Library

Many reading lists are available via ORLO, which can provide links to books, articles, and databases along with bibliographic details of printed materials. Please bear in mind that not all reading lists are available via ORLO.

Additional information and links to resources for individual academic disciplines are available via the LibGuides for each subject. Other links to specialist research materials, and tips and tools for those undertaking academic research, are available in additional research guides.

SOLO

The fundamental resource for accessing Oxford’s information resources is SOLO. Use SOLO to search for physical and electronic items, articles, and other e-resources.

Special collections at the Bodleian and elsewhere in Oxford

For links to catalogues of special collections, manuscripts, and other materials in the Bodleian and a number of other Oxford repositories, see Special collections finding aids and catalogues.

Digital Bodleian

Search and explore images from the special collections of the Bodleian and various college libraries via Digital Bodleian, with over a million images of c.16,000 individual items.

E-books

Access over 1.4 million e-books via SOLO. Filter results by “Available Online” to restrict searches to electronic resources – look for the green Online access icon for those that are accessible outside the Bodleian’s reading rooms. Note: a yellow Online access icon denotes electronic copies of publications received under Legal Deposit copyright legislation. These can only be read online in one of the reading rooms of the Bodleian libraries.

Due to a cyber-attack on the British Library (which manages these resources), readers must currently use an interim solution to access these and some other resources. More information on accessing e-books in Oxford generally is available via the e-books LibGuide.

E-journals

Access e-journal titles via SOLO. Filter results by Online Resources to show items that can be accessed offsite – look for the green Online Access icon for items that can be accessed outside the Bodleian reading rooms. As in the case of e-books, yellow Online access icons denote electronic items received under Legal Deposit legislation. These can only be read online in one of the reading rooms of the Bodleian libraries.

The easiest way to access online journals by subject is from the BrowZine page. The options available here permit you to restrict your search to particular areas of research. Remember, however, that the journals listed under each subject heading are not an exhaustive list.

Databases

Access over 1,300 databases across a broad range of subject areas. Visit Databases A-Z or locate individual databases via SOLO.

Borrowing

Almost all books in the Library, unless marked ‘Confined’ or ‘Not to be Taken Away’, may be borrowed. Books should be borrowed using the self-issue machine in the Library Reception. Please contact a member of staff if you need any help with this.

Borrowing entitlements for St Peter's students are as follows:

• Undergraduates and Visiting Students: 15 volumes at any one time. The standard loan period is 28 days. All books issued in term are due for return not later than Thursday of 8th week. The loan period is progressively foreshortened to allow for this. Books may be borrowed for the entire period of the subsequent Vacation from the Monday of 8th week.
• Postgraduates: 15 volumes at any one time. The standard loan period is 56 days, both in Term and Vacation.

Renewing

Books already on loan may be renewed, provided that they have not been already requested by another member of the College.

There are two ways in which books may be renewed. Either, reissue the books on the self-issue machine, or renew them using the renewal facility which may be accessed through SOLO. To renew books using SOLO, you will first need to sign in using the button at the top right of the screen.

Once signed in, you can access a list of your loans (for all the institutions which use the system, including St Peter's).  You can check what you have borrowed, when items are due for return, and can renew College books provided that they have not been requested by another College member. Remember: if your books are overdue, you will not be able to renew them yourself. If you have problems trying to renew your books, or if they are already overdue, please contact Library staff who may be able to help.

Returning

Books for return should be placed in the Book Return Bins in the Library Reception, or handed to a member of Library staff. If books are not returned on time, a charge will be made at the rate of 20p per day for each overdue resource.