The study buddy you never knew you needed (part 2)

We’re back talking about the university library and how it’s going to be your secret weapon for those HDs you’re chasing. 

Finding physical books (yes, they still exist!) 

Textbooks have different editions, and this matters MORE than choosing a flavour of instant noodles.  

When your course reading list says, “3rd edition,” don’t be that person who shows up with the 1st edition thinking “close enough!” The page numbers will be more scrambled than your sleep schedule during exams week. Trust me, your tutor will notice, and no one wants to spend more time than they have to looking for information in a textbook with hundreds of pages.  

Pro tip: Let’s say you’re hunting for that Digital Marketing book by Annmarie Hanlon. The system might show it’s in the High Use Collection at Barr Smith Library. This is actually GOOD news—it means other students need it too, so the library made sure there are multiple copies. You’re not alone in this struggle! 

Decoding the library’s secret language 

See that weird alphanumeric code in the search results? That’s the Call Number, and it’s basically the book’s home address in the library (aka: Where you’ll find it on the shelf).   

The High Use Collection lives on Level 3 of Barr Smith Library. You can borrow these books for 3 hours, 3 days, or 7 days. Three hours might sound brutal, but honestly? That’s probably the longest most of us can focus anyway. Use that time wisely! 

Borrowing hack: Your student ID is your golden ticket. Use the self-checkout machines or visit the nearest Ask Library desk to show you how. 

Need an item at UniSA or Flinders, we got you! 

Plot twist—you can borrow from OTHER universities too! It’s called a cross-institutional loan, and it’s like having your friend’s Netflix password, but it’s legal and academic. Just show staff your student ID and boom—you’re in!  

Scholarly articles vs. Random internet chaos 

Let’s get real about sources. Scholarly articles are like that friend who always has their life together—they’ve been reviewed by multiple experts who know what they’re talking about. Those articles live in academic journals and are written by people with more degrees than a thermometer. 

On the other hand, websites can be written by literally anyone. Not saying all websites are trash, but you need to be picky when it comes to references for your assignments. 

This is why Library Search is your bestie. It’s like having a personal shopper, but for academic sources. Google might give you 47 million results about your topic, but Library Search gives you the right stuff—peer reviewed, relevant, and actually useful for getting those marks you’re after.