About the event
Join the Friends of the Bodleian for an evening with Richard Ovenden OBE, Bodley’s Librarian, as he explores the deliberate destruction of knowledge throughout history and its urgent relevance today.
Drawing from his acclaimed book Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack, Richard will discuss how libraries, librarians, and archivists bear the profound responsibility of preserving and transparently sharing information, and their critical role in safeguarding knowledge for future generations.
“Why are books destroyed? It’s about control—controlling knowledge to control societies, to control the way people behave, the way people think, the way people spend money.” – Richard Ovenden
Speaker
Richard Ovenden OBE is the 25th Bodley’s Librarian and the Helen Hamlyn Director of the University Libraries at the University of Oxford. He holds this post together with being Head of Gardens, Libraries & Museums. Richard serves as President of the Digital Preservation Coalition, and as a member of the Advisory Council of the Stiftung Preußischer Kulturbesitz. He has written extensively on the history of the book and current concerns in the library, archive and information worlds. He is the author of Burning the Books: A History of Knowledge Under Attack.
Booking information
Friends and Patrons
Tickets are free for Friends and Patrons of the Bodleian.
Email fob@bodleian.ox.ac.uk to secure your place.
General admission
General admission tickets are £20, which includes a drinks reception after the lecture. Please book your tickets through our booking link.
Book now
Location and accessibility
- This event takes place in person in Blackwell Hall at the Weston Library. How to get here.
- There is step-free access to the Weston Library. More about accessibility at our site.
- You can listen to enhanced audio for this event using any Auracast-compatible device, including Samsung smartphones (Galaxy S24, S24+, S24 Ultra, S23, S23+, S23 Ultra, Z Fold6, Z Flip6, Z Fold5, Z Flip5, A55 5G) or Samsung earbuds (Galaxy Buds2 Pro (with latest firmware), Galaxy Buds3, Galaxy Buds3 Pro).
- We also offer assistive listening receivers, which can be used with earbuds, headphones or a t-coil hearing aid. If you’re a Friend or Patron, please let us know by email if you’d like to reserve a receiver. If you’re buying a ticket, please choose the relevant ticket option to reserve one.
Join Friends of the Bodleian
To enjoy closer access to the Bodleian, including exclusive events and priority access to online content, join the Friends today. For more information, email fob@bodleian.ox.ac.uk.
