Bo Diddley and Harry Potter At Oxford?-July 19

We invaded Oxford University's Bodleian Library early morning and took no prisoners (we did, however, truimphantly scurry away with some nifty bookmarks). We were all surprised to learn from our tour guide that the library is NOT named after Bo Diddley but rather benefactor, Sir Thomas Bodley. Bodleian is actually a complex of libraries with the Divinity School library being the first one built, 1427-1488. Divinity and witchcraft collide in this library for it is here that Harry Potter and friends were filmed being nursed to health at Hogwart's infirmary. The Proscholium, 1610-1612, and the unique round Radcliffe Camera (above picture) are the other Bodleian libraries and together with the Divinity School hold more than 8 million items. Bodleian is not a lending library. Even kings, explained our guide, have been refused requests for books. As with the British Library, Bodleian is a copyright deposit institution.

Bodleian's new director, American Sarah Thomas, is looking for off-site locations for the library's ever expanding collection. Here are some other interesting library statistics: maps--1,241,000; length of shelving--118 miles; average time to deliver requested books from New Library stack to reading rooms--3 hours; number of reading rooms--30; and number of reading room seats--2,482.

Below is St. Mary the Virgin Church directly behind Radcliffe Camera. This church showcased such notable clergymen as John Henry Cardinal Newman, founder of the 19th century Oxford Movement, and John Wesley, founder of Methodism.