University Library The University of Adelaide Australia
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Book Locations

You have seen that Library Search gives a location and a call number.

e.g. Location Barr Smith Library and Main Collection
and Call Number 612 T712p.13
  • The location (Main Collection) shows the area, or location, in which the book is found
  • The call number shows the book's position on the shelves within that location.

To find physical locations and books, you can start at the Research Help Desk.
There is a map of the Library at the Research Help Desk. 

Follow the ceiling signs and door signs on each level to find the collection and call number.

The 610s are on Level 2 below Hub Central..

BSL Main collection

If you see BSL on Library documents it means Barr Smith Library (i.e. not the separate campus or branch libraries).
Most print books and journals in Barr Smith Library are in the Main Collection.

Level 1 of the Main Collection has call numbers 001 - 599 which includes most science books and journals.

Level 2 has call numbers 600 - 999 which includes most medicine and dentistry books.

Signs on the ends of shelves at the main aisles of the Main Collection indicate call number ranges found within that row of shelves.

Rows are divided into 1 metre wide bays. Read call numbers from left to right beginning at the top shelf and going to the bottom shelf of one bay before moving to the top shelf of the next bay.

Other Barr Smith Library Collections

There are several smaller collections within the Barr Smith Library:

BSL High use ( Level 3) contains books in heavy demand for student courses.
BSL Reference collection (Level 2) contains a few reference works such as encyclopaedias, and dictionaries.
BSL Reference collection oversize (Level 2) contains atlases.
BSL Microform collection (Level 1) contains books and journals in microfilm, or microfiche formats.
BSL Current journals (near the Research Help Desk on Level 3) contains recent selected printed journal issues that have not been bound.
BSL New Books (Near the Research Help Desk on Level 3) contains new books being added to the collection. You can borrow the books from this collection.
BSL Oversize collection (Level 2) contains large dimension printed books and journals.
BSL Special collections (level 1) contains rare books, and the Pacific and Theatre Collections

Joint Library Store (URRSA) is in a building on the Flinders University campus, containing The University of Adelaide Library's less used books and journals. You can Request  books or journals from Joint Library Store. You can collect items requested before 12 noon, after 3:30 pm the same week day from the shelves to the north of the Research Help Desk.  Alternatively, you can visit the Joint Store on any working weekday between 12 noon and 5 pm. Ask at the BSL Research Help Desk for details of the Joint Library Store location and how to request items.

Joint Library Store web site

Several other libraries are in separate buildings or on separate campuses:

  • Law Library is in the Ligertwood Building on the North Terrace Campus.
  • Elder Music Library is in the Hartley Building on Kintore Ave on the North Terrace Campus.
  • Waite Library at the Waite Campus and Roseworthy Library at the Roseworthy Campus specialize in agriculture.

    Intercampus loans of books are available from Roseworthy and Waite. Ask at the Research Help Desk for details.

    You should now know:
    • how to find items in the Main collection using call numbers
    • where to find other collections

    Go to the next part of the tutorial Call Numbers

    Back to the previous section of the tutorial Book Title Searches

    Back to the tutorial Table of Contents