News & Views item - September 2007

 

Oxford to Begin Construction of £29 million Extension to Bodleian Library. (September 29, 2007)

On August 8, 2007 TFW recorded:  It was just a matter of time before Oxford's congregation, the 3,770 members of the university's academic, library and administrative staff, and the powers that be
 Oxford's Bodlian Library
were going to be at odds once again.  Now The Guardian writes it has received a "leaked report" that says: "the Higher Education Funding Council for England (Hefce) has told Oxford it is not satisfied that the university meets the expected requirements of a publicly-funded higher education institution. Oxford receives millions of pounds of taxpayers' money from the Government."

 

So far Oxford shows little sign of becoming controlled by either the vocational system  or the MBA's of the world.

 

In fact The Guardian now reports: "Oxford University has been granted permission to build a £29m (A$66.8m) extension to the world famous Bodleian Library on the banks of the Thames. Plans for a book depository to hold eight million books - enough for 20 years of projected growth - were given the go-ahead by Oxford city council's strategic development control committee this week."

 

Work on the building is to start imminently and is expected to be finished in 2009. Oxford has assured the city council that the building is designed to blend in with the city skyline, is supported by English Heritage and the Environment Agency and would be safeguarded against flooding and in fact would improve flood defences locally.

 

Founded in 1602, the Bodleian Library contains millions of volumes and a large number of manuscripts and rare printed books including a scribal copy of King Alfred's translation of Pastoral Care by Gregory the Great, the oldest book written in the English language. It is the second largest library in the UK.

 

With the commissioning of the new repository, Sarah Thomas, Bodley's librarian said the "New Bodleian", which was built in 1940, will be redeveloped into a major research centre for scholars.