Remember when you’d walk up to the information desk and ask for assistance? Now we’re here, in virtual person, to help you.
In Fisher Library foyer we have our Virtual Information Desk to greet you and help you with any questions. There’s no need to log in and no mobile devices are required – just walk up and chat.
In the first weeks of reopening we’ve had enquiries ranging from how to find books at Fisher Library, to asking if the staff member they are talking to is real! Students love it and some feedback includes ‘Brave New World’, ‘Cool!’, ‘It’s great to be talking to a human!’
As Library staff we’ve enjoyed reconnecting with you face-to-face, even if it is virtual, and it was wonderful to be able to wish students good luck with their exams.
The Virtual Information Desk is open 10am – 4pm Monday to Friday. Come and have a chat, or wave and say hello!
We want to collect your stories describing your experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Library is creating a collection that documents the university experience of staff and students during the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to collect your videos, personal reflections, artworks, photographs, stories, poetry and other expressions of your own experience to help us record this essential part of University history for generations to come. This collection will be made publicly available to be used in research, teaching and for public interest.
Not sure where to start? Consider writing a message to the future:
Imagine you’re sending a message to someone in the future. This may be your future self, your descendants, your community or even someone opening a time capsule from today in a future century. What would you like them to know about the pandemic as experienced through your daily life, your hopes, your fears, what you’ve observed or learnt, unexpected surprises and joys? Your message may take in any form – written, illustrated, composed, sound-based, video, a zine, 3D, or something else entirely. You can give it to us as a digital file(s), or a physical item.
Visit the Collecting COVID-19 website to find out how to share your story. All submissions will be reviewed in line with scope of this collection. Unfortunately, this means we won’t be able to accept everything for the final collection.
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a particularly tough time for many people, please remember that there are ways for you to get support:
Support through the University of Sydney (for staff and students)
Drawing on the Japanese pre-war postcards collection from the Library’s East Asian Collection, Rare Books & Special Collections student intern Jiawen (Chloe) Li (Master of Museum and Heritage Studies) introduces the practice of Shintō and explores its place in the Japanese culture today.
Shintō (神道) has been at the heart of Japanese culture since the country has named itself Nihon (日本), “the sun’s origin”. It originated in the relationship between ancient Japanese and the power they found in nature . Through centuries of recorded history, Shintō continues to take part in the framing of Japan both to the outside world and to the Japanese themselves. Shintō is a way of life and a way of thinking. Drawing on the Japanese postcard collection from the University Library’s East Asian Collection, this online exhibition is about to walk you through the spiritual Shintō world.
For the most up to date information and what you need to know before you visit the Library, please see our COVID-19 page.
The University of Sydney Library is happy to announce that five library spaces will be reopening for University staff and students from Monday 15 June 2020.
At this time access to Library spaces is limited to University staff and students via swipe with valid University ID only.
Fisher and Law libraries will be open from 8am – 6pm every day.
Bosch Commons, Camden Commons and The Quarter will be open 24/7.
As we open Library spaces and re-introduce services, the health and safety of students and staff are essential. Restrictions will be in place to ensure hygiene and 1.5m physical distancing at all times. Be considerate of the people around you and the spaces you occupy.
Fisher and Law libraries, Bosch and Camden Commons and the Quarter will open with access to study spaces, meeting rooms, books, journals and DVDs.
Online and modified services will continue to replace face-to-face services at this time.
Chat Now – live online chat service with Library staff
After renewed national and international attention and momentum following the tragic murder of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement has made many of us who call Australia home reflect on ourselves and Australia’s history of racial violence stemming from colonisation.
Because of this, many people have been seeking resources to learn more about history, First Nations culture and racial justice. Below is a list of some resources available to University of Sydney Library users written by First Nations authors. These resources were chosen because they relate to history, truth telling, First Nations self-representation and academia and may spark thoughts and considerations about your studies and research. This is not an exhaustive list but could be a good starting point. For an international perspective, check out this reading list.
