Barr Smith Library

The Barr Smith Library

The Barr Smith Library is home to the Reading Room, one of the most beautiful scholarly spaces in Australia. Generations of students have spent many hours studying in the Library, poring over its extensive collections.  

The Barr Smith Library offers a variety of spaces for study, research and group work and is located on our Adelaide City Campus East. 

The library is also home to select Special Collections and Archives.

Highlights include: 

  • 24/7 access to the High Use Collection and study spaces on Level 3
  • Large curated collections across many subject areas, including Australian history, politics and literature, English literature, world wars, socialism and fascism, women and gender studies, utopian literature, and food studies
  • Special Collections and Archives, including the Music Collection, East Asian Collection, Yaitya Ngutupira, Pride Collection and Recreational Reading physical collections
  • Over 500 individual study spaces
  • Over 130 computers
  • Meeting rooms
  • Sleep pods
  • Printing, scanning, and photocopying on each level

Come and speak to Library staff on Level 3 of Hub Central.

The Barr Smith Library is located off North Terrace in the Adelaide City Campus East, adjacent to Hub Central. View campus map.

  • The library can be accessed directly from the bridge entrance (on the western side of the building) or from within Hub Central on level 3. A lift on the southern side of the building provides access between levels 3 and 4 of Hub Central and all levels of the library. Within the library, a lift in the northern end of the building provides access to all levels of the library.  
  • Specially adapted study carrels, identified by wheelchair signs, are located on the Northern Levels 1, 2 and 3 of the Barr Smith Library –) just opposite the lift. 
  • Accessible toilets are located on level 3 of the Barr Smith Library (near the main entrance) and level 1 (northern end of the building). 
  • An Adaptive Technology Suite is available for Adelaide University students to minimise the impact of disabilities or medical conditions. Register with Access and Inclusion to access the suites with your student card. 
  • A Multi-Access Suite provides members of the University community with access to a private and appropriate space that supports the needs of parents, breastfeeding parents, and people with disabilities, medical or mental health conditions. More information is available through tAccess and Inclusion.

The following items are available for loan from the lapsafe in the library: 

  • Over 500 study spaces (combination of desk, group, carrel and computer) with some being bookable 
    • Group discussion area located on levels 1 and 3 of the library
    • Quiet study areas located on level 2 of the library
  • Listening booths with specialist audio equipment
  • 24/7 access to level 3 of the library, including the High Use Collection (University ID card required for out-of-hours access) 
  • Over 130 computers
  • Seminar / workshop room for groups up to 100 people (standing)
  • Small group discussion room
  • Study rooms
  • Writing Studio (BSS 200) 
    • This space is a result of close collaboration with the Faculty of Arts, and is home to creative writing classes and workshops. 
    • Outside of classes and other bookings, it is available to students as a quiet study space. 
  • Digital Presentation Suite
    • Fully automated self-serve facility for staff to record 4K asynchronous learning content and deliver synchronous live online teaching
  • Laptops for loan 

The returns chute is located outside of the library, near the bridge entrance to the library/Hub Central (if you are coming to the library from within the Hub, you need to go through the glass doors to the outside foyer area near the bridge entrance). Look for the bright red wall. Items can be returned to any of the Adelaide University libraries

Printing is available on each level and uses your student quota. All of the printers in the library can also be used for photocopying and scanning. Learn more about printing, photocopying and scanning in the library.

Bring your own charging cord and use one of the many power (and USB power) points throughout the Library. 

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