Radcliffe Science Library (RSL)

The Radcliffe Science Library (RSL)

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. The SOLO library catalogue can be used to search for materials held in ~100 libraries in Oxford, or to link to online resources.

The RSL is located in Parks Road, next to the University Museum of Natural History. Readers will be required to show their Bodleian Library Reader's Ticket or Oxford University Card.

Materials Science 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. 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.  An extensive electronic research collection includes ~130 databases (including Technology Research Database Materials Research Database, INSPEC, Web of Science and Scopus), over 75000 e-journals, and complete holdings of e-books from publishers such as OUP, CUP, IEEE and Springer. Complete collections of e-journals published by societies, and the main publishers in the field, can also be accessed from OU e-journals portal. The LibGuide for Materials Science provides information about key electronic resources for research. Additional sources of research information can be found in LibGuides for ChemistryEngineering, and Physics.

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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