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.
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.
The Quarré Hours, depicting the Adoration of the Magi
This exceptional illustration was cut from its parent manuscript, MS. Douce 311, about 200 years ago. The Bodleian was able to reunite them thanks to help from, amongst others, the Friends of the Bodleian.
Papermaker’s printed ream wrapper with Dutch chalk drawings
Dating to c.1740, this is a rare example of a woodcut wrapper from a ream of paper produced in the Low Countries, probably in Holland.
1865 manuscript by grandmother detailing her baby granddaughter's visits to Chester
This manuscript book, written for family members as well as for "Baby", is an affectionate record of Victorian child-rearing, illustrated with watercolour vignettes.
Three artist’s books by Veronika Schäpers
Veronika Schäpers is an influential book artist who has worked in Germany and Japan. Her work is collected by several large institutions in Europe and the US, but we are the first UK library to collect her work in earnest.
A large circular desktop hornbook in pewter
A large and impressive pewter disk, inscribed 'Edward Farmer' and dated 1781. The Bodleian is interested in diverse examples of legible material culture, of which this is a beautiful and unusual example.
More reasons to join
Special events for Friends
Enjoy an exciting calendar of talks, lectures, courses, tours and more
Exclusive exhibition previews
Be the first to see brand-new exhibitions at the Weston Library
Library tours only for Friends
Go behind-the-scenes at the Bodleian and see inside our beautiful library spaces
Weston Café discount
Receive a Friends discount on all purchases at the Weston Café
Save each time you shop with the Bodleian
Receive a range of discounts when you shop with the Bodleian, in-store and online
Bodleian Friends Newsletter
Keep up to date with the Bodleian's work with our twice-yearly magazine
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 £20 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.
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.
