Barr Smith Library Appeal
When you donate to the Barr Smith Library, you are directly supporting our students and researchers.
The Barr Smith Library is more than just a place to study – for almost 130 years it has been a place where students and researchers alike have found support and space for quiet reflection, while still being at the very heart of our North Terrace campus.
When you give to the Barr Smith Library Appeal, you are preserving those experiences for generations of students to come.
Your gift to the Barr Smith Library is an investment in resources that support more than 21,000 learners and researchers each year and enriches our culture of academic and research excellence.
PhD (Criminal Justice) candidate and undergraduate tutor, Courtney
PhD (Criminal Justice) candidate and undergraduate tutor, Courtney, affectionately refers to the University as her “home away from home” and the library her go-to place to study.
“I love the sense of community and environment the Library provides. The new renovations of the Barr Smith Library have modernised the study spaces, but the iconic Reading Room also provides such a connection to the University of Adelaide's history. I often take a minute to sit and admire the architecture whenever I can.”
“I really enjoy having the privilege to teach at the University, providing new knowledge to students and helping to foster their learning. I am always directing my students to visit the Library and take advantage of the wonderful online resources available,” Courtney said.
With your support, the library can continue to expand its collection of books, journals, rare manuscripts, digital assets, and cutting-edge technologies that drive both research and learning. These resources are essential for advancing discoveries in areas like climate change, artificial intelligence, health, and more.
The impact of digital collections
With more than 2.5 million scholarly resources – including books, cds, digitised content and 1.2 million electronic resources – the Library, through the acquisition of key collections, is committed to supporting its community of more than 21,000 learners.
The Barr Smith Library has always held a special place in our history. It provides vital resources to our researchers and contributes to our position as South Australia's premier research-intensive University. It supports our students across the full breadth of the University, from undergraduate to postgraduate studies.
The needs of students at the University of Adelaide today are radically different from students who arrived 10 or 20 years ago. Across our almost 150 year history, we have consistently delivered the most prestigious tertiary education in the State and take pride in shaping the leaders of tomorrow.
We are committed to fostering excellence, which means adapting our teaching and learning resources to meet these evolving needs. The nature of study and research today demands a strong digital focus and it is our job to deliver this.
Make a gift today
When you make a gift to this year's appeal, you are directly supporting the best learning outcomes for our students.
For a discussion about how you can support the Barr Smith Library Appeal, please get in touch with our Development team on +61 8 8313 5800 or development@adelaide.edu.au