Bodleian Library

Duke Humfrey’s Reading Room is heaven.

although it’s a close call. Some of the things that you have to put up with to get a reader’s card there are hilarious. Once I got in, however, I found that their incredible collection is often in really bad shape and it is quite difficult to get copies made. On the other hand, the collection is enormous and has many rare things that one can’t find anyplace else.

Best library in England. Just love it!

As most of my time at the Tolkien conference was spent over at Keble’s. But there was a special Tolkien-themed exhibit there with a number of papers and drawings—most, of course, are over at Marquette in the States now, and I think many of the papers I saw then in 1992 have since been joined to that collection. Still, it was a good experience to see them, though I now wish I had spent more time in the library in general! Another time.

She said students come here for formal debates as part of their graduation requirements. Harry Potter’s infirmary sceens were also filmed here.