Library

The four Mansfield libraries

The Library aims to provide the books undergraduates need for their tutorial work, complementing the diverse range of resources available elsewhere in Oxford. The College’s Main Library is a wonderful wood-panelled room which contains core texts for most courses, while there are separate libraries devoted to Law, PPE and Theology. All four libraries are open to students twenty-four hours a day, and there are printing, scanning and photocopying facilities available.

The Main Library

The Library has the appearance of a medieval tithe barn with a gallery and reading bays underneath the spreading slopes of a pitched roof with attractive stencilled panels, ornamented with scrolls and Latin mottoes. Mythical creatures, flowers and fruit can be seen in oak carvings above the bookshelves in the reading bays, which also incorporate the original oak tables.

Library portraits

From a collection presented to the College in 1894, the portraits are of clergymen ejected from the Church of England by the Act of Uniformity in 1662, most of whom became founder members of the Nonconformist churches.

Accessibility and assistive equipment

The Library offers a variety of resources and provisions for Mansfield members with disabilities and special requirements.

Resources

Provisions

The Library itself is up a flight of stairs on the first and second floor of the building. If physical access to the buildings is a problem, staff will collect books for disabled readers, or you can nominate someone to check books out for you. Please get in touch to discuss this and any other ways in which we can help.

Book delivery

Library staff are happy to deliver books to alternative locations around College.

Extended borrowing rights

Library staff are happy to consider longer borrowing periods and increased borrowing limits on application from members.

Nominated checkout

Disabled users may also nominate a person to check out books on their behalf.

Library helper

Permission may be given by the Librarian for a helper, approved by the University Disability office, to accompany a student when using the Library.

Wellbeing and study skills

Special Collections and Archives

From its theological foundation there is a wealth of research material for the study of English and Welsh Nonconformity, a collection of eighteenth and nineteenth century books, and a small but significant antiquarian collection.

The College Archive holds the administrative records of Mansfield College; the archive of the former Spring Hill College in Birmingham and early Reports from the Mansfield House Settlement in the East End of London.

Recent research by alumnus David Seymour has focused on Mansfield during the First World War. You can read about his research here: Mansfield College and the Great War.

Archival records include:

Council and Governing Body Minutes
JCR Minute Books and materials
University Society Minute Books
Mansfield College Reports and Magazines 1886-present
Staff and student memorabilia
Architectural drawings and plans
College photographs

For further information please contact the librarian on 01865 270975 or via email library@mansfield.ox.ac.uk.

There’s a really useful and informative film guide to help students and researchers with accessing special collections in Oxford colleges available here (courtesy of Balliol College).