THE Bodleian Library is more than 400 years old but it is being brought into the modern age with a donation of new technology.

Next year the University of Oxford’s Weston Library – known as the New Bodleian – will have state-of-the-art technology installed.

Digital screens will be accessible across the library, accompanied by digital signage, donated by Samsung Electronics UK.

There will also be bespoke software in eight key areas of the library, as well as a tablet loan service for researchers.

The Bodleian’s librarian Richard Ovenden said: “Samsung’s generous gift will transform the way that visitors interact with the University of Oxford’s world-class special collections.

“We are grateful for their professional collaboration and are excited to see how their technology will benefit the students, scholars and members of the public who use the new Weston Library.”

Samsung Electronics UK president Andy Griffiths said: “Samsung is delighted to be working with the University of Oxford, which is synonymous with academic excellence and unrivalled scientific research.

“Samsung has a long tradition of supporting innovation through its leading edge technology and this is the latest example of how the installation of our products and customised software can sustain the libraries heritage for future generations to come.”

The Weston Library has been under refurbishment since 2011, costing £78m.

It reopened to university academics in September, but the technology will be brought in early next year ahead of the Weston Library officially reopening for the public in March.

As part of the refurbishment, visitors will be perched on new chairs, the third re-design in its 400-year history.

They were redesigned before in the 18th century and then again in 1936.

The winning design was chosen from 90 submissions and won by Jay Osgerby OBE, who grew up in Witney and Edward Barber OBE of London design studio Barber Osgerby.

The Weston Library will become the new home for the Bodleian’s special collections, including rare books, medieval manuscripts and major political archives.

In October, staff at the Bodleian raised £2.2m to snap up the archive of pioneering Victorian photographer William Henry Fox Talbot.

Fox Talbot, who lived from 1800 to 1877, was one of the greatest all-rounders of the Victorian age, and is considered by many to be the actual founder of photography.

Some of the first photos taken of Oxford feature in the archive, including one of The Queen’s College in High Street.