The Radcliffe library of natural science, founded by Dr. John Radcliffe (d. 1714) and opened, in 1749, in the domed building known as the "Radcliffe Camera," was transferred to the new University museum and laboratories in 1860, when the trustees offered the use of the Camera to the curators of the Bodleian; the building was transferred absolutely in 1927. In the Camera are the modern books, and it also serves as a reading-room, especially for undergraduates and in the evening. Departmental libraries forming part of the Bodleian are the Indian institute, the Law library, Maitland library (social and legal history), and Rhodes house (Colonial history).
The Bodleian library is open by right to all graduate members of the university, and to other recommended students. The ordi nary expenditure is about £io,000. A large repository has been arranged for book storage underground. A new building with capacity for 5,000,000 volumes has been approved (May, 1936), designed by Sir Gilbert Scott (q.v.).
The Taylor institution for modern languages is due to the benefaction of Sir Robert Taylor, an architect (d. 1788). The Finch collection (bequeathed in 1830), is kept with it.
The libraries of the several colleges vary considerably. That of All Souls was established in 1443 by Archbishop Chichele, and possesses 40,000 printed volumes and 30o mss., and is rich in law. The library of Christ Church is rich in divinity and topography. Corpus possesses a fine collection of Aldines, with about 400 mss. Exeter college has classical dissertations and English theological and political tracts. Jesus college has the bequest of Sir Leoline Jenkins and also Welsh mss. Keble college has the mss. of many of Keble's works. Magdalen college has about 22,500 volumes and 25o mss. with scientific and topographical collections. The old library of Merton college (see above) now specializes in modern foreign history and philosophy. New college has about 17,000 printed volumes and about 35o mss., including several presented by its founder, William of Wykeham. Oriel college has a special collection on comparative philology and mythology. Queen's college is strong in theology, in modern history, and in English county histories. St. John's college library is largely composed of theology and law before 1750, and medical books of the 16th and 17th centuries. Wadham college has the botanical books be queathed by Richard Warner (1775) and Benjamin Wiffen's collection on the Spanish Reformers, Worcester college has of late specially devoted itself to classical archaeology. It is also rich in old English drama and poetry, and drawings by Inigo Jones.
The University library at Cambridge dates from the earlier part of the 15th century. Two early catalogues are preserved, the first embracing 52 vols. and dating from about 1425, the sec ond a shelf-list, apparently of 33o vols., made in 1473. The li brary, which contains about i,000,000 vols. and 19 miles of shelves, has the copyright privilege. It includes a fine series of editiones principes of the classics and of the early productions of English and Netherlandish presses. The mss. number over io,000, in which are included a considerable number of adversaria or printed books with ms. notes, which form a leading feature in the collection. The most famous of the mss. is the Codex Bezae of the four gospels and the Acts, which was presented to the uni versity by Beza himself.
There is a library attached to the Fitzwilliam museum, be queathed to the university in 1816. It contains printed and ms. music, and a collection of illuminated mss., chiefly French and Flemish. Catalogues and reprints have been published.
Clare college library includes George Ruggle's early Italian and Spanish plays. The library of Corpus Christi college is famous for the bequest made by Archbishop Parker in 1575. The printed books are less than 5,000 in number ; the ancient mss. attract scholars from all parts of Europe. Gonville and Caius college library is of early foundation. The printed books of King's col lege include the bequest by Jacob Bryant (1804). The mss. are almost wholly oriental. Magdalene college is remarkable for popular literature and for naval mss., the greater portion of which is in the Pepysian library. (See PEPYS, SAMUEL.) The library of Peterhouse, the oldest in Cambridge, possesses a catalogue of some 600 or 700 books dating from 1418. It has a unique collec tion of ms. music. Queen's college library contains about 30,000 vols., and is rich in Semitic literature. The library of St. John's college is rich in early printed books and English history.