Barr Smith Library, Adelaide

The Barr Smith Library is the principal library of the University of Adelaide, centrally located on the North Terrace campus. It is named in honor of Robert Barr Smith, a significant benefactor who contributed £9,000 to the purchase of books. His family's generosity continued with an additional £11,000 endowment in 1920, and 1928, his son, Tom Elder Barr Smith, further donated £30,000 towards the construction of the library building.

Designed by the renowned Adelaide architectural firm Woods, Bagot & Laybourne Smith, the library officially opened its doors on March 4, 1932. Over the decades, the original structure has seen several expansions, particularly from the 1950s onwards, with the current entrance being added in 1984.

The Barr Smith Library is a repository for a diverse range of collections. It houses Rare Books and Special Collections, along with University Archives and Recordkeeping. The library boasts extensive holdings in various academic disciplines, including Australian history, politics, literature, English literature, world wars, socialism and fascism, women and gender studies, utopian literature, and food studies. Notable specialist collections include the Music Collection, East Asian Collection, Yaitya Ngutupira, and Recreational Reading.

A highlight of the library is the grand Reading Room on Level 2, known for its large, opulent space, offering an ideal environment for focused study. Additionally, the High Use Collection and various study spaces on Level 3 are accessible 24/7, catering to the needs of students and researchers around the clock.