The Library to date
The Library continues to evolve to meet the needs of its members and collections. In the Old Library, the introduction of, and improvements to lighting, heating, and WiFI are just some of the changes making the space more comfortable, and keeping it relevant for readers alongside the modern books now housed there.
The Hodgson Room was built above the western end of the cloisters to house a large bequest from 1912. The Hodgson Room, now known as the Catalogue Room, houses the card catalogue. It was remodelled in 2024 to hold remove the copier and computers, and provide additional shelving. It still links the original, medieval library to the space in the 18th-century Fellows’ Building overlooking the gardens, which held the undergraduate, or Junior Library from the 1930 to the 1960s. Once hosting the start of the English literature collections, this space currently contains ancient philosophy and linguistics material (which is reflected in its name change from 'English' to 'Garden' Room).
In the last two decades of the 20th century, the ground floor rooms under the medieval library were incorporated into the Library to create more space for books and readers. These rooms were emptied of books in the summer of 2024. The staircase linking them to the Old Library above was also removed then, and these rooms are well on their way to becoming to teaching and meeting spaces again. A room at the western end of the first floor library (once used as the 'Italian Room' to house an 18th century donation, and subsequently becoming the 'President's Study' as part of the Lodgings) was reincorporated into the Library in the 1980s. This room now provides the link between the Old Library Wing and the Spencer Building.
The Library of the future today
The Spencer Building, a purpose-built library for modern and historic materials, and their readers, opened in 2024. It provides light and airy rooms, as well as ergonomic and adjustable furniture for readers, and open shelving for modern collections. Step-free access, plus a lift, makes all four floors accessible, including (for the first time) the Old Library itself. The Spencer Building includes the Wright Special Collections Centre, which will house the early printed books, manuscripts and archival records of the College. The Wolfson Special Collections Reading Room is already acommodating researchers, who come from around the world to consult the historic material held at Corpus.
To read architects Clare Wright and Kirsty Shankland's article about the Special Collections Centre project, published in the December 2020 issue of the Sundial, click here.
References
- The Library of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, in the Sixteenth Century, Liddell
- The Medieval Manuscripts of Corpus Christi College, Oxford,
- Library History, Jonathan Bengtson A summary of library history by a former library staff member
Publications on College history
- Corpus Christi College, Oxford: A History by Thomas Charles-Edwards and Julian Reid (Oxford, 2017)
- The history of Corpus Christi College, with lists of its members by Thomas Fowler (Oxford, 1893)
- The early history of Corpus Christi College, Oxford by J.G. Milne (Oxford 1946)
- Corpuscles: a history of Corpus Christi College, Oxford in the twentieth century, written by its members, edited by Brian Harrison (Oxford 1994)
- The Fox, the Bees and the Pelican: Some worthies and noteworthies of Corpus Christi College, Oxford by Richard Symonds (Oxford, 2002)
- Daring to be wise: More worthies and noteworthies of Corpus Christi College, Oxford by Richard Symonds (Oxford, 2004)
- Raising the ladder: Further worthies and noteworthies of Corpus Christi College, Oxford by Richard Symonds, edited by Stephen Harrison (Oxford 2008)
Biographical details of Corpus members
- Biographical register 1880-1974 Corpus Christi College, Oxford by PA Hunt and NA Flanagan (Oxford, 1988)
- Supplement to the Biographical Register 1974-1991 Corpus Christi College, Oxford by A Nockels (Oxford, 1992)
- Alumni Oxonienses: the members of the University of Oxford, 1500-1714 by Joseph Foster (Oxford, 1891-2)
- Alumni Oxonienses: the members of the University of Oxford, 1715-1886 by Joseph Foster (Oxford, 1887-8)
Some Corpus publications can be purchased via the Lodge.