The Radcliffe Science Library

The Radcliffe Science Library (RSL), one of the Bodleian Libraries, is Oxford University's main science research library. The library provides services and collections to support the world leading research and teaching activity in the mathematical, physical and life sciences. Physical collections include over 1 million volumes of scientific literature. An excellent electronic collection for research, accessible 24/7, provides desktop access to databases, e-journals, e-books and conference proceedings.

SOLO library catalogue can be used to search for printed materials held in ~100 libraries in Oxford, or to link to electronic resources. The Library operates the card entry system using university cards.

Physics collections at the RSL

At present, highly used collections of printed material (mainly textbooks for undergraduate and taught graduate courses) are held on open shelves in the RSL (shelfmarks beginning with "QB and QC"). Less frequently used materials are held in the Book Storage Facility (BSF) at Swindon and can be requested online for delivery to the RSL or any Bodleian Library Reading Rooms within 24 hours.

Electronic resources

The Research Guide for Physics provides links to key electronic resources for research. An extensive research collection includes ~130 databases (including INSPEC, MathSciNet, Web of Science and Scopus), over 75000 e-journals, and complete holdings of e-books from publishers such as OUP, CUP and Springer.

Oxlip+ platform enables access to all electronic collections – remotely and on university network. Use SSO credentials to sign in and access full-text material.

Complete collections of e-journals published by societies, and the main publishers in the field, can also be accessed from OU e-journals portal.

RSL services include document supply and interlibrary loans, consultations with subject librarians, training courses and a 3D printing service. The library provides a variety of spaces, including quiet reading rooms, group study spaces (some with whiteboard tables), a training room and refreshment areas for readers' convenience. PCs with a range of software are provided; those in the Training Room have reference management and specialist mapping software. Wireless access is available throughout the library.

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