Barr Smith Library

Barr Smith Library is an academic library at the University of Adelaide campus, housed in a Georgian Revival building with red brick exteriors and Corinthian pillars at the entrance. The interior offers numerous study spaces, computer workstations, and meeting rooms available to the community.

The library began operations in 1877 with its first book purchase and was formally established in 1882. It ranks among Australia's oldest university libraries and has shaped the institution's academic mission for generations.

The Reading Room displays oak flooring, white pillars, and gilded ivory arches with Latin inscriptions honoring the Barr Smith family's contributions. This design creates a distinctive space where students and visitors study and engage with the building's heritage.

The facility offers more than 500 study spaces, computer workstations, and meeting rooms for various needs. Round-the-clock access to the High Use Collection on Level 3 makes resources available for unexpected requirements.

In 2023, maintenance staff discovered 61 paper planes on ceiling ledges of the Reading Room, including one folded from a 1991 university brochure. This unexpected collection reveals how creatively users have shaped the space over decades.

Location: Adelaide

Part of: North Terrace campus, University of Adelaide

Website: https://adelaide.edu.au/library/about/libraries/bsl

GPS coordinates: -34.91880,138.60500

Latest update: December 12, 2025 07:56