Libraries and Resources
The library resources of Oxford are rich, but geographically scattered. The Oxford University Library Information System (OLIS) computer catalogue covers holdings in almost all Oxford libraries, including the Bodleian, and all the holdings of the Social Science Library. Some important libraries for graduate work are mentioned here, but several others may be useful for specialised purposes. Particulars of these will be found in the leaflet on Oxford libraries that is issued to all new students.
Most Oxford libraries are part of Oxford University Library Services.
The readers’ guide ‘Slavonic and East European Studies Collections in OULS: Social Sciences, History and Geography’, available in printed form as well as online, gives an account of the collections and guidance on their use. For further information, contact: Mrs. Angelina Gibson, Slavonic and East European Subject Consultant (social sciences, history and geography), Telephone 01865 285998 (Social Science Library) or 01865 270468 (Taylor Bodleian Slavonic and Modern Greek Library).
The concentration of library resources for Russian and East European Studies in Oxford is the largest in any British university. Besides a number of smaller specialised collections, there are four libraries with holdings of relevance to the MPhil and MSc programme. These are the:
Taylor Bodleian Slavonic and Modern Greek Library,
St Antony's Russian and Eurasian Studies Centre Library.
The Central Bodleian Library
This is the main University library and the second largest library in the UK, contains extensive and long-established collections covering most aspects of the history, culture and contemporary affairs of Russia and the whole of Eastern Europe. Most REES material is kept in the bookstack and accessible via ASR (Automated Stack Request).In 2006 all open-shelf material from the Bodleian Slavonic reading room was transferred to two other sites.
The Taylor Bodleian Slavonic and Modern Greek Library (TABS)
General reference and history material is now on the open shelves at TABS. It also houses the University’s principal collection of East European literary and linguistic studies. It is situated at 47 Wellington Square and is one of the country’s leading collections in this field.For further information, contact Mr. Nick Hearn, Slavonic and East European Subject Consultant (language and literature), telephone 01865 270462 or Mrs. Angelina Gibson, Slavonic History Consultant on 2-70468 for history enquiries.
The Bodleian Social Science Library (SSL)
The SSL contains substantial collections (mostly in English) relating to contemporary East European social science, politics, economics and statistics. It also holds Books, journals and reading list material relating to East European politics, economics and statistics . A series of practical workshops on the use of catalogues, bibliographies and libraries, for graduate students working in Russian and East European studies, is given each year in the IT Training Room at the SSL. An individual hands-on session on the use of electronic resources will be given to any reader on request by a specialist member of the staff, who will be happy to discuss any particular interests or requirements. For more information or to book an appointment contact Angelina Gibson. Please click here for a short library guide for REES. Other library guides can be found here.
St Antony's College Russian and Eurasian Studies Centre (RESC) Library
The RESC library has particularly good holdings (in Russian) on history, the October 1917 Revolution, literature and Soviet and post-Soviet politics and economics. Any student of Eastern Europe should also consult the Centre’s East European holdings as, although they are less extensive, they represent the specialised interests of many past scholars at Oxford. Apart from the Bodleian’s holdings of Pravda, Izvestiya and past issues of other major East European newspapers, many other Russian newspapers, and a wide selection of periodicals on history, literature, politics and economics, are held at St Antony’s. This library is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Wednesday afternoons and during the College closures in vacation. Permission to use the library may be obtained from the Russian and Eurasian Studies Centre Secretary and Librarian, Mr Richard Ramage (2 84728).
