Univ Record 2018

From the Librarian
The 2017/18 academic year threatened to get off to a shaky
start when a faulty fire alarm in the Old Library delayed
opening after our annual closed period. But thanks to the
quick work of both the Library and Works teams, there
was no change in the planned programme for the Oxford
Preservation Trust’s Open Doors weekend. The Assistant
Librarian, Library Assistant, and Archivist conducted a
series of very popular tours of our Old Library, along with
an exhibition titled, The Secrets of the Library and Archives.
In February, the Library team said au revoir to Emily
Green as she took a break for her maternity leave and we
welcomed Jessica Woodward as her replacement. Jessica settled in very quickly, having
previously worked in three Oxford College Libraries as well as the Taylor Institution.
Emily and her husband welcomed a beautiful baby girl in March.
The St Cuthbert’s Day Feast this year included an exhibition curated by the Library
team called Univ’s Firsts: 1st editions from the 15th to the 21st centuries. Highlights included
a recent novel, Lawless, written by Emeritus Fellow, John Bell, an 1879 pamphlet by
Christian Cole, the first Black African to graduate from Oxford, and an exotically
illustrated unauthorised edition of Oscar Wilde’s poem, The Harlot’s House. Later in
Hilary term, the Librarian presented a paper and curated an exhibition at the 1970-1974
Gaudy called, A Wilde Bequest: The Robert Ross Memorial Collection.
The Library is always grateful to Old Members who donate to our collections. This
year we would particularly like to thank Christopher Buttery (1968, History), for the
generous donation which enabled the Library to purchase a typescript of the famous
letter, De Profundis, that Oscar Wilde wrote while in prison. The significance of the
typescript to the Robert Ross Memorial Collection will be highlighted on Univ’s website
later in the summer.
The Library trialled the use of re-usable mugs for hot drinks (KeepCups) in the
Libraries during Hilary and Trinity terms. Results were mixed, despite the approval of
the majority of our students. The success or otherwise of the trial will be decided over
the long vacation.
Our historic collections continue to attract the attention of researchers from around
the globe, with the Robert Ross Memorial Collection of Oscar Wilde material receiving
the most queries. Ongoing research is revealing more about the collection’s importance
in demonstrating Wilde’s afterlife and the characters involved in his revival during the
early 20th century. The Librarian presented the latest findings at a conference, Curiosity
and Desire in Fin-De-Siècle Art and Literature, hosted by the William Andrews Clark
Memorial Library in Los Angeles in May.
It is becoming harder each year to recruit students to help in the Library. We
would nevertheless like to thank our dedicated team: Eleanor Brown and Aleksander
Domoslawski for shelving books; Karima Chiuri and Emily Everest-Philipps for clearing
desks during Trinity term; Max Shock for helping with the annual stock-check (for the
second year running); and Daniel Haynes (from New College) for stock-checking and
helping with the Summer Schools.
Elizabeth Adams
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