CCR TT Week 3 2026 Motions

College Library Access Motion

This motion mandates the sabbatical officers to advocate at the Conference of Colleges and any relevant committee for the open access of college libraries to all University of Oxford students. 

Proposal  

The College Library Access Motion mandates the sabbatical officers to advocate at the Conference of Colleges and any relevant committee for the open access of college libraries to all University of Oxford students. 

Which of the following aims does your motion or proposal hope to achieve?  

  • Provide the views of students and a position deemed to be representative of wider students at the University of Oxford 

Conference Notes:  

  • Of the 66 libraries at the University of Oxford, 43 are college libraries open only to current members of their respective colleges. Oxford students generally cannot visit or borrow books from college libraries besides their own. 

Conference Believes:  

  • Opening college libraries to all students will significantly enhance student experience by tripling the number of Oxford libraries they have access to. College libraries are unique in their history, architecture, and traditions. Giving students the chance to explore all college libraries will enrich their time at Oxford and foster cross-collegiate friendship. 

  • College libraries, many of which hold unique collections and specialist subject matters, represent a wealth of scholarly resources that the whole University community could benefit from. Broadening access would allow these collections to fulfil their academic potential and serve the University's mission of advancing learning across all disciplines. Hence, opening college libraries to all students will greatly benefit Oxford’s academic environment. 

Conference Resolves:  

  • Mandate the sabbatical officers to advocate at the Conference of Colleges and any relevant committee for the open access of college libraries to all University of Oxford students. 

  • Mandate the sabbatical officers to advocate at the Conference of Colleges and any relevant committee for the facilitation of a reciprocal borrowing program that allows students to borrow from any college library. 

Equality Impact Assessment: 

  • Stated as net positive impact for all listed demographics