The Barr Smith Library is the main library of the
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide (informally Adelaide University) is a public research university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third-oldest university in Australia. The university's main campus is located on N ...
, situated in the centre of the
North Terrace campus.
History
The library was named in honour of
Robert Barr Smith
Robert Barr Smith (4 February 1824 – 20 November 1915) was an Australian businessman and philanthropist in Adelaide, South Australia. He was a partner in Elder Smith and Company from 1863 (now now Elders Limited).
Early life and education
Smit ...
who donated £9,000 to buy books. In 1920 his family gave an extra £11,000 in the form of an endowment and in 1928 his son,
Tom Elder Barr Smith
Thomas Elder Barr Smith (8 December 1863 – 26 November 1941)
was a South Australian pastoralist and philanthropist.
Tom Barr Smith was born in Woodville, South Australia, the son of Robert Barr Smith,
and his wife Joanna Lang, ''née'' Elder ...
, gave £30,000 for the Barr Smith library building.
[
The Barr Smith Library was designed by Adelaide architects ]Woods, Bagot & Laybourne Smith
Woods Bagot is a global architectural and consulting practice founded in Adelaide, South Australia. It specialises in the design and planning of buildings across a wide variety of sectors and disciplines. Former names of the practice include Woo ...
and opened on 4 March 1932, with later additions to the main building being built from the 1950s onwards.
Description
The library houses Rare Books and Special Collections and University Archives and Recordkeeping. It is also home to large 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. Specialist collections include the Music Collection, East Asian Collection, Yaitya Ngutupira and Recreational Reading. Level 2 of the library is home to the large and opulent Reading Room. The High Use Collection and study spaces on level 3 can be accessed 24/7.
Librarians
Notable librarians include:
* Helga Josephine Zinnbauer
Helga Josephine Zinnbauer, also known as Helga Freund-Zinnbauer, (24 February 1909 – 16 December 1980) was an Australian community worker and librarian.
Zinnbauer was born in Orsova, Austria-Hungary (now Orșova, Romania) to Otto Alscher, a ...
1943–1974
Gallery
File:Adelaide (AU), Barr Smith Library -- 2019 -- 0677.jpg, Exterior
File:University of Adelaide Open Day 2006.jpg, Open day, 2006
File:Barr Smith Library, University of Adelaide.jpg, Front lawn
References
* .
External links
*
University of Adelaide
Academic libraries in Australia
Barr Smith family
Libraries in South Australia
South Australian Heritage Register
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