Philosophy Centre
1. Philosophy Faculty Centre at 10 Merton Street
All matters relating to access to, use and occupation of 10 Merton Street are subject to regulation by the Management Committee and the Philosophy Faculty Board. The Management Committee has the following membership: the Curator of 10 Merton Street, the Faculty Administrator, the Librarian of the Philosophy Library, and two members of the Faculty: one with an office in the Centre and one other. The Curator acts as Chairman of the Committee. The Committee meets once a term, usually in 0th week (the week before Full Term begins). Any person with an office in 10 Merton Street is entitled to attend.
10 Merton Street is not a department and does not function as one. The administrative staff based at 10 Merton Street are happy to answer enquiries concerning the Faculty and facilities in the building. Enquiries concerning the Library should be addressed to the Library staff.
Toilets can be found in the basement. There is a disabled toilet on the ground floor. The garden is available, during opening hours, for users of the building, and can be accessed from the main hall. Smoking is not permitted in any part of the building.
2. Opening Hours
The Centre is generally open from 9.30am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday during term and 9.30am to 4.30pm in other weeks. The administrative offices are usually closed between 1pm and 2pm. The Centre is sometimes open, by arrangement, for evening meetings and weekend events, or when its component Library has longer hours. The Library is also open on Saturday mornings during Full Term, between 10.00am and 12.45pm Full details of opening hours are posted on the front door.
The Centre closes for about 10 days at Christmas and Easter, and for five weeks in the summer, from the beginning of August to early September. Vacation hours are published in the University Gazette.
3. Access
Wheelchair access to 10 Merton Street is via a ramp (to automated doors) at the rear of the building. Detailed information about provision and sources of assistance, including the University’s Access Guide, which gives details about the accessibility of most University buildings, can be found on the Web site at http://www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop/. Local information on access and resources can be found on the Philosophy Faculty Web site at http://www.philosophy.ox.ac.uk. Further information and advice are available from the University Disability Co-ordinator, Deborah Popham, Tel: (2)89824, E-mail: deborah.popham@admin.ox.ac.uk. The Disability Co-ordinator for the Philosophy Faculty is Dr Hilla Wait, Tel: (2)76927, E-mail: hilla.wait@philosophy.ox.ac.uk.
4. Out-of-Hours Access Scheme
The Faculty operates a scheme whereby graduate students in Philosophy can register to use the building outside of normal opening hours. A deposit is required for the keys. Access to the Library is not available outside of normal opening hours, and access to the building during the fixed closed periods is not allowed. Further details about the scheme can be obtained by contacting the Administrator.
5. Academic Staff
Most members of the Faculty’s academic staff have offices in their colleges. Only the following have offices at 10 Merton Street:
Professor Harvey Brown Professor of Philosophy of Physics
Dr Daniel Isaacson University Lecturer in the Philosophy of Mathematics
Dr Ben Saunders Departmental Lecturer in Philosophy
Professor Simon Saunders Professor of Philosophy of Science
Dr Maja Spener Faculty Lecturer in Philosophy of Mind
6. Administrative and IT Support Staff
The following administrative and IT support staff are based at 10 Merton Street or in the Faculty’s satellite offices in Suites 7 and 8 of Littlegate House, St Ebbes’ where the Faculty’s research centres are located.
Tom Moore (tom.moore@philosophy.ox.ac.uk, (01865 2) 76928)
Faculty Administrator & Secretary to the Faculty Board
Contact for all issues relating to the business of the Faculty or Faculty Board, academic recruitment, special lectures, applications for leave and external research funding, review of appointments, appraisal, changes to regulations.
Andy Davies (andy.davies@philosophy.ox.ac.uk, (01865 2) 86202)
IT Manager
Contact for all issues relating to IT, including grants for IT equipment, the Philosophy website and individual web pages.
David Smart (david.smart@philosophy.ox.ac.uk, (01865 2) 86200)
IT Assistant (0.5FTE, term-time only)
Contact for all issues relating to IT support.
Iris Geens (iris.geens@philosophy.ox.ac.uk, (01865 2) 76933)
Academic Administrator of Graduate Studies
Contact for all issues relating to the business of the Graduate Studies Committee, graduate supervision, graduate classes, graduate procedures (transfer or status, confirmation of status, appointment of examiners, etc), graduate handbooks, examining of taught graduate courses, the Graduate Teaching Scheme and the Graduate Teaching Register, and the Placement Scheme.
James Knight (james.knight@philosophy.ox.ac.uk, (01865 2) 76925)
Undergraduate Studies Officer
Contact for all issues relating to the business of the Undergraduate Studies Committee, the lecture list and timetable, room bookings, undergraduate examining and undergraduate handbooks.
Catriona Hopton (catriona.hopton@philosophy.ox.ac.uk, (01865 2) 76934)
Assistant Administrator
The Assistant Administrator provides dedicated, and largely executive, support to the Faculty Administrator & Secretary to the Faculty Board and to the Graduate and Undergraduate Studies Administrators. Contact for all general enquiries, building and health and safety matters, and issues relating to academic visitors.
Tom Ibbotson (tom.ibbotson@philosophy.ox.ac.uk, (01865 2) 86203)
Finance Officer (Maternity Cover)
Contact for all issues relating to finance, including expense claims and research grants.
Ms Annette Vaneeden ((01865 2) 76926)
Secretarial Assistant / Professorial Assistant
Contact for all issues relating to secretarial / clerical support and general enquiries.
Mr Bryn Harris (bryn.harris@philosophy.ox.ac.uk (01865 2) 76926)
Administrative Assistant
Contact for all issues relating to administration.
Deborah Sheehan (deborah.sheehan@philosophy.ox.ac.uk, (01865 2) 86888)
Administrator of the Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics
Contact for all issues relating to the Oxford Uehiro Centre for Practical Ethics. Deborah is based in Suite 8 of Littlegate House, St Ebbes’.
Miriam Wood (miriam.wood@philosophy.ox.ac.uk) (01865 2) 86888)
Administrator of the Oxford Centre for Neuroethics
Contact for all issues relating to the Oxford Centre for Neuroethics and the AHRC Project on Science and Religious Conflict. The Administrator of the Oxford Centre for Neuroethics is based in Suite 8 of Littlegate House, St Ebbes’.
Rachel Gaminiratne (rachel.gaminiratne@philosophy.ox.ac.uk, (01865 2) 86279)
James Martin Projects Officer (0.66FTE)
Contact for all issues relating to the Philosophy projects within the James Martin 21st Century School (the Future of Humanity Institute, and the Programme on Ethics of the New Biosciences). Rachel is based in Suite 8 of Littlegate House, St Ebbes’.
Lisa Makros (lisa.makros@philosophy.ox.ac.uk, (01865 2) 86279)
James Martin Projects Officer (temporary appointment)
Contact for all issues relating to the Philosophy projects within the Oxford Martin School (the Future of Humanity Institute, and the Programme on Ethics of the New Biosciences). Lisa is based in Suite 8 of Littlegate House, St Ebbes’.
Stephen Belcher (stephen.belcher@philosophy.ox.ac.uk, (01865 2) 76926)
Janitor
The Faculty’s Administrative staff are happy to answer any query concerning the Faculty or the facilities in the building. Enquiries concerning the Philosophy Library should be addressed to the Library staff (philosophy.library@bodliean.ox.ac.uk).
7. Philosophy Library at 10 Merton Street
The Philosophy Library is the principal source of philosophy books for loan in the University, complementing the more extensive reference collection of the Bodleian Library. The Philosophy Library holds over 27,000 books and periodicals, plus reading lists and examination papers, and offers informed access to many reference sources and databases such as the Philosophers’ Index and a growing collection of electronic philosophy texts. The University’s own library catalogue, OLIS, is networked through the University and can be accessed via SOLO, the search and discovery tool for the Oxford Libraries'.
Academic visitors and graduate students may borrow books and periodicals; undergraduates may borrow books only. Click here for more borrowing details.
New readers should attend a Library registration session before using the Library. A University Card is required for access to the Library.
8. Library Staff
Telephone: (01865 2)76927
Email: philosophy.library@bodliean.ox.ac.uk
Website: http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/philosophy
Staff: http://www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/philosophy/about/contact
9. Ryle Room and Lecture Room
The Lecture Room is on the first floor and seats 60. The Ryle Room is on the ground floor and seats 30. These rooms may be used for lectures and classes by members of the Faculty and other authorised persons, for meetings of recognised societies, or for such other purposes as the Management Committee may approve from time to time. In addition, a Committee Room can be found in the basement. This room is set aside each afternoon for exclusive use by graduate students, but is available in the mornings for the purposes of watching videos (available from the Philosophy Library; see 20 below), and for tutorial or small group teaching (the room will comfortably hold no more than half a dozen people). Rooms should be booked in advance; please contact the Undergraduate Studies Officer. Priority will be given to lectures and seminars.
Authorised lecturers may use the overhead projectors in the Lecture Room and Ryle Room. A video and data projector and a TV/VCR combination are also available, by arrangement with the IT Officer or Assistant IT Officer. In all cases where rooms are in use after the building has closed, the lecturer or an officer of the society must be responsible for closing windows, turning off lights, checking that all persons have left the building, and ensuring that the building is left locked and secure. No food or drink may be taken into or consumed in these rooms.
10. Common Room
The Common Room is available during opening hours for all users of the building and members of staff. National daily newspapers and other journals and publications are available at all times. In the corridor outside the Common Room, there is a drinks machine selling tea, coffee and hot chocolate, and a cold spring water dispenser. Fresh tea, coffee, and soft drinks are also available in the Common Room during Full Term. A street map of Oxford hangs and a map of Oxford showing the Colleges and other University buildings hang on the corridor wall.
11. Harré Room (Academic Visitor Reading Area)
The Harré Room can be found in the basement and may be available during the building’s opening hours as a quiet reading and work area for academic visitors who do not have offices of their own. However, the space available is limited and applications to use it should be directed to the Administrator. The endorsement of a member of the Faculty is required in such cases. In addition to tables and chairs, there is shelving and lockers for storage and a printer and telephone. Computers may be provided on request.
12. Offices and Private Rooms
These may only be used by those members of the Faculty, staff, and academic visitors to whom they are assigned by the Management Committee.
13. Keys
Keys for 10 Merton Street are only made available by the Faculty Administrator and Librarian to:
(i) officers of the Faculty;
(ii) permanent occupants of offices or private rooms;
(iii) staff of 10 Merton Street;
(iv) officers of such societies as are permitted to hold meetings in the building outside office hours;
(v) eligible graduate students who sign up for the out-of-hours access scheme (see 12 below) and who provide the requisite deposit.
Duplicates of keys must not be made, and keys issued for a limited period must be returned as soon as that period has expired. All keys issued are subject to immediate recall by the Management Committee, or by the Curator, Faculty Administrator and Librarian acting for it. Keys must not be lent to other people. Any keyholder leaving the building out of opening hours is responsible for turning off lights, closing windows, and ensuring that the building is locked and otherwise secure. A fine is charged for lost keys. Under no circumstances do keyholders have access to the Library outside normal opening hours.
14. Parking
The extremely limited parking space in the off-street area behind 10 Merton Street is reserved for the permanent members of academic staff who occupy rooms in the building. No off-street parking is available for other users. There is a cycle rack to the rear of the building for use by those attending lectures or using the Library: cycles must not be left by the gates between numbers 10 and 12 Merton Street. Cycle parking in the lobby is reserved for those with an office at 10 Merton Street.
15. Photocopying and Secretarial Services
Members of the Faculty may have typing and photocopying done by the secretarial staff for the purposes of teaching and research. Holders of college appointments and academic visitors who are not members of the Faculty may also use this service, but members of the Faculty have priority. Photocopying facilities are available on the ground floor for members of the Faculty to use themselves, by arrangement with the administrative staff. Charged photocopying facilities for all other users of the building are available on the first floor, in a small room next to the Lecture Room; cards can be purchased from the Library staff. Copying of books and journals is subject to the regulations of the Copyright Licensing Agency.
16. Computing Facilities
Graduate students and academic visitors may register with the IT Officer to use the Graduate Computing Room at 10 Merton Street and may then use their University card to access the room via the swipe system when the building is open. The room contains four PCs and one Mac, which are connected to the University network and can access the World Wide Web and local resources such as OxLIP. Software includes Microsoft Office XP (including Word, Excel and Access), WordPerfect, Scientific Word, Publisher 2000 for DTP, Adobe Acrobat to create documents for publishing on the web, and Adobe Photoshop and CorelDraw for graphics work. The room also contains a scanner, a laser printer, a binding machine and space for using a laptop. For further information, please contact andy.davies@philosophy.ox.ac.uk. In addition, there are fourteen reader workstations situated throughout the Philosophy Library at 10 Merton Street, including three in the new Computing Resources Room, which also has a printer and mains and ethernet sockets for students who want to use their own laptops in the building. For further information, please contact philosophy.library@bodliean.ox.ac.uk. Oxford University Computing Service at 13 Banbury Road provides extensive computing facilities for the University’s staff, students and visitors and can register visitors who have brought their own machines, for use of the electronic mailing network. Application forms are available from the Help Area at OUCS, and must be countersigned by a senior member of the University. If academic visitors wish to use other facilities available in the Computing Service, the Faculty Administrator can provide a letter confirming their status.
There is an OWL wireless network running throughout 10 Merton Street. Those wishing to connect should contact the IT Officer or Assistant IT Officer for guidance.
17. Telephones
There is an internal telephone in the basement for users of the building. External calls can only be made from this telephone using a BT Chargecard or ACC PIN.
18. Post
The nearest Post Office is in St Aldates. There is a post box in Merton Street, opposite the entrance to the building. Internal mail for colleges and departments within the University may be left in the tray in the main hall; the University messenger collects and delivers twice a day at approximately 10.00am and 3.00pm. Post which arrives for academic visitors and other persons who are not members of the Faculty will be placed in the visitors’ pigeonhole in the main hall for collection, or forwarded to the relevant college, if this is known. No undertaking to forward mail can be made.
19. Notice-boards
The notice-boards in the main hall carry official University and Faculty notices, information about current lectures and classes, notices of meetings and conferences, lists of members of the Faculty, visiting philosophers and general events taking place in Oxford. If you want to post a notice or need a copy of anything posted on any of the boards, please ask a member of the administrative staff. Most notices posted on the boards are also circulated to the Faculty’s emailing lists - if you would like to join, please send an e-mail to secretarial.assistant@philosophy.ox.ac.uk.
20. Lecture Lists
Copies of the Philosophy Lecture List and the Lectures Prospectus, which gives brief descriptions of each lecture, generally become available in 0th week (the week before Full Term begins). Graduate students and academic visitors can obtain copies from the Library. Any alterations to the Lecture List will be posted on the notice-board in the main hall, on the Philosophy and central University websites. Lecture lists for other faculties can also be found online.
21. Publications
The Faculty publishes a series of bibliographies and monographs, which can be purchased from the Secretarial Assistant. A full list of titles and prices can be found on the Faculty noticeboard in the main hall.
22. Philosophy Videos
A series of philosophy videos, e.g. Conversations with Donald Davidson, are available from the Library for viewing at 10 Merton Street only, either privately in the Committee Room or in groups in the Lecture Room.
23. Lost property
The Management Committee can take no responsibility for personal property left on the premises. Please contact a member of the administrative staff if you need to recover lost property.