Bodleian Library To Open Its Doors

Posted by Elizabeth Gregory Mar 15, 2008

One of the UK's most famous libraries has received funding to allow the public to see its collection of rare manuscript treasures.The Bodleian Library in Oxford is one of Britain's oldest and most beautiful libraries, founded in 1602 and the guardian of many priceless literary works.

Shakespeare First Folio 1623

As a library of legal deposit, the Bodleian by law receives a copy of every book published in every year dating back over the last four centuries - and therefore counts amongst its holdings a copy of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, printed in 1623. Other delights include a Gutenberg Bible (one of eight surviving copies), original Tolkien drawings and Gustav Holst's score for The Planet Suite.

All these and more will be on display after a redevelopment of the New Bodleian building, made possible thanks to a £5 million donation from Julian Blackwell. The bad news? The collection won't be on show until sometime after 2010: keep an eye on the Bodleian website for more details.