Our University Foundation Course students took part in a study visit to the Bodleian Library as part of a blended learning sequence of lessons on digital literacy.
The world famous library provided stimulating information about the first library cataloguing system which was developed when books were originally chained to the shelves to protect them from theft. Whilst visiting the Duke Humfrey's Library, students learnt about the generosity of Humphrey of Lancaster, 1st Duke of Gloucester, who donated 281 books to the library at a time when books were worth a vast fortune, and also Thomas Bodley, founder of the Bodleian, who rescued the library after 300 books were burnt in the reformation. Thanks to these two individuals the Bodleian library developed into the national treasure that it is today.