Multimedia collection

What is it?

In the Multimedia collection you'll find the Library's collections of materials such as microforms, multimedia CDs, DVDs, videocassettes, audiocassettes, slides, films and so on.
They are listed in the Library Catalogue with the Location: Barr Smith Multimedia collection.
Note: music sound recordings are kept at the Elder Music Library.

Where is it?

The Multimedia collection is part of the Reserve and Multimedia area on Level 3 South of the Barr Smith Library.
Here's a map if you need one.

Telephone: 8303 5273

Opening hours

Monday to Friday: 9.00am to 10.00pm (after 8.00pm you'll need to ask at the Loans desk).
Saturday and Sunday: 1.00pm to 5.00pm

Please note: opening hours will vary in semester breaks.

Equipment

The Library has appropriate equipment for use with all the different types of material that we have in the Multimedia collection. This includes microform readers and reader/printers, DVD/videocassette players, an audio system with CD player, a cassette deck and turntable, and a computer for use with multimedia CDs.
If you need help with any of the equipment please ask Library staff at the Reserve and Multimedia desk.

Booking DVD/Videocassette players

You can book a DVD/Videocassette player for a particular time. There are four rooms equipped with a DVD/Videocassette player: three rooms can each accommodate up to three users at a time and one room can accommodate up to twelve people at a time.
When you make a booking you will need to specify the particular DVD/Videocassette that you want to use, and tell us how many people will be involved. If you are making a booking just for yourself, we may ask if you are happy to share your session with others. Often many students need to view the same film over a very short period of time; your cooperation will be appreciated.
Bookings may be made by telephone on 8303 5273, or in person at the Reserve and Multimedia desk.

Microforms

Microform reproduction is a method of photographically reducing text images on to microfilm or microfiche so that a large amount of text can be stored in a very small space. Special microform readers are required to make the stored text legible.
The Barr Smith Library holds the equivalent of more than 300 000 volumes in microform. This format is chosen primarily to save space on the shelves, but much material cannot be purchased as paper copy and is only available on microfilm or microfiche.

Items that we have in microfilm or microfiche format are listed on the Library Catalogue with the Location: Barr Smith Multimedia collection. You will need to note the microfilm or microfiche number (as well as the volume number or date if the item is a journal or a newspaper) so that we can locate the correct microfilm reel or microfiche for you to use.

The Library has several pieces of equipment which enable you to read items in microform and there are also reader/printers if you need to make paper copies.
The appropriate equipment to use differs according to the type of microform you are using -- the staff on duty are happy to give advice about the correct machine to use. [See under Copying below.]

Always ask for help if you are having any difficulty using the equipment. If you are a new microform user, please telephone 8303 5273 on a weekday to arrange an instruction session.

Newspapers

Because newspapers are very expensive to bind, and take up a lot of space on the shelves, we buy microfilm copies whenever they are available. Only the recent issues are kept as paper copies (usually the latest three months).
The microfilm copies are easier to work with than paper copies -- usually a whole month of papers fits on one reel of microfilm. Prints of articles can readily be made using one of the reader/printer machines. [See under Copying below.]

For detailed information about newspapers in the Barr Smith Library go to our web page Newspapers and news services.

Copying

Paper copies of pages or articles from microfilm or microfiche can be made on standard A4 paper using the microform reader/printer.
The reader/printer operates with your University of Adelaide ID Card (you'll need to set it up for photocopying and printing if you haven't previously done so). You can also use a Copy Card to make copies.
Ask at the Reserve and Multimedia desk for help in setting up the reader/printer.
The cost per page is 27 cents.
A booking may be made if a printer is not immediately available.

As with any copying done on Library equipment, the onus is on you to make sure that the nature and extent of the copying is in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act.