BODLEIAN, LIBRARY, the public library of the University of Oxford, so called from Sir Thomas Bodley (q.v.) who re stored it toward the close of the 16th century, many of the previous collections of books and manuscripts having been destroyed during the reign of Edward VI. Besides restoring the building and providing a fund of $10,000 for the purchase of books, he presented a collec tion which was valued at $50,000, and left an estate for the maintenance of officers and for keeping the library in repair. For the govern ment of the library he drew up certain statutes, which were afterward incorporated with those of the university. The library was first opened to the public 8 Nov. 1602. The liberal example of Bodley was soon followed by the Earl of Essex, who presented part of the Portuguese bishop Osorius' library, which had been captured by Essex in 1596, shortly after the expedition against Cadiz. After the death of Bodley, the Earl of Pembroke added a valuable collection of Greek manuscripts procured by Baroccio, a Venetian. At later dates Sir Thomas Roe, Sir Kenelm Digby, the "learned Selden,° Gough the antiquary, and Archbishop Laud made do nations of valuable Greek, Oriental and Ger man manuscripts to this magnificent library. The library of the Hebrew scholar Oppenheim, rich in rabbinical lore, a great collection of Eastern manuscripts, of early editions of the Bible, original editions of ancient and classic authors, together with 50,000 dissertations by members of foreign universities, and an exten sive collection of medals, coins, prints, etc.,
were also subsequently deposited in this library. In 1809, Clarke, the traveler, gave to it some rare Greek and Latin manuscripts, including a 'Plato> from the Isle of Patmos. In 1818 an exceedingly valuable collection of Hebrew, Greek and Arabic manuscripts procured from Venice was added, together with a portion of the famed library of Richard Heber (1834), and lastly, the rare books, manuscripts and coins of the scholar, antiquary and Shakespear ean commentator, Francis Douce. This re nowned library, in fine, is rich in many depart ments in which other libraries are deficient, and forms altogether the noblest collection of which any university can boast. It is constantly increasing by donations, by copies of every work printed in the United Kingdom, as well as by books purchased from the fund left by Bodley, and by a proportion of fees received at matriculation. It is now estimated to con tain upward of 1,000,000 bound volumes, and between 30,000 and 40,000 manuscripts. The first catalogue of the printed books was issued by Dr. James in 1605. The library is open on lawful 'lays from 9 till 5; but its admirable adjunct, the Ratcliffe Camera, in which most modern books are stored and which comprises a select library and reading room for students, is open from 10 A.M. till 10 P.M. Consult Macray, 'Annals of the Bodleian Library' (Oxford 1888) ; Clark, 'A Bodleian Guide to Visitors' (1906).