St John's College Library

The final Old Library open afternoon of the year is THIS WEEK 😮

Whether your time at St John's is coming to an end or you'll be around a while longer, don't let the 2025-26 academic year go by without setting foot in the beautiful 17th-century Old Library and discovering some of the College's treasures 📚 🔭🦂

Open 2-4 on Wednesday, access (as ever) via E Staircase, Second Court.

Thank you to everyone who has dropped in this year - it's been wonderful to meet you all ❤️

(and yes, that's an intentional scorpion emoji. )

New AV display 📢

Happy Pride Month from your St John's Library team! 🌈

We're celebrating LGBTQIA+ identities with a new DVD display in the AV room 📽️

With the end of Easter term fast approaching, why not grab some friends and borrow one of these for your next movie night?

We'd also love to hear any recommendations for more LGBTQIA+ titles not already in our collection, so let us know in our suggestions box! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Love is love, and being yourself is never wrong ❤️

We hope you all have a great Pride! 🏳️‍🌈

The Working Library is now card access only 24/7 (including staffed hours). We'll be trialling this for the rest of Easter Term following a discussion at the Working Library Committee last week.

Current St John's members: this shouldn't change anything for you - just make sure you've got your card on you and let us know if you have any issues. Remember that College members aren't allowed to bring guests into the Working Library at any time of the year.

Special Collections readers, alumni, and other visitors: you're still very welcome to visit the Library by appointment! Please get in touch with the Library team in advance to arrange your visit, and speak to the Porters when you arrive. They'll get in touch with us to make sure someone is ready to let you in.

Access to the Old Library for Wednesday open afternoons (three left this term, all welcome!) will continue to be via E Staircase, Second Court, so no changes there.

We're loving the origami creations popping up around the Library!

Origami paper and instructions are included in every Wellbeing Pack - just ask at the desk if you'd like some extra supplies 🌸

If you need a small reset, wellbeing packs are now available on the ground floor. Inside you will find a mix of comforting treats, destressing tools, and useful information about support services. You are very welcome to come and pick one up, they are free! We will be putting them out regularly during the Easter Term.

BRING US YOUR ART 🎨 📸

Submissions for this year's Student Art and Photography Competition are open until 5pm on TUESDAY 5th May. Just bring your work to the Issue Desk (during staffed hours, please - that's until 5 today, Friday, and 9-5 Monday and Tuesday).

Cash prizes! Exhibition in the Library! Full details on 4th Court!

There are lots of categories, so pretty much anything is welcome - if you're not sure, drop us an email or come speak to us at the desk.

📢 New AV display!

The busy Easter term is right around the corner, and our AV room has plenty of DVDs for when you need those well-deserved study breaks 📚

We've picked out some iconic feel-good films to help you relax, kick-back and escape the stress of assignments 🧘

As Arnold Schwarzenegger once said in Total Recall: "Relax. You'll live longer."

📢 New AV display!

With the Oscars right around the corner, we've picked out a few Best Picture winners and nominees, both past and present, for you to enjoy ✨

Which of this year's nominees for Best Picture do you think should win? Have your say using our tally sheet, and we'll see who comes out on top🥇

New AV display 📢 We've picked out some DVDs celebrating love in all its forms! Come take a peek during your study break

Entries to the 2025 St John's College Staff Photography Competition, "Out of Place", are now on display! Thank you to everyone who entered, and congratulations to the winning photos:

🥇 untitled goat - Cameron Walker
🥈 'Out Damned Spot' - Catherine Jagger

and the highly commended:

🥉 'St John's College in the early morning of a summer day' - Norma Paterno
🥉 'Mountain Playground' - Tabitha Calnan
🥉 'Hidden Ladybird' - Luke Herzog
🥉 'Peeking at nature on the River Ouse' - Karen Clare

The exhibition will be open 9-5 weekdays until December 23rd, and then again from January 2-16 2026. 📸