Editing Bodleian Library (section)

===Sir Thomas Bodley and the re-founding of the University Library===
The library went through a period of decline in the late 16th century: the library's furniture was sold, and only three of the original books belonging to Duke Humphrey remained in the collection.<ref name="Jarrold 1976"/> During the reign of [[Edward VI]], there was a purge of "superstitious" (Catholic-related) manuscripts.<ref name="autogenerated5"/> 

It was not until 1598 that the library began to thrive once more,<ref name="Philip, Ian 1983; p. 1">Philip, Ian (1983); p. 1</ref> when [[Thomas Bodley]] wrote to the Vice Chancellor of the university offering to support the development of the library: "where there hath bin hertofore a publike library in Oxford: which you know is apparent by the rome it self remayning, and by your statute records I will take the charge and cost upon me, to reduce it again to his former use."<ref name="Philip, Ian 1983; p. 1"/> 

Bodley was a former fellow of [[Merton College, Oxford|Merton College]], who had recently married a wealthy widow,<ref>{{cite book|last1=Clapinson|first1=Mary|title=A Brief History of the Bodleian Library.|date=2015|publisher=University of Oxford|location=Oxford, London|isbn=978-1-85124-273-3|pages=1–4|chapter=The Early Years}}</ref> and the son of John Bodley (d. 15 Oct. 1591) a [[Protestant]] merchant who chose foreign exile rather than staying in England under the [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] government of Queen [[Mary I of England|Mary]], and was thereby involved in [[Rowland Hill (MP)|Rowland Hill's]] publication of the [[Geneva Bible]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=John Shillingford, John Bodley, and Thomas Bodley blue plaque |url=https://openplaques.org/plaques/50444 |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=openplaques.org |language=en-GB}}</ref>

Six of the Oxford University dons were tasked with helping Bodley in refitting the library in March 1598.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Beddard |first1=R. A. |author-link=Robert Beddard |title=The Official Inauguration of the Bodleian Library on 8 November 1602 |journal=[[Bibliographical Society|The Library]] |date=2002 |volume=3|issue=3|pages=255–283 |doi=10.1093/library/3.3.255}}</ref> Duke Humfrey's Library was refitted, and Bodley donated some of his own books to furnish it. The library was formally re-opened on 8 November 1602 under the name "Bodleian Library" (officially Bodley's Library).<ref name="Jarrold 1976"/> There were around 2,000 books in the library at this time, with an ornate Benefactor's Register displayed prominently, to encourage donations. Early benefactors were motivated by the recent memory of the [[Reformation]] to donate books in the hopes that they would be kept safe.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Clapinson|first1=Mary|title=A Brief History of the Bodleian Library |date=2015|publisher=University of Oxford|location=Oxford, London|isbn=978-1-85124-273-3|pages=9–11|chapter=The Early Years}}</ref>

Bodley's collecting interests were varied; according to the library's historian Ian Philip, as early as June 1603 he was attempting to source manuscripts from Turkey, and it was during "the same year that the first Chinese book was acquired",<ref>Philip, Ian (1983); p. 19</ref> despite no-one at Oxford being able to understand them at that time.<ref name="autogenerated14">{{cite book|last1=Clapinson|first1=Mary|title=A Brief History of the Bodleian Library|date=2015|publisher=University of Oxford|location=Oxford, London|isbn=978-1-85124-273-3|page=14|chapter=The Early Years}}</ref> In 1605, [[Francis Bacon]] gave the library a copy of ''[[The Advancement of Learning]]'' and described the Bodleian as "an Ark to save learning from deluge".<ref>{{cite web|title=Novum organum (New Instrument)|url=https://genius.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/exhibits/browse/novum-organum-new-instrument/|website=Marks of Genius|publisher=Bodleian Library|access-date=11 March 2017|archive-date=18 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118154715/http://genius.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/exhibits/browse/novum-organum-new-instrument/|url-status=dead}}</ref> At this time, there were few books written in English held in the library, partially because academic work was not done in English.<ref name="autogenerated14"/> [[Thomas James]] suggested that Bodley should ask the [[Worshipful Company of Stationers and Newspaper Makers|Stationers' Company]] to provide a copy of all books printed to the Bodleian<ref>{{cite book|last1=Clapinson|first1=Mary|title=A Brief History of the Bodleian Library.|date=2015|publisher=University of Oxford|location=Oxford, London|isbn=978-1-85124-273-3|page=15|chapter=The Early Years}}</ref> and in 1610 Bodley made an agreement with the company to put a copy of every book registered with them in the library.<ref name=Jackson1969>{{cite journal|last1=Jackson|first1=Sidney L.|title=Bodley and the Bodleian: Collections, Use and Administration|journal=[[The Library Quarterly|The Library Quarterly: Information, Community, Policy]]|date=1 January 1969|volume=39|issue=3|pages=253–270|jstor=4305998|doi=10.1086/619766|s2cid=145797787}}</ref> The Bodleian collection grew so fast that the building was expanded between 1610 and 1612 (known as the Arts End),<ref name=Jackson1969/> and again in 1634–1637. When [[John Selden]] died in 1654, he left the Bodleian his large collection of books and manuscripts. The later addition to Duke Humfrey's Library continues to be known as the "Selden End".

By 1620, 16,000 items were in the Bodleian's collection.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Davis|first1=D. G.|title=Problems in the Life of a University Librarian: Thomas James, 1600–1620|journal=[[College & Research Libraries]]|date=1 January 1970|volume=31|issue=1|pages=43–49|doi=10.5860/crl_31_01_43|doi-access=free|hdl=2142/38489|hdl-access=free}}</ref> Anyone who wanted to use the Bodleian had to buy a copy of the 1620 library catalogue at a cost of 2 shillings and 8 pence.<ref name=Jackson1969/>