Storage: We no longer use salt mines, and the majority of our collections are now housed in our Book Storage Facility in Swindon, as partially noted

Structure

 * Departments - no longer correct. I think this was taken from our website, but the list does not reflect our administrative structure.
 * Richard Ovenden - title is simply Bodley's Librarian (not Director of Libraries held concurrently with Bodley's Librarian)

Libraries
Updated list on our website

Generally useful info

 * A day in the life of the Bod stats
 * 2013/14 Annual Report
 * History of the Bodleian
 * 'Fascinating Facts'

Thanks very much in advance for any help!! Liz McCarthy (talk) 12:13, 17 May 2016 (UTC)

College libraries
Could we have some clarification (because I don't really understand it) on the relationship of the college libraries with Bodleian Libraries – i.e. that they aren't included among the 40 members of the group, but do participate in OLIS and SOLO. GrindtXX (talk) 18:09, 10 December 2012 (UTC)
 * I've had a go, but I've only really repeated what you've said...! - Jarry1250 [Deliberation needed] 18:37, 10 December 2012 (UTC)


 * Colleges are separate institutions to the University at Oxford University (and Cambridge University). Bodleian Libraries are University-level libraries. I hope this helps. — Jonathan Bowen (talk) 23:33, 21 December 2013 (UTC)

Vere Harmsworth Library
The Vere Harmsworth Library is worthy of a separate article as an important and distinctive library in its own right, covering the history and politics of the United States. Therefore do not merge with Bodleian Libraries, which should provided an overview and list. — Jonathan Bowen (talk) 23:33, 21 December 2013 (UTC)

Update to collection size
This sentence: "The group now cares for some 11 million items on 117 miles of shelving, and has a staff of over 400" is now very out of date. The total collection size for the libraries now exceeds 13 million items and the latest annual report (on page 274) says there are 561 Full Time Equivalent staff, implying the actual number of employees is largerbut some of them work part-time. I'm a Bodleian employee, so will avoid editing the article directly but if someone could make this update it would be greatly appreciated. MartinPoulter (talk)


 * Feel free to ping me if you have need of assistance in the future. --Xover (talk) 15:40, 4 July 2018 (UTC)