Visitor exploring displays via a phone app during the 'Alice in Typhoidland' exhibition by John Cairns

Bodleian Libraries: Digital access for all


The pandemic has taught us all that digital access to the Bodleian Libraries has the power to transform lives and expand horizons. Our digital collections and services have never been so heavily used. Your support will help to meet this need head-on and to share the Bodleian’s research and collections with our audiences online.

Digital access is now a crucial part of how we serve our community of readers, scholars and the public. We are fully committed to delivering an outstanding academic experience to students and our wider community - online as well as in person. However, our main sources of funding and income have been reduced and stretched due to the pandemic, and we cannot continue this without your help.

The Bodleian’s mission to maintain access to Oxford's unique collections for the benefit of scholarship and society has been even more important this year, to sustain people through this difficult time and to allow our scholarly research to continue.

You can help us achieve this goal and enable people to access our cultural institution at this time, when it is needed the most.

I cannot tell you how much I loved the Bodleian unlocked at the weekend. I wrote a script alongside it at the weekend and sent it to my Grandma, my parents, my sister, my in-laws, my BFFs.... so they could all take a virtual tour. I thought it was really excellent. I also sent it to a friend that has MS and is house bound.... such an amazing resource for her because it allows her to get out virtually.... very cool.

Response following the #BodUnlocked social media campaign sharing 360° images of the Old Bodleian Library

Here’s what your gift could support


per month would pay for the digitisation of one folio of the Libraries’ manuscript collection each month.
would pay for 10 digital scans of books for students and researchers.
can provide an online video or audio description of an item in the collection, adapted for those with visual impairments or interpreted in British Sign Language.
will enable us to film our expert curators interpreting an object in detail and share this online.
will allow us to create a video tour of an exhibition, enabling all to experience and enjoy it at home.

Explore the gallery


Child enjoying a school study day

Child enjoying a school study day

Visitor bringing one of the sacred Ge’ez manuscripts of Ethiopia and Eritrea to life on her phone

Visitor bringing one of the sacred Ge’ez manuscripts of Ethiopia and Eritrea to life on her phone

Family interacting with one of the digital displays during the ‘Alice in Typhoidland’ exhibition

Family interacting with one of the digital displays during the ‘Alice in Typhoidland’ exhibition

Child interacting with one of the digital displays during the  ‘Alice in Typhoidland’ exhibition

Child interacting with one of the digital displays during the ‘Alice in Typhoidland’ exhibition

Visitors exploring digital technology in the Weston Hall during a ‘Thinking 3D’ Bodleian Lates event

Visitors exploring digital technology in the Weston Hall during a ‘Thinking 3D’ Bodleian Lates event

Visitors exploring a digital display at the  ‘Alice in Typhoidland’ exhibition

Visitors exploring a digital display at the ‘Alice in Typhoidland’ exhibition

Visitors interacting with digital technologies during a ’Thinking 3D’ Bodleian Lates event

Visitors interacting with digital technologies during a ’Thinking 3D’ Bodleian Lates event

Visitor exploring displays via a phone app during the  ‘Alice in Typhoidland’ exhibition

Visitor exploring displays via a phone app during the ‘Alice in Typhoidland’ exhibition

Visitor bringing one of the sacred Ge’ez manuscripts of Ethiopia and Eritrea to life on her phone

Visitor bringing one of the sacred Ge’ez manuscripts of Ethiopia and Eritrea to life on her phone