University Library response to COVID-19

Connect with the library online. We are continuing to support our community.

For updates follow us on Facebook , Instagram , and Twitter : @uofalib  

 

All of our libraries are currently open. 

• The Barr Smith Library is open to all - opening hours.
  • Outside of these hours, access to Level 3 of the BSL is via swipe card for staff and students, in line with the Hub.
  • The Hub staircase entrance and Level 1 entrance into Barr Smith South are only open between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on weekdays.
• The Law Library is open to all between 9:00am and 8:00 pm on weekdays.
  • Access from 8:00 am to 9:00 am and on weekends is via swipe card for staff and students.
• Waite and Roseworthy campus libraries: swipe card access only.

Ask Library staff are available at the Barr Smith Library main entrance to provide library help, with appropriate social distancing measures in place. 

We encourage you to contact us online.

 

 

Social distancing in our Libraries 

The Barr Smith, Law, Waite, and Roseworthy Libraries are open and we are adhering to the government's social distancing guidelines .

Stopping the spread

Staff are regularly wiping down public PC's and surfaces and we're taking precautions when handling returned books and other items by quarantining items for 24 hours before returning them to the shelves (including High Use items).

 

Recommencement of Services

Latest service update 9:20 am - 31/08/2020

The following library services have been restored:

The Law Library is open - opening hours. You must use your University ID swipe card to enter the Ligertwood building between 8:00 am and 9:00 am and on weekends.

The Barr Smith Library is open to staff, students, community and alumni members - opening hours. 

Outside of these hours, access to Level 3 of the Barr Smith Library is via swipe card for staff and students, in line with the Hub. 

The Hub staircase entrance and Level 1 entrance into Barr Smith South are only open between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm on weekdays.

Ask Library staff are available at the Barr Smith Library main entrance during weekday opening hours to provide library help.

Course Readings

Digitisation of print materials for Course Readings has resumed and can be requested through the Course Readings system. See the Quick Reference Guides for more information.

Requesting from Joint Store

The store is open and requests for materials are available.

Requesting other items

The requesting service has resumed for items located at a different campus to the pickup location.

 

Temporary changes to services

Latest service update 3:15 pm - 20/08/2020

Headphones

From Monday 24 August we will discontinue loaning headphones across all library locations due to COVID-19 and hygiene practices. Students will now need to provide their own. The General Store (in the Hub) and Post Office sell headphones for students to purchase.

eTextbooks for Open Book Exams

The University Library provides access to electronic textbooks for students, however the licencing conditions of each publisher often limits the number of simultaneous users. The standard number of students who can access an electronic textbook at the same time is 1-3 users, depending on the book. If you are prescribing the use of textbooks in open book exams, please take into consideration that students will probably not be able to access the electronic library textbook all at the same time. We can investigate additional access, however this needs to be done on a case by case basis, well in advance and in accordance with the usual formula for the provision of textbooks. The Library is unable to provide copies of textbooks for each course to each student enrolled.

The copyright regulations allow exemptions for the use of copyrighted materials in exams. This is usually confined to text for questions or examples, not the use of whole chapters or books. Please contact the Copyright Coordinator for information regarding your specific situation. 

Community and Alumni members

Effective 18^th May, access to the Barr Smith Library will resume for Community and Alumni members.

We recognise that changes relating to access to the physical library, as well as the changes to borrowing and requesting, may have had an impact on you. We will provide a (free) extension of your membership for the affected period and due dates for already borrowed items will be automatically extended.

Alumni members can continue to access a great selection of online resources.

Borrowing and Requesting 

The Interlibrary Loan service is limited to the delivery of electronic articles only and print books will not be processed. As other libraries around Australia and worldwide are also experiencing disruptions to their services, we ask for your patience when waiting for these requests to be supplied.

Newspapers 

All returned library items (including High Use items) go through a 24-hour quarantine process before making their way back to the shelves. Unfortunately, this process isn’t possible for our Newspaper collection and all newspapers have been removed from Level 3 of the Barr Smith Library until further notice 

You can still access the library’s online news collections. 

Special Collections Reading Room access

Access to our Special Collections Reading Room is by appointment only. 

Please email details of your request to spark.collections@adelaide.edu.au. 

Liaison Librarian appointments 

One-on-one appointments between researchers, academics, honours and research students and Liaison Librarians will now be conducted via Zoom until further notice. You can also contact your librarian via email.  

New items 

The purchase of new print books is suspended. We will continue to obtain electronic content where possible.  

Online modules for students 

We have developed a suite of Library Essentials courses designed to support students with finding, using and referencing information. We are encouraging students to self-enrol in the relevant standalone course for their program:  

• Library Arts Essentials 
• Library Engineering Essentials 
• Library Health Essentials 
• Library Law Essentials
• Library Music Essentials
• Library Professions Essentials  
• Library Sciences Essentials 
• Endnote Essentials 

 

Please check the University's latest update and FAQs for more details. We will continue to update this page as further information becomes available and thank you for your understanding during this time.