Barr Smith Library

It’s easy to find what you want just make sure you get in early! The computer system is really easy to use to find the types of books that you want, and the filing system is generally pretty good too. There’s a lot of places to research/​study/​read… whatever. Just keep walking around and you’ll find somewhere to hang out.

Barr Smith Library was the local library ground during my time at the University of Adelaide. However, the library is not just available to University students and I believe it a great resource the public is missing out on.
The Barr Smith is old. And whilst it is a beautiful, heritage kind of old it is still old and has lots of creepy dark corners, and plenty of places to get lost. After about a year I figured out how to navigate through the whole building and then two years later they have added on Hub Central which makes half of my study of navigation obsolete. Hmfph.
Because it acts as the resource centre for the University and its largely academic courses, there isn’t a huge range of fiction. However, as English is taught there is a section for fiction and Australian fiction where you will definitely be able to find some decent reading material that’s not about the Korean War or Stocks and Bonds. However, if you are looking for the latest Dan Brown, perhaps another library is for you.
There is also plenty of reading and study areas and the Reading Room on the second floor is BEAUTIFUL. Definitely do not give it a miss.
Call in today and enquire about how you can get a public borrowing card and get borrowing!

Yes, it looks a bit like Hogwarts. It is old, regal-​looking, and just plain massive.
People might prefer to study in libraries like the one at UniSA’s city west campus — modern and up-​to-​date.
But I still think the Barr Smith has some pretty impressive qualities, and it’s pretty cool how it has maintained its character over time.
Walking in, it looks small on the first level. However, you will find a number of lower and upper levels containing an abundance of books!
The Barr Smith pretty much caters to all your study and research needs. However, as I studied media, I was slightly disappointed when I took film studies and hardly found any books in the film section.
I guess Adelaide Uni is better known for its law/​medicine/​insert other fancy degree. I once visited UniSA’s magill campus with a friend and found sooo many media books useful for my course.
Having said that though, the Barr Smith still provides a motivating study environment and the staff are also very friendly, helpful, and knowledgeable.
Towards my final year of uni, the Barr Smith renovated and now they have bean bags, more computers, and a cool study section with colourful tables and chairs, which really helps draw more people into the library.
Although other updated libraries are cool, I still hope the Barr Smith will continue to maintain its character over time, because that’s what makes it special!

Although I study at UniSA, I still come over to the Barr Smith to borrow books and study fairly often. Over the past few years the library has been updated quite a bit, but what really attracts me to this library is its extensive range of fiction (no way I’m going all the way out to Magill) and the oh-​so-​quiet Barr Smith Reading Room. If you study at one of the other universities you can borrow here for free — you just need to go up to the counter to get your books instead of using self-​service. Be careful with overdue fines though — it’s harder to renew your loan online.
The Barr Smith Reading Room is a big fancy, gilded reading room built in the twenties with old fashioned study desks that are a little too short for the contemporary man or woman. The room’s construction was funded by its über-​rich namesake, Tom Elder Barr Smith. There are a whole bunch of giant inscriptions with his name and some fancy old portraits of him and his chums too. While the impressive classical Renaissance design is a drawcard the real winner here is how quiet it is. Something about the incredibly high ceiling and the palatial arches makes people shut up. This is where people come to actually study, not just to do ‘group assignments’. Your knees will be up around your chin but this is a nice place to study if you can’t concentrate at home. UniSA certainly doesn’t have anywhere to match it.

The Barr Smith Library is probably the closest thing I can associate Hogwarts with. Sad but true.
I remember getting an initial membership here in year 12, and I was absolutely gobsmacked at how huge this library actually is. It truly is a maze, with endless levels of racks with books. Books with character, I might add.
Once I began University the novelty of the library began to wear off a bit, and I became accustom to its size and majestic character. However, the Barr Smith Reading Room never seized to leave me impressed. I really do lament not «reading» within this stunning visual while at Uni. Perhaps I was too intimidated by such a major significant feature.
I personally found the Barr Smith Library most useful when completing endless essays. My resources were all in easy access, and I was in the perfect study environment thus less likely to procrastinate.
There are a few flaws that could be mentioned however the library’s size, character and charm are enough to give the Barr Smith a positive review.