The Queen's College Record 2020

Reports and College Activities
The Orrery in the Upper Library
Dr Katherine Hunt, Career Development Fellow in English and Dr Christopher Hollings,
Clifford Norton Senior Research Fellow in the History of Mathematics made use of the
special collections for teaching purposes. Undergraduates and graduates have been
able to learn from these unique texts with very positive feedback: ‘having the Library’s
collection so easily accessible has been vital to developing the palaeographical skills
required at Master’s level, as well as enabling me to further improve the quality of
my scholarship.’ The New Library accommodation has lent itself particularly well to
facilitating this use of the special collections.
A number of collections were enhanced over the course of the year. The welfare
and wellbeing collections in the Library are now better able to provide all members
of College with access to resources to support them in their studies and College
life. These were selected following consultation with the College welfare team and
recommendations from the wider University, including the Disability Advisory Service.
The general reading section has been refreshed with titles from a diverse range of
authors – more accurately reflecting the diversity of the Queen’s community and the
world outside Oxford. The collection of modern foreign language films has been much
improved following a collaborative project by both MFL students and academics to
recommend titles.
In summary, 2020 is a year that definitely landed marmalade side down! However
we have found ways of working to support the College community and there has
been a coming together across College that bodes well for the future. The advent of
Michaelmas term will be the next big step and I hope when these notes are written
next year that there is less of ‘I don’t know’ and more certainty for us all to rely on.
College Record 2020 | The Queen’s College 43