Library - Mansfield College (2024)

The four Mansfield libraries

The Library aims to provide the books Mansfield College undergraduates need for their tutorial work, complementing the diverse range of resources available elsewhere in Oxford. The College’s Main Library is a wonderful wood-panelled room which contains core texts for most courses, while there are separate libraries devoted to PPE, Theology, Law and History. All four libraries are open to Mansfield College students twenty-four hours a day, and there are printing, scanning and photocopying facilities available.

If you are a student from another Oxford college needing access to books or archival material held at Mansfield College Library which are not available elsewhere then please contact library@mansfield.ox.ac.uk to arrange admission.

The Main Library

The Library has the appearance of a medieval tithe barn with a gallery and reading bays underneath the spreading slopes of a pitched roof with attractive stencilled panels, ornamented with scrolls and Latin mottoes. Mythical creatures, flowers and fruit can be seen in oak carvings above the bookshelves in the reading bays, which also incorporate the original oak tables.

New books and book displays

Library portraits

From a collection presented to the College in 1894, the portraits are of clergymen ejected from the Church of England by the Act of Uniformity in 1662, most of whom became founder members of the Nonconformist churches.

Accessibility and assistive equipment

The Library offers a variety of resources and provisions for Mansfield members with disabilities and special requirements.

Resources

Available in the Library and/or Reading Rooms:

Coloured acetate sheets
Book and laptop stands
Ergonomic seating
Height adjustable and standing desks
Ear plugs
Reading strips with coloured overlays
Stress balls
Portable whiteboards
Magnifying glass (available on request)
Coloured paper for printing (available on request)

Provisions

The Library itself is up a flight of stairs on the first and second floor of the building. If physical access to the buildings is a problem, staff will collect books for disabled readers or you can nominate someone to check books out for you. A room with ergonomic chair and height adjustable table has also been allocated as an accessible study space for those unable to access the Library. Please get in touch to discuss this and any other ways in which we can help.

Book delivery

Library staff are happy to deliver books to alternative locations around College.

Extended borrowing rights

Library staff are happy to consider longer borrowing periods and increased borrowing limits on application from members.

Nominated checkout

Disabled users may also nominate a person to check out books on their behalf.

Library helper

Permission may be given by the Librarian for a helper, approved by the University Disability office, to accompany a student when using the Library.

Wellbeing and study skills

There is a collection of study skills and wellbeing books at the entrance to the Main Library, and an excellent contemporary fiction collection selected from book prize shortlists and student recommendations. In addition we have jigsaws, colouring books, a magnetic poetry board and puzzle books.

Special Collections and Archives

From its theological foundation there is a wealth of research material for the study of English and Welsh Nonconformity, a collection of eighteenth and nineteenth century books, and a small but significant antiquarian collection.

The College Archive holds the administrative records of Mansfield College; the archive of the former Spring Hill College in Birmingham and early Reports from the Mansfield House Settlement in the East End of London.

Recent research by alumnus David Seymour has focused on Mansfield during the First World War. You can read about his research here: Mansfield College and the Great War.

Archival records include:

Council and Governing Body Minutes
JCR Minute Books and materials
University Society Minute Books
Mansfield College Reports and Magazines 1886-present
Staff and student memorabilia
Architectural drawings and plans
College photographs

For further information please contact the librarian on 01865 270975 or via email library@mansfield.ox.ac.uk.

There’s a really useful and informative film guide tohelp students and researchers with accessing special collectionsin Oxford collegesavailable here (courtesy of Balliol College).

"Working in the early morning in the Mansfield Main Library overlooking the quad is lovely, watching the sun rise and people out and about. I like the Theology Reading Room too, it feels lovely and collaborative to work in."

Meet the Library team

For any queries please contact us on 01865 270975 or library@mansfield.ox.ac.uk

Clare Kavanagh

Librarian

Clare Kavanagh

Contact

library@mansfield.ox.ac.uk01865 270975

Clare Kavanagh

Librarian

Clare joined the Library in July 2018 from Nuffield College, where she had been for 14 years. Her previous experience was in law firm libraries in London, having undertaken her graduate traineeship at the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn, London.

Clare job shares with Sally, ensuring students have access to the resources they need for successful study; purchasing books, dealing with enquiries, liaising with tutors about book collections and the general day to day running of the Library. Her specialist subjects are Law, History, PPE, Engineering, Mathematics and Human Science.

Sally Jones

Librarian

Sally Jones

Contact

library@mansfield.ox.ac.uk

Sally Jones

Librarian

Sally job shares with Clare, ensuring students have access to the resources they need for successful study; purchasing books, dealing with enquiries, liaising with tutors about book collections and the general day to day running of the Library. Her specialist subjects are English, Theology, Geography, Oriental Studies, Materials Science and Physics.

Sally's working days are:
Wednesday morning
Thursday
Friday

Mark Hughes

Library Assistant

Mark Hughes

Contact

mark.hughes@mansfield.ox.ac.uk

Mark Hughes

Library Assistant

Mark joined the Library in April 2022. Previously, he had worked in the Bodleian Library, the English Faculty Library, and Leopold Muller Memorial Library.

Mark’s day-to-day responsibilities include: processing new books, addressing self-issue problems, returning books, and helping with ongoing projects around the Library. He is also very happy to help with any enquiries in the Library Office.

Mark works on the following days:

Tuesday
Thursday
Friday