The College Library

Lady Margaret Hall has an excellent working library (around 70,000 books, nearly all on the open shelves; a figure which compares extremely favourably to other large Oxford colleges). 

The Library is well stocked in all the major areas of study required by undergraduates, including multiple copies of key texts (particularly in the sciences), and a growing DVD collection. 

Its collections are also well used by Tutors and graduates, and it is known for its coverage of certain graduate subjects in the humanities.  This is due both to the strength of collections acquired in the past, and to the purchasing power of subsequent years. And this in turn is due in great measure to the fact that LMH was a women’s college for a hundred years.  From its inception, it was deemed important to build up the Library, as women were initially not allowed to read in the Bodleian or Union libraries. There was ardent support for the Library in the early days, and this has continued.

The Library is open for use by College members 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is almost invariably somebody hard at work. There is ample provision of seating; much of it in individual study bays, all of which are supplied with ethernet points and have wireless access.

Students have full access in the LMH Library to all the electronic resources (catalogues, databases, e-journals) provided by University.  There is a computer room in the library, well equipped with computers, and printing and copying facilities.

As well as the Librarian, student workers are employed in the Library, and have contributed greatly to its character and success. 

Click on the left-hand menu for contact details, or to find out more about history of the Library or how to use it.