University network upgrade: change to scheduled downtime

OUCS have announced a change to the schedule of planned downtime for the network upgrade work this summer. There will now be no downtime on Tuesday 3rd July; instead the downtime that was planned for then will take place on Thursday 9th July. Again the downtime may last up to 11.30am.

This will affect all networked library services, including SOLO, PCAS, reader PCs and the wireless network.

Network downtime Tuesday 26th June am - Wireless, SOLO, Library PCs

As part of the work to upgrade the University network infrastructure this summer, the following library services will be unavailable for up to four hours starting at 7am on Tuesday 26th June:

• Wireless (OWL, Eduroam and Bodleian-Libraries)
• SOLO
• Library PCs

History database trials

The History Librarian has arranged trial access to 40 history electronic resources until mid-July, some of which will be of interest to VHL readers. The full list of resources being trialled, along with information on how to provide feedback, can be found at http://ox.libguides.com/historydatabasetrials - please do explore them and vote for your preferred resources in order to help the History Librarian prioritise some for purchase.

Resources which may be of interest to Americanists are:

• State Papers Online, 1509-1714 (parts 3 & 4)
• Witchcraft in Europe and America
• British Online Archives: British Records on the Atlantic World, 1700-1900
• Making of the Modern World, 1851-1900 (part 2)
• Victorian Popular Culture
• Cold War: Voices of Confrontation and Conciliation
• Rock and Roll, Counterculture, Peace & Protest
• The Vogue Archive

University network upgrade this summer: effect on library services

Over the coming weeks, the University Computing Service is undertaking work to upgrade the University network. This will necessitate periods of scheduled downtime.

Networked library services may be unavailable, in some cases until 11.30am on:

• Tuesday 26 June
• Tuesday 3 July UPDATE 29/6 - this downtime has been rescheduled to Thursday 9 August.
• Tuesday 7 August

SOLO, reader and staff workstations, wireless and Ethernet connections, and PCAS may be unavailable during the mornings. There may also be delays to the book service.

Local work affecting the Vere Harmsworth Library will be carried out on Tuesday 7 August. The networked services listed above may be unavailable in the Vere Harmsworth Library until 11am on this date. Again, this may cause delays to the book service on that morning.

We apologize for the inconvenience that this necessary work may cause.

Reminder: Mezzanine closed and Donor Board Ceremony taking place tomorrow afternoon

A reminder that the mezzanine floor will be closed to readers tomorrow afternoon for a ceremony to unveil the new Donor Board at the RAI. The ceremony will take place between 4 and 5pm. Readers are welcome to remain in the library on the upper floors throughout but please note that there will be some noise while the ceremony takes place.

Summer vacation opening hours

Summer vacation opening hours begin on Monday 18th June. From then until the end of September the library will be open Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm only.

The last Saturday opening for this term will be this Saturday, 9th June. We will be closed on Saturday 16th June.

HFL move update

An update to plans for the move of the History Faculty Library to the Radcliffe Camera and Gladstone Link this summer has been published on the Bodleian website. Details are still being fixed but at the moment the timeline is expected to be as follows:

• HFL vacation loans (with an increase from 30 to 40 books) begin on 11th June
• Normal access will be maintained to both the HFL and the Radcliffe Camera until 27th July; all services offered as normal
• HFL move begins 30th July
• HFL will probably close on 6th August; books can continue to be returned to the HFL until 17th August, but thereafter will need to be returned to the Lower Camera
• The Radcliffe Camera may need to close completely during parts of August and September to ensure all work is completed before Michaelmas Term.

The Just-In-Time team (email moves@bodleian.ox.ac.uk) will be on hand to help locate alternative copies of books and journals affected by the move.

For more information on the move itself and the background to it, please see: http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/notices/history-faculty-library-move. This page will be updated with further information as and when details become more fixed. You can also keep up to date with progress and plans on the HFL blog.

The VHL will be unaffected throughout. 

Mezzanine closed Tuesday 12th June for Donor Board unveiling

The mezzanine floor of the library will be closed to readers on the afternoon of Tuesday 12th June as it will be used for a ceremony to unveil a new Donor Board at the RAI. The ceremony will begin at 4pm and last no more than an hour. Readers are welcome to remain in the library on the upper floors throughout, but please note that there will be some noise while the ceremony takes place.

Jubilee Bank Holiday opening hours, 4th & 5th June

A reminder that despite the Jubilee Bank Holiday we will be open as normal on Monday 4th and Tuesday 5th June. Deliveries of stack requests will also be unaffected.