Magdalen Libraries & Archives
@magdlibandarch.bsky.social
Magdalen College, Oxford has a large circulating library, a significant early printed & manuscript books collection, and an extensive archive.
Dreams vs Reality
November 17, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Dreams vs Reality
Oscar Wilde was a big fan of Ellen Terry (Victorian England’s leading Shakespearean actress who lived from 1847–1928). He dedicated his first play, The Duchess of Padua to her. Terry’s opera glasses, pictured here, featured in our recent exhibition ‘Magdalen’s Wilde’ magdalenswilde.magd.ox.ac.uk
November 15, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Oscar Wilde was a big fan of Ellen Terry (Victorian England’s leading Shakespearean actress who lived from 1847–1928). He dedicated his first play, The Duchess of Padua to her. Terry’s opera glasses, pictured here, featured in our recent exhibition ‘Magdalen’s Wilde’ magdalenswilde.magd.ox.ac.uk
Wellbeing week continues in the library today. Thank you to the person who donated these three puzzles to the library - they should keep us going for a while! We always have a jigsaw on the go in the Longwall Library - on your next study break, help us out and place a few pieces. 🧩
November 14, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Wellbeing week continues in the library today. Thank you to the person who donated these three puzzles to the library - they should keep us going for a while! We always have a jigsaw on the go in the Longwall Library - on your next study break, help us out and place a few pieces. 🧩
Why did the origami paper refuse to be folded?
Because it didn’t want to crane its neck! 🐦
For Wellbeing Week, we've got lots of mindful activities for you to do, on your next study break - why not have a go at origami? You'll fine some new origami paper, with cute bird designs, in the foyer.
Because it didn’t want to crane its neck! 🐦
For Wellbeing Week, we've got lots of mindful activities for you to do, on your next study break - why not have a go at origami? You'll fine some new origami paper, with cute bird designs, in the foyer.
November 13, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Why did the origami paper refuse to be folded?
Because it didn’t want to crane its neck! 🐦
For Wellbeing Week, we've got lots of mindful activities for you to do, on your next study break - why not have a go at origami? You'll fine some new origami paper, with cute bird designs, in the foyer.
Because it didn’t want to crane its neck! 🐦
For Wellbeing Week, we've got lots of mindful activities for you to do, on your next study break - why not have a go at origami? You'll fine some new origami paper, with cute bird designs, in the foyer.
Wellbeing week continues in the Longwall Library. Here are some staff recommendations of titles to be enjoyed with a hot water bottle and cosy blanket on dark winter evenings. 📚🍂
November 12, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Wellbeing week continues in the Longwall Library. Here are some staff recommendations of titles to be enjoyed with a hot water bottle and cosy blanket on dark winter evenings. 📚🍂
5th week is wellbeing week in the library - and Basil is promoting the ergonomic wrist supports and mouse mats in the Longwall Library readers, kept in the Beckwith reading room.
See the list of equipment here 👉 www.magd.ox.ac.uk/library-and-...
See the list of equipment here 👉 www.magd.ox.ac.uk/library-and-...
November 11, 2025 at 10:01 AM
5th week is wellbeing week in the library - and Basil is promoting the ergonomic wrist supports and mouse mats in the Longwall Library readers, kept in the Beckwith reading room.
See the list of equipment here 👉 www.magd.ox.ac.uk/library-and-...
See the list of equipment here 👉 www.magd.ox.ac.uk/library-and-...
Happy 5th Week! It's Wellbeing Week here in the Longwall Library. We've got a range of mindful activities to have a go at, throughout the week. Take a break from your studies and try out some cross stitch. We hope you like the designs we chose, which features foxes and bookshelves 🦊📚
November 10, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Happy 5th Week! It's Wellbeing Week here in the Longwall Library. We've got a range of mindful activities to have a go at, throughout the week. Take a break from your studies and try out some cross stitch. We hope you like the designs we chose, which features foxes and bookshelves 🦊📚
The painting was purchased at a car boot sale in Bude, Cornwall, earlier this year. When the purchaser of the lily painting discovered it, they very kindly donated the photograph to our Archives. Good luck to those taking part in today's regatta.
November 9, 2025 at 10:15 AM
The painting was purchased at a car boot sale in Bude, Cornwall, earlier this year. When the purchaser of the lily painting discovered it, they very kindly donated the photograph to our Archives. Good luck to those taking part in today's regatta.
🚨⚠️ New blog post ⚠️🚨
Unlocking the mysteries of a Magdalen College treasure. Read our latest blog post, written by our lovely volunteer Yanjing, all about our 1665 volume "An Embassy from the East-India Company to the Emperor of China." www.magd.ox.ac.uk/blog/from-tw...
Unlocking the mysteries of a Magdalen College treasure. Read our latest blog post, written by our lovely volunteer Yanjing, all about our 1665 volume "An Embassy from the East-India Company to the Emperor of China." www.magd.ox.ac.uk/blog/from-tw...
November 7, 2025 at 10:15 AM
🚨⚠️ New blog post ⚠️🚨
Unlocking the mysteries of a Magdalen College treasure. Read our latest blog post, written by our lovely volunteer Yanjing, all about our 1665 volume "An Embassy from the East-India Company to the Emperor of China." www.magd.ox.ac.uk/blog/from-tw...
Unlocking the mysteries of a Magdalen College treasure. Read our latest blog post, written by our lovely volunteer Yanjing, all about our 1665 volume "An Embassy from the East-India Company to the Emperor of China." www.magd.ox.ac.uk/blog/from-tw...
Would be much more fun to be a Traitor, though, right? A quote from The Picture of Dorian Gray. #WeeklyWildeWitticism Enjoy the final! #TheTraitorsUK
November 6, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Would be much more fun to be a Traitor, though, right? A quote from The Picture of Dorian Gray. #WeeklyWildeWitticism Enjoy the final! #TheTraitorsUK
Thank you to those who came to our Meet A Rare Book, where George was talking about Jane Barker's manuscript of poetry. This manuscript is very special as it was handwritten by the author and is truly a working document.
November 5, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Thank you to those who came to our Meet A Rare Book, where George was talking about Jane Barker's manuscript of poetry. This manuscript is very special as it was handwritten by the author and is truly a working document.
Magdalen has won University Challenge four times to date: in 1996-7, 1997-8, 2003-4, and 2010-2011. After the third victory, we were allowed to keep this trophy. It's displayed in the Longwall Library.
Let's hope for similar success in this evening's match, where Magdalen take on Darwin College.
Let's hope for similar success in this evening's match, where Magdalen take on Darwin College.
November 3, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Magdalen has won University Challenge four times to date: in 1996-7, 1997-8, 2003-4, and 2010-2011. After the third victory, we were allowed to keep this trophy. It's displayed in the Longwall Library.
Let's hope for similar success in this evening's match, where Magdalen take on Darwin College.
Let's hope for similar success in this evening's match, where Magdalen take on Darwin College.
Stuck for something to do this Halloween? We’ve got a few favourites from our popular 'Witches in History' collection, plus new books on magic and the moon. 💫🌙
If you’re in the mood for a movie, we’ve round up our best films from our DVD collection. On display in the Longwall Library foyer. 🎥🍿
If you’re in the mood for a movie, we’ve round up our best films from our DVD collection. On display in the Longwall Library foyer. 🎥🍿
October 31, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Stuck for something to do this Halloween? We’ve got a few favourites from our popular 'Witches in History' collection, plus new books on magic and the moon. 💫🌙
If you’re in the mood for a movie, we’ve round up our best films from our DVD collection. On display in the Longwall Library foyer. 🎥🍿
If you’re in the mood for a movie, we’ve round up our best films from our DVD collection. On display in the Longwall Library foyer. 🎥🍿
In the story, an American family, the Otises, move into an old English mansion which is haunted by the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville. Fortunately for the Otis family, they don't find the ghost scary at all and eventually help him find peace. 👻🎃👻
October 31, 2025 at 10:15 AM
In the story, an American family, the Otises, move into an old English mansion which is haunted by the ghost of Sir Simon de Canterville. Fortunately for the Otis family, they don't find the ghost scary at all and eventually help him find peace. 👻🎃👻
Basil has a Halloween joke for you 🎃👹👻
October 30, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Basil has a Halloween joke for you 🎃👹👻
The actor Robert Hardy was born #OnThisDay 100 years ago. Hardy was a Demy student at Magdalen in 1944 and 1947-8. Here we have a programme for a Magdalen Players production of "The Flies", by Jean-Paul Sartre, performed at Magdalen from 28 May to 2 June 1948 in which Hardy took a leading role.
October 29, 2025 at 10:15 AM
The actor Robert Hardy was born #OnThisDay 100 years ago. Hardy was a Demy student at Magdalen in 1944 and 1947-8. Here we have a programme for a Magdalen Players production of "The Flies", by Jean-Paul Sartre, performed at Magdalen from 28 May to 2 June 1948 in which Hardy took a leading role.
This week is #GreenLibrariesWeek2025. We've put together a book display showcasing titles which explore the relationships between humans and the natural world. 💚🌿🌱🍀
October 28, 2025 at 4:30 PM
This week is #GreenLibrariesWeek2025. We've put together a book display showcasing titles which explore the relationships between humans and the natural world. 💚🌿🌱🍀
Stop scrolling and get back to your studies! The Longwall Library now has a brick device. The brick lets you temporarily suspend distracting apps and notifications on your smartphone - effectively turning it into a brick. You'll find our brick in the foyer. We hope you'll find it helpful.
October 22, 2025 at 9:15 AM
Stop scrolling and get back to your studies! The Longwall Library now has a brick device. The brick lets you temporarily suspend distracting apps and notifications on your smartphone - effectively turning it into a brick. You'll find our brick in the foyer. We hope you'll find it helpful.
Thanks to everyone who came to this afternoon's Meet a Rare Book session. Today we had not 1 but 3 books to showcase. They may be tiny but we think they are also fascinating. Ranging from 3 to 9cm high, these are some of the smallest books in our collection.
October 21, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Thanks to everyone who came to this afternoon's Meet a Rare Book session. Today we had not 1 but 3 books to showcase. They may be tiny but we think they are also fascinating. Ranging from 3 to 9cm high, these are some of the smallest books in our collection.
19- 25th October is Ace Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness of asexuality. Here we have a few books that we think are ace.
Do you have any suggestions for more ace (in both senses of the word) reading material. Let us know! 🖤🩶🤍💜
Do you have any suggestions for more ace (in both senses of the word) reading material. Let us know! 🖤🩶🤍💜
October 20, 2025 at 3:34 PM
19- 25th October is Ace Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness of asexuality. Here we have a few books that we think are ace.
Do you have any suggestions for more ace (in both senses of the word) reading material. Let us know! 🖤🩶🤍💜
Do you have any suggestions for more ace (in both senses of the word) reading material. Let us know! 🖤🩶🤍💜
The writer Alan Garner was born #OnThisDay in 1934. He studied classics at Magdalen in the 1950s. Here we have two of his works which are part of our Magdalen Authors Collection, Red Shift and The Owl Service. Both books have been signed by the author. Many happy returns to Mr Garner 🎉🎂🎈
October 17, 2025 at 9:15 AM
The writer Alan Garner was born #OnThisDay in 1934. He studied classics at Magdalen in the 1950s. Here we have two of his works which are part of our Magdalen Authors Collection, Red Shift and The Owl Service. Both books have been signed by the author. Many happy returns to Mr Garner 🎉🎂🎈
#WeeklyWildeWitticism Oscar Wilde was born #OnThisDay in 1854. Last 16th Oct, we opened our exhibition, Magdalen's Wilde, celebrating the writer's time as a student at Magdalen and his life afterwards. You can see the online version of our exhibition on our website: magdalenswilde.magd.ox.ac.uk
October 16, 2025 at 6:02 PM
#WeeklyWildeWitticism Oscar Wilde was born #OnThisDay in 1854. Last 16th Oct, we opened our exhibition, Magdalen's Wilde, celebrating the writer's time as a student at Magdalen and his life afterwards. You can see the online version of our exhibition on our website: magdalenswilde.magd.ox.ac.uk
Fed up of people badgering you during your study session? Why not follow Basil's lead and use the library's new Brick? The brick lets you temporarily suspend distracting apps and notifications on your smartphone - effectively turning it into a brick. You'll find our brick in the Longwall foyer🦡
October 16, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Fed up of people badgering you during your study session? Why not follow Basil's lead and use the library's new Brick? The brick lets you temporarily suspend distracting apps and notifications on your smartphone - effectively turning it into a brick. You'll find our brick in the Longwall foyer🦡
It's the beginning of Michaelmas Term! Happy 1st week and welcome back to all our returning students. Here are some words of wisdom from a former Magdalen student! #WeeklyWildeWitticism
October 12, 2025 at 9:15 AM
It's the beginning of Michaelmas Term! Happy 1st week and welcome back to all our returning students. Here are some words of wisdom from a former Magdalen student! #WeeklyWildeWitticism
One of the latest additions to our Special Collections is this copy of John Betjeman's Continual Dew, signed by the author. Published in 1937, this was the first time Betjeman's famous poem 'Slough' appeared in print.
October 9, 2025 at 9:15 AM
One of the latest additions to our Special Collections is this copy of John Betjeman's Continual Dew, signed by the author. Published in 1937, this was the first time Betjeman's famous poem 'Slough' appeared in print.