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The south wing of the Upper Library

Merton College Library (in Merton College, Oxford) is one of the earliest libraries in England that is still in continuous daily use. The library is housed in several parts of the college, and houses a priceless collection of early printed books and more than 300 medieval manuscripts. The main collection runs to approximately 70,000 volumes.

The oldest part, known as the Upper Library, is on the first floor of two orthogonal ranges of buildings that were built around 1373 (by William Humberville) as part of the completion of Mob Quad, one of the first collegiate quadrangles.

The Upper Library was improved in the 16th century under Warden Sir Henry Savile. Large dormer windows were added to the roof to allow more light in, and Thomas Bodley reorganized it in the new Continental style; the old book chests and lecterns were replaced by book shelves — among the first to be used in England — with benches between them. The Upper Library still retains these 16th century fittings.

Early book bindings in the Library

It also contains a number of book chests, some chained books, one of Elizabeth I's Welsh Bibles, a matching pair of 16th century globes (one of the earth, the other of the heavens), and a collection of astrolabes and other early scientific instruments.

Although the main academic library is housed elsewhere, the Upper Library is still regularly used by members of the college, and is open to visitors by arrangement.

The Upper Library is reputed to be haunted by the ghost of John Duns Scotus who walks the floor of the original 14th century library, appearing therefore to wade through the current one which is about a foot higher.

The library also has important collections of papers and manuscripts from two former Mertonians: T. S. Eliot and Max Beerbohm.

• Merton College
• Mob Quad

• Information on the Library from Merton's web site