One of the world’s most magnificent collections of books, the Bodleian Library lies at the heart of Oxford University life and is one of the oldest working libraries in Europe. Its captivating and breathtaking spread of buildings offers a spectacular array of old and new architecture, and some of its reading rooms – the medieval Duke Humfrey’s Library and the circular Radcliffe Camera – have been immortalised in films. 

This unique documentary reveals how the Elizabethan diplomat Sir Thomas Bodley dedicated the later years of his life to creating this extraordinary library, and illustrates how it continues to flourish as a modern institution.

Credits: Maggie Lee (writer and presenter), Matthew Linfoot and Tony Newton (producers), Lime Hill Productions.