Hertford College Library: Home

The Holywell Library is open 24/7 and offers the following services:

• Browse shelves and borrow books using self-issue machine

• Return books

• Printing, copying and scanning (details on Hertford IT blog, opens in new window)

• Study spaces 

Warnock Reading Room in Geoffrey Warnock House, south Oxford, will open at the start of the academic year. 

Library rules

The Library’s study spaces are open 24/7 to Hertford members only and are often in high demand. As a community we keep this a comfortable working space by:

• Keeping phones on silent and taking calls outside the building
• Keeping conversation to a minimum (that’s right – shhhhhhh!)
• Using keep cups or water bottles for drinks and not bringing food into the Library.
• Leaving a yellow slip on study desks if taking a short break or removing belongings from desks if leaving the Library for longer. Desks will be cleared by library staff regularly.

Closed to non-members 

This Library is not open to members of other Oxford colleges and other Bodleian Libraries readers. If you have an enquiry about a resource that is only available at Hertford Library please contact the Librarian by email library@hertford.ox.ac.uk or by calling 01865 279409.  

Staffed hours

The Library Office is usually staffed Monday to Friday, 9.30am-5.30pm. You can contact staff by email library@hertford.ox.ac.uk or by calling 01865 279409.  

The Library is currently having a major renovation project from 2023 to 2026. Temporary services are available from the Holywell Library and Warnock Reading Room.

Left to right in images:

Alice Roques, Librarian

Qualified Librarian Alice is here to help with all things library and resource related. 

Katherine Knight, Assistant Librarian

Katherine is currently completing her library management degree. She is on hand to answer questions about using libraries and locating resources.

Simpkin the cat

Hertford's cat is often to be found napping in the Library, unofficial team member.

by email: library@hertford.ox.ac.uk 

by phone: 01865 279409

in person: the Library Office is in the left-hand wing of the Holywell Library in Holywell Quad, Hertford College, Catte St, Oxford, OX1 3BW

The Library’s study spaces are open 24/7 to Hertford members only and are often in high demand. As a community we keep this a comfortable working space by:

• Keeping phones on silent and taking calls outside the building
• Keeping conversation to a minimum (that’s right – shhhhhhh!)
• Using keep cups or water bottles for drinks and not bringing food into the Library.
• Leaving a yellow slip on study desks if taking a short break or removing belongings from desks if leaving the Library for longer. Desks will be cleared by library staff regularly.