Richard Ovenden

Who is Richard Ovenden?

Richard Ovenden is a British librarian and author of John Thomson: photographer, a study of the Scottish photographer. He currently serves as Bodley's Librarian in the University of Oxford, having been appointed in 2014. Ovenden also serves as the Director of the Bodleian Library's Centre for the Study of the Book and holds a Professorial Fellowship at Balliol College.

Ovenden was educated at Sir Roger Manwood's School, Kent and at St Chad's College, Durham University, graduating in 1985. He has worked at Durham University Library, the House of Lords Library, the National Library of Scotland and at the University of Edinburgh, where he was responsible for Collection Management within the Library, for Special Collections and Archives, and for the University Museums and Art Gallery.

In 2003 he became Keeper of Special Collections and Western Manuscripts at the Bodleian Libraries and in 2011 was appointed Deputy Librarian.