Duke Humphrey's Library

Duke Humfrey’s is the oldest reading room in the Bodleian Library and the principal reading room for those studying Western Medieval and early-Modern manuscripts, pre-1641, special and rare book collections, codicology, bibliography and local history. The Library is composed of three major portions; the original medieval section (completed 1487, rededicated 1602), the Arts End (1612) to the east, and Selden End (1637) to the west.

Duke Humfrey’s Library contains both open and closed access collections and is home to the octavo, quarto and folio volumes of the old Theology (Th.) and Art (Art.) classifications. It is also the reading room in which most Oxford University theses are consulted.