• Studying
      Here
      • Chat with a Magdalen student
      • As an Undergraduate
        • Courses We Offer
        • Joint Schools
        • Information for applicants 2020/21
        • How to Apply
        • Funding Your Course
        • Choral Scholars
        • Open Days and Visits
        • International Students
        • Visiting Students
        • Commonly Asked Questions
      • As a Graduate
        • Application Process
        • Selection Criteria
        • Clinical Medicine
        • Funding Your Course
        • Scholarships and Awards
        • Visiting Students
      • Second BA
      • Outreach
        • Online Outreach Event Booking
        • Half Term Virtual Taster Days
        • Talks With Tutors- Taster Subject Lectures
        • Next Steps Sheffield
        • Outreach Resources
        • Law at Magdalen Programme
    • Living
      Here
      • As an Undergraduate
      • As a Graduate
      • Environment
      • Student Life
      • Student Profiles
        • Adam, Philosophy, Politics & Economics (PPE)
        • Amy, History
        • Betsy, Jurisprudence with Legal Studies in Europe
        • Catrin, Human Sciences
        • Eleanor, French and Linguistics
        • Nadia, Medicine
        • Parth, Biochemistry
        • Ryan, English
        • Seb, Music
      • Catering
      • Magdalen College Welfare Support
      • Information for care-experienced students
      • Societies
        • The Florio Society
        • The Atkin Society
        • The Sherrington Society
        • The Magdalen College Trust
          • Accomodation
      • Glossary
    • Discover
      Magdalen
      • College History
        • The College Buildings
        • The 43 Presidents
        • Famous Alumni
        • Nobel Laureates
        • Conversation Pieces
      • Research at Magdalen
      • Visiting Magdalen
      • News
      • B&B Room Reservation
      • Shop
    • People at
      Magdalen
    • Chapel
      & Choir
      • The Chapel
        • Chapel Services
        • Chapel People
        • Sunday Addresses and Sermons
        • Learning and Fellowship
        • Some Magdalen Sermons
        • The Organ of Magdalen College
      • The Choir
      • Choir Recordings
      • Services and Music List
    • Library
      & Archives
      • COVID-19: information for library users
        • Library Click and Collect
        • Borrowing books whilst self-isolating
      • Libraries
        • New Library & St. Swithun’s Library
        • SOLO (Library catalogue)
        • History of Magdalen College Libraries
      • Archives
        • About the Archives
        • Access to the Archives
        • Online Catalogues
        • Magdalen Hall
        • Magdalen College School
      • Library & Archives Contact Details
      • Conservation
        • The Medieval Title Deeds Project
        • The Conservation of the Daubeny Library
        • The Conservation and Preservation of Greek Manuscripts at Magdalen College
      • Online Exhibitions
      • Illuminating Magdalen
      • Library & Archive News
    • Alumni
      & Friends
      • Alumni Area
        – Log in
      • Useful Information
      • Alumni News
      • Alumni Events
        • Webinar Recordings
      • Supporting Magdalen
        • May Giving Challenge
        • Making a Gift (UK)
        • Making a Gift (Outside UK)
        • Giving in your Will
        • Fundraising Priorities
        • Recognising Your Support
      • Involving our Alumni
      • Publications
        • Publications Archive
      • Development and Alumni Relations Office Team
      • Social Media Hub
    • Conferences
      & Events
      • Magdalen News and Events
      • Residential Conferences
      • Day meetings
      • Private Dining
        • Sample Menus
    • Hilary Term 2021 Return Plans
    Home > Libraries & Archives > Magdalen’s Libraries
    • An unbroken tradition of learning since 1458
    • Engaging environment for study and friends
    • Welcoming students from all backgrounds
    • Building on excellence
    • A warm community
    • Academic and athletic experiences
    • A community of enquiry and discovery
    • An environment for growth
    • Nurturing arts and culture

    Magdalen’s Libraries

    The University of Oxford has over 50 departmental and central university libraries, including the world-famous Bodleian Library, that are used by members of the university as well as researchers from around the world. Each college also has its own library or libraries, primarily for the use of its college members, but also open to external academic researchers. Magdalen is no exception.

    Longwall LibraryLongwall Library

    The Longwall Library, in Longwall Quad, contains the circulating, reference, and film collections, covering the spectrum of academic disciplines. The large circulating collection covers most subject areas to at least undergraduate level, with many resources for postgraduates and other members. From 2014 to early 2016 the library was significantly renovated and extended.

    All of the books and DVDs in the Longwall Library are catalogued on SOLO. The Longwall Library is primarily used by Magdalen students, academics, and other staff, who can access it 24 hours a day. External researchers are welcome to e-mail library@magd.ox.ac.uk to make an appointment to use unique material in the Longwall Library collection for reference purposes on any weekday, and can also borrow from our impressive DVD film collection.

    Law Library

    The Law Library, situated in the Grove Building, contains an up-to-date, reference-only collection of law books, law reports, and periodicals, all catalogued onto SOLO. Access is limited to those studying law at Magdalen.

    Old Library

    The Old Library is the original college library, and has been housed in the same space in the Cloisters since the late fifteenth-century. Today it holds a large collection of books published before 1800 and several hundred manuscripts, covering a wide range of topics. More details about the history of the library collection and building may be found here.

    The manuscript collection was catalogued (in Latin) by Coxe in the 19th century, and his catalogue may be read as a Google Book. A much-improved catalogue of the manuscripts is currently being prepared for publication. Images of some of the Greek manuscripts are available online. The pre-1800 book collection has been partly (but not entirely) catalogued onto SOLO.

    Unsupervised access to the Old Library is restricted to senior members of the college. Other researchers may consult the collection by appointment (e-mail library@magd.ox.ac.uk), typically on Thursdays and Fridays.

    Daubeny Library

    The Daubeny Library, housed in the Daubeny Building, is a discrete collection of books on the history of science and scientific research, mainly from the 19th century.  The collection comprises the science collection that Charles Daubeny bequeathed to the College in 1867, as well as books added to it by his colleague Edward Chapman. It has recently been conserved, as detailed here. It is a reference collection, with restricted access. The collection has been fully catalogued onto SOLO. Items required by readers may be requested by e-mailing library@magd.ox.ac.uk, and brought to the Longwall Library for consultation on any weekday.

    McFarlane Library

    The McFarlane Library, in the Cloisters, contains the specialist medieval-history collection bequeathed to the College by Bruce McFarlane, who taught medieval history at Magdalen. It is a reference collection, with restricted access. The collection has been fully catalogued onto SOLO. Items required by readers may be requested by e-mailing library@magd.ox.ac.uk, and brought to the Longwall Library for consultation on any weekday.

    Libraries & Archives
    Magdalen's Libraries
    • Longwall Library
    • SOLO (Library catalogue)
    • History of Magdalen College Libraries
    Archives
    • About the Archives
    • Access to the Archives
    • Online Catalogues
    • Magdalen Hall
    • Magdalen College School
    Library & Archives Contact Details
    Conservation
    • The Medieval Title Deeds Project
    • The Conservation of the Daubeny Library
    • The Conservation and Preservation of Greek Manuscripts at Magdalen College
    Illuminating Magdalen
    Library & Archive News
    Online Exhibitions
    Follow us on Facebook
    Follow us on Twitter
    Library & Archives News
    23rd December
    Conference on D. G. Hogarth: archaeologist, intelligence officer, author
    26th August
    Lawrence of Oxford Catalogue Available for Purchase!
    13th August
    New Click and Collect Service
    Illuminating Magdalen
    12th January
    An Historical Account of the Late Great Frost
    23rd December
    Conference: D. G. Hogarth, archaeologist, intelligence officer, author. 23 January 2021
    28th October
    Short Account of the Destruction of the Indies
    BUILDING OUR FUTURE: Magdalen's Campaign to raise £7.5m to redevelop the New Library How you can help

    Connect with us

    Get in touch

    Magdalen College
    Oxford
    OX1 4AU
    United Kingdom

    T: +44 (0)1865 276000

    Contact us

    Media Enquiries

    Job Vacancies

    Find us

    • Studying
      Here

      • Chat with a Magdalen student
      • As an Undergraduate
      • As a Graduate
      • Second BA
      • Outreach
    • Living
      Here

      • As an Undergraduate
      • As a Graduate
      • Environment
      • Student Life
      • Student Profiles
      • Catering
      • Magdalen College Welfare Support
      • Information for care-experienced students
      • Societies
      • Glossary
    • Discover
      Magdalen

      • College History
      • Research at Magdalen
      • Visiting Magdalen
      • News
      • B&B Room Reservation
      • Shop
    • People at
      Magdalen

    • Chapel
      & Choir

      • The Chapel
      • The Choir
      • Choir Recordings
      • Services and Music List
    • Library
      & Archives

      • COVID-19: information for library users
      • Libraries
      • Archives
      • Library & Archives Contact Details
      • Conservation
      • Online Exhibitions
      • Illuminating Magdalen
      • Library & Archive News
    • Alumni
      & Friends

      • Alumni Area
        – Log in
      • Useful Information
      • Alumni News
      • Alumni Events
      • Supporting Magdalen
      • Involving our Alumni
      • Publications
      • Development and Alumni Relations Office Team
      • Social Media Hub
    • Conferences
      & Events

      • Magdalen News and Events
      • Residential Conferences
      • Day meetings
      • Private Dining
    • Hilary Term 2021 Return Plans

  • Copyright © Magdalen College, Oxford 2021 | Equality | Other policies | Strategic Plan | Internal Pages | Gender Pay Gap Magdalen College is a Registered Charity, No.1142149
    This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We will assume that you are ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Read More
    Privacy & Cookies Policy