What right does the Bodleian have as a legal deposit library?

A copy of books published in the UK

Bodleian Library Quiz: Radcliffe Camera and Oxford's Rare Books

This Bodleian Library quiz enters the reading rooms of Oxford's famous university library. Play 10 interactive questions on Thomas Bodley and the 1602 reopening, Duke Humfrey's Library, the reader's oath against fire, legal deposit, the round Radcliffe Camera by James Gibbs, Charles I's refused loan, the Weston Library, the Divinity School and Hogwarts scenes.

Start Bodleian Library Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

City
Which city is the Bodleian in?
Founder
Who refounded the library in 1602?
Old
Which is the oldest reading room?
Oath
What do new readers promise not to do?
Deposit
What right does the Bodleian have as a legal deposit library?
Camera
What is the Radcliffe Camera?
Architect
Who designed the Radcliffe Camera?
King
Which king was refused a book loan?
Hall
Which vaulted room appeared as the Hogwarts infirmary?
Size
Roughly how many items do the Bodleian Libraries hold?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: Which city is the Bodleian in?
Answer: Oxford
It serves Oxford University.
Q2: Who refounded the library in 1602?
Answer: Thomas Bodley
He was a diplomat and scholar.
Q3: Which is the oldest reading room?
Answer: Duke Humfrey's Library
It dates from the 1400s.
Q4: What do new readers promise not to do?
Answer: Bring fire or kindle flame
The oath is centuries old.
Q5: What right does the Bodleian have as a legal deposit library?
Answer: A copy of books published in the UK
The arrangement began in 1610.
Q6: What is the Radcliffe Camera?
Answer: A round domed reading room
Camera means room in Latin.
Q7: Who designed the Radcliffe Camera?
Answer: James Gibbs
It opened in 1749.
Q8: Which king was refused a book loan?
Answer: Charles I
Even kings must read in the library.
Q9: Which vaulted room appeared as the Hogwarts infirmary?
Answer: Divinity School
Its ceiling is richly carved.
Q10: Roughly how many items do the Bodleian Libraries hold?
Answer: Over 13 million
They include rare manuscripts.

Oaths, Domes and Four Centuries of Books

The Bodleian Library at Oxford University is one of the oldest libraries in Europe. Its oldest reading room, Duke Humfrey's Library, dates from the 1400s. After years of neglect, scholar and diplomat Thomas Bodley refounded the library, which reopened in 1602.

In 1610 Bodley arranged for the library to receive a copy of every book registered by London's printers, the start of its role as a legal deposit library. New readers still swear an old oath not to bring fire or kindle flame. Books do not leave the building; in 1645 even King Charles I was refused a loan.

The round, domed Radcliffe Camera, designed by James Gibbs and opened in 1749, is now a reading room. The Bodleian Libraries hold more than 13 million items, and the modern Weston Library displays treasures. The vaulted Divinity School appeared as the Hogwarts infirmary in the Harry Potter films.

What This Quiz Teaches

Book fans will enjoy these questions.

Who founded the library
Which rooms are oldest
Which rules readers follow
What the Radcliffe Camera is
Which films used it

Did You Know?

Underground tunnels link some library buildings.
The library holds early copies of Magna Carta.
Tours take visitors into historic rooms.
Readers must be registered to use the collections.
Tolkien manuscripts are among its treasures.