Join the Friends of the Bodleian

Enriching lives for 100 years

Join as a Friend of the Bodleian today and become part of supporting the library and collections, now and in the future.

Join today by card or direct debit. Enjoy all the benefits of membership, including special events at the Bodleian, private tours of the Divinity School and Duke Humfreys Library, exclusive talks, views and invitations to exhibition openings. You will receive regular updates in monthly e-mails and our Friends magazine twice a year.

Receive a discount when you buy membership for two members of the same household.
 

Membership benefits

With a Standard Membership you'll receive:

  • Exclusive events and free lectures online and in person
  • Priority access to exclusive videos and other digital content
  • Literary and musical evenings
  • Private views of Bodleian exhibitions
  • Exclusive guided tours of the Bodleian Library and visits to other libraries
  • An invitation to the Friends' Annual Lecture with special guest speaker 
  • A free subscription to our magazine, the Bodleian Library Friends' Newsletter, and the Friends monthly e-newsletter
  • 10% discount on all purchases from the Bodleian Shop
  • 10% discount on all purchases at the Bodleian Café in the Weston Library
  • 10% discount on the price of a Bodleian Reader Card 

Become part of a historic tradition

Founded in 1925, the Friends of the Bodleian support the work of the Libraries by helping us to acquire, preserve and make available the treasures in our collections. They continue the great tradition of the Bodleian Library's founder, Sir Thomas Bodley. It was his endowment of 1598 that formed the basis of the Library.

Over the years, the Friends have helped us to secure diverse treasures including the Sheldon Tapestry Map of Gloucestershire, the manuscript draft of Jane Austen’s The Watsons, and The Book of Curiosities, an Arabic manuscript on cosmography dating from the 12th or early 13th century.

Here are just some of the treasures most recently acquired by the Bodleian with the help of the Friends.

More reasons to join

Join or renew your membership today

Standard Membership

Exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the Bodleian Library, special discounts when you shop with us, and an exciting programme of exclusive events

From £45 per year

Receive a discount when you buy memberships for two people in the same household.


Student Membership

All the benefits of Standard Membership at our special concessionary rate. Available to students for as long as you are studying for your degree.

From £15 per year


Honourable Membership

All the benefits of Standard Membership, plus a free subscription to The Bodleian Library Record, the Library's scholarly journal containing articles on a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on the Library's collections (£50 per year value).

From £70 per year

Receive a discount when you buy memberships for two people in the same household.


Life Membership

Enjoy all the benefits of Honourable Membership, for life.

For a one-time payment of:

£700 (single) or £1100 (dual)
 

Join online

Join by Direct Debit Join by credit or debit card

The membership rates quoted are minimum sums. You are urged to consider subscribing more or donating separately.

Annual subscriptions are due on the anniversary of your first payment.

Give the gift of membership

You can purchase any of our memberships as a gift online.

Through your gift, your recipient will enjoy exclusive events in beautiful Oxford surroundings, whilst the Libraries can further enrich our collections for future generations of scholars.

Presented in an attractive greeting card.

Buy a gift membership

Ways to join
 

 
Join by card

Buy a membership online by credit or debit card
 

 
Join by Direct Debit

Buy a membership online by Direct Debit
 

 
Join by post

Download, complete and send your membership form to:

Friends of the Bodleian, Bodleian Library, Broad Street, Oxford, OX1 3BG
 

  
Join in person

Buy a membership from the information desk in the Weston Library, or in our gift shops
 

Other ways to support