For the Love of Libraries: The Taylorian

The city of Oxford is home to an extensive library system including both new and ancient ones. From the iconic Radcliffe Camera to the touristy Old Bodleian, to the various college libraries, where most students like to put in late nights of work, Oxford has plenty of study spots as the city boasts a total of over a hundred libraries. It is defnitely arduous to choose just one out of the myriad of libraries at Oxford, almost like choosing a favourite book, as they all have their own special qualities and atmospheres, and studying in each one is a distinct experience.

The Radcliffe Camera, popularly known as the RadCam, is a landmark widely recognised worldwide as a symbol of the University of Oxford. Its architectural grandeur and aesthetic appeal have garnered signifcant admiration from students and visitors alike. However, despite the RadCam’s popularity, my personal favourite in Oxford is the Taylor Institute Library, also known as the Taylorian. Although its exterior may not be as striking as the RadCam, the Taylorian’s interior is breathtaking and sure to leave a lasting impression on any visitor.

Located on St. Giles Street, the best part of this library is that it shares a wall with the Ashmolean Museum. Once I have completed my work for the day, I often treat myself to a visit to the museum just next door. I love this library for its proximity to the city centre as well. If you have ever been inside the Taylorian, you are defnitely familiar with the main reading room, and you may have even done some studying in that space. The primary reading room at the Taylorian features an atmosphere that is both beautiful and comfortable. The grand chandeliers drench the room in a warm amber glow and help to create an atmosphere that is conducive to focus on academic work. The tables located on the balcony provide the best seating in the room. To get a glimpse of what it would have been like to be Belle from Beauty and the Beast, utilise the spiral staircase from within. From this vantage point, the view of the entire room is impeccable. I like to think that every library has a soul of its own, and where the RadCam imbues an intense and slightly chaotic ambient, the Taylorian feels more relaxed and less anxious.

I absolutely enjoy my study sessions in the main reading room, however, snagging one of those coveted balcony seats can be impossible. In those instances, a hidden gem at this library is the Voltaire room, located on a lower foor. It gets wonderfully quiet, and the mint-green walls are a breath of fresh air from the deep brown theme of the main reading room. The Voltaire room is a good idea if the main room gets busy (as it often does).

As a student majoring in Applied Linguistics and undertaking research that frequently focuses on languages, I fnd that the information available at the Taylorian, a library dedicated to modern European literature and languages (other than English), is well attuned to my needs.

For all the many reasons mentioned above, the Taylorian remains one of my favourite libraries! The only aspect I wish would change about this library would be the timings. By 7 pm it is lights off so if you are someone who frequently burns the midnight oil, perhaps the Taylorian is not the best option, but it is defnitely worth the visit!

Tip: Once you fnish up at the library, make sure to visit the Ashmolean and then grab a bite to eat at Najar’s Place, a Lebanese food cart with great wraps opposite the Taylorian!

Image Credit: Gerald England revival seeping in over the last few years”, and gives the example of Beyonce taking inspiration from Donna Summer’s ‘I Feel Love’ for her 2022 album Renaissance—the original Donna Summer track being, of course, produced and written by Random Access Memories collaborator Giorgio Moroder. This disco revival has certainly been in full bloom post-pandemic, but the rise of retro had been building up for years—albums like Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia and The Weeknd’s After Hours follow in the Daft Punk tradition with their strong synth-pop infuences. The Weeknd, specifcally, has he been named “one of the biggest torchbearers of retro”—which is why it’s very ftting that his two 2016 hits ‘Starboy’ and ‘I Feel It Coming’ are the last two projects on which Daft Punk ever worked as a duo.

I want to make it clear that I’m not claiming Random Access Memories to be the one album that brought the retro-pastiche revolution to pop music; I can’t ignore the impact of other hugely infuential musicians like Amy Winehouse and Lana del Ray when it comes to the vintage-pop trend. What I am arguing, however, is that when the Cherwell review for Random Access Memories, written almost exactly ten years ago, called the album ‘defning’, I get to confrm that as true an entire decade later. Defning, defnitely, for Daft Punk as songwriters and musicians, but also more largely defning for pop music as a whole.

Image Credit: William Doran

Top 3... summer reads

1. A Farewell To Arms

Hemingway’s famous story of war and love is a masterpiece. It is a compelling mix of humanity, suffering and psychology, with a large cast of characters who all bring another perspective to life. Written in his distinctive style, the novel is most brilliant for its immediacy, bringing the reader to the fore of the action, sometimes with tragic consequences.

2. War and Peace

Why not set yourself a challenge this summer? Tolstoy’s epic novel is as rewarding as it is long. The vast narrative and amount of sub-plots come together to present a panaromic view of life. Enthralling and ambitious, this is a book which I’m sure will impact you deeply.

3. We

A precursor to Orwell’s 1984, Yevgeny Zamyatin wrote ‘We’ in the early 1920s, at the time of the opressive Bolshevik regime of the early Soviet Union. Set in the 26th century AD in the OneState ruled by a ‘benefactor’, ‘We’ laid the groundwork for future dystopian tropes such as forced conformity and panaopticon-style suveillance. It is a short and gripping read, full of interesting, if scary, philosophical questions.