Bodleian Library of Commonwealth and African Studies at Rhodes House

Rhodes House Library specialises in the history and current affairs (political, economic and social) of the Commonwealth, the United States of America, and sub-Saharan Africa including the offshore islands.

The Library has more than 4,000 manuscript collections, of which one of the most significant missionary-related archives is that of the United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The Library is also strong in material covering related areas such as the history of British colonial administration, including the papers of the Anti-Slavery Society, the Fabian Colonial Bureau, and the Anti-Apartheid Movement; the Library has been the principal recipient of material gathered by the Oxford Colonial Records Project and succeeding schemes.

Access to the Library and other facilities in Rhodes House is not easy for people with disabilities. Visitors approaching from either the main entrance or the garden entrance have to negotiate steps to gain access to the ground floor. Once inside the building the Library is on the first (upper) floor without a lift, and the toilets are in the basement. There is no on-street or off-street public parking in the vicinity. Alternative arrangements are generally possible, if given advance notice. One off-street parking place immediately adjacent to the building can normally be arranged given prior notice. Those able to negotiate three steps may use one of the public rooms on the ground floor provided they are not in use. In all cases, staff will assist in locating and fetching books. Alternatively, material may be transferred to the Radcliffe Science Library, across the road from Rhodes House, which has provision for those with disabilities. There are special provisions for blind readers in the Bodleian Library. Prior warning enabling staff to offer the most help would be appreciated. See also the Bodleian Library Readers' Guide 3: Notes for Disabled Readers:

Self-service photocopying is available for most post-1920 books and periodicals; requests for copies of older, and rare or fragile, materials may be made at the enquiry desk. Copies may be made by readers from microfiches or microfilms, use of the microform reader may be pre-booked in advance at the enquiry desk or by phone.

A public telephone, cloakrooms and lavatories are situtated in the basement of the building, and a tea and coffee machine is located in the Buttery on the ground floor.