International Day of People with Disability

We are celebrating International Day of People
with Disability on Friday, 3rd December 2021!

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) is a United Nations observed day celebrated internationally. It is aimed at increasing public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability. Access, inclusion and diversity are part of our core at the University of Sydney Library. We’re proud to offer staff and students from all backgrounds the opportunity to get involved and build a stronger understanding of the challenges faced when living with a disability.

To celebrate the achievements and legacies of people with a disability this year the Disability At Work Network and Diversity Inclusion team have collaborated with the Library to develop this Spotify playlist. Tune in and enjoy! 

There are many other mediums and so much content online that captures what it means to live with a disability, and outlines things we can all do to improve accessibility in our communities.

Here are some ways you can get involved and learn more.


Celebrate with Music!

Musicians with disabilities

The Library project team have curated a list of musicians with disabilities (particularly artists who are also staff or students of the University of Sydney, past or present) as part the University’s Disability At Work Network’s (DAWN) of develop the Spotify Playlist.

From classical music to jazz and contemporary, the list is ever-growing!

Use this link to open the IDPwD playlist on Spotify

Panel Discussion with USyd Students

How invisible is an invisible disability? Myths and misconceptions from a student perspective and available support.

In this panel discussion we hear about the lived experiences of an invisible disability from current students, and explore why invisible disabilities are often thought of as less legitimate disabilities.

Use this link to watch a discussion on Invisible Disabilities with USyd students

Disability Inclusion Support Resources

Apps for Accessibility

On Canvas we have information and links to apps that may assist anyone who experiences difficulty with vision, hearing, reading, writing, physical dexterity, organisation and planning due to disability and temporary or situational impairments.

Use this link to visit the Apps for accessibility page on Canvas.

Clients with a Disability

Ensuring Library spaces, services and resources are easy to access for all clients is our priority. On the Library website, our Clients with disability web page is a guide to the support we provide all clients to help access resources and services needed for research and study.

Use this link to visit the Clients with disability page on the Library website.

TED talks

Tune in and learn about these important perspectives of people living with disabilities:

Nas Campanella: Finding a voice

Jessica McCabe: Failing at Normal: an ADHD Success Story

Dylan Alcott and Angus O’Loughlin: ListenABLE: a podcast about people living with a disability

Australian Society for Intellectual Disability: Disability Employment and Entrepreneurship

Mandy Hose and Kate Jones: Too Peas in a Podcast

Kanopy

Current University of Sydney students and staff have access to the excellent streaming service Kanopy. We highly recommend the films listed below. To set up your Kanopy subscription use this link.

CODA

This critically acclaimed short film explores the challenges faced by a hearing person with deaf parents. Set in the world of competitive dance, it was produced in 2019 by the University of Southern California.

Link to the film Coda on Kanopy.

GURRUMUL

Celebrated by audiences at home and abroad, Indigenous artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was one of the most important and acclaimed voices to ever come out of Australia. Blind from birth, he found purpose and meaning through songs and music inspired by his community and country on Elcho Island in far North East Arnhem Land.

Link to the film Gurrumul on Kanopy.

Intelligent Lives

This film stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities, challenges what it means to be intelligent, and points to a future in which people of all abilities can fully participate in higher education, meaningful employment and intimate relationships.

Link to the film Intelligent Lives on Kanopy.

Normal People Scare Me Too

A decade after the award-winning film about autism, Normal People Scare Me, Taylor Cross follows up with this sequel documentary including interviews of former and new cast members and family about attitudes and first-person perspectives/experiences in autism today.

Link to the film Normal People Scare Me Too on Kanopy.

PeerPod

Revisit Episode #15 “Disability Inclusion”. PeerPod is our bi-monthly podcast about topics relating to student life. In this episode our Peer Learning Advisors speak with Jack and Max about Disability Support Services; what they can do to assist with invisible disabilities and the positive impacts reaching out can have on your studies.

Reading List

We’re showcasing just a selection of books from our collection for Disability Inclusivity Week. Enjoy!

Transition to Retirement: a guide to inclusive practice

The Transition to Retirement (TTR) program aims to help older people with long-term disability gradually build an active and socially inclusive retirement lifestyle through volunteering and participating in mainstream community groups. Members of these groups are trained to act as mentors and provide support.

The three-year TTR research project and subsequent years of TTR service delivery have shown that this approach is feasible and has enduring positive outcomes for people with disability, mentors and community groups.

Find Transition to Retirement: a guide to inclusive practice in Library Search

book-cover-look-me-in-the-eye

Look me in the eye: my life with asperger’s

by John Elder Robison

Look me in the eye: my life with asperger’s tells of a child’s heartbreaking desperation to connect with others, and his struggle to pass as ‘normal’ – a struggle that would continue into adulthood. John Elder Robison’s memoir of growing up with Asperger’s syndrome (a form of high-functioning autism) at a time when the diagnosis didn’t even exist is both moving and blackly funny.

Along the way it also tells the story of two brothers born eight years apart yet devoted to each other: the author and his younger brother, who would grow up to become bestselling writer Augusten Burroughs and who has contributed a beautiful foreword to this book.

Find Look me in the eye: my life with asperger’s in Library Search

book-cover-The-one-and-only-Sam-a-story-explaining-idioms-for-children-with-Asperger-syndrome-or-other-communication-difficulties

The one and only Sam a story explaining idioms for children with Asperger syndrome or other communication difficulties.

Aileen Stalker

This is the story of a boy who struggles to understand non-literal expressions. Throughout the story, Sam encounters a range of common idioms, each of which is accompanied by an illustration of its literal meaning and one depicting its actual meaning, helping children to explore what the idioms sound like and why they might mean what they do.

Find The one and only Sam in Library Search

Marcelo in the real world

by Francisco X. Stork

Marcelo Sandoval, a seventeen-year-old boy on the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum, faces new challenges, including romance and injustice, when he goes to work for his father in the mailroom of a corporate law firm.

Find Marcelo in the real world in Library Search

Dyslexics dating, marriage and parenthood

by Neil Alexander-Passe

This new and innovative book aims to investigate adult dyslexics and their long-term relationships, along with their journey through parenthood. The book begins by investigating adult dyslexics and their childhoods, looking at their emotional and behavioural coping strategies. These adults, with others from a website for adult dyslexics, look at the impact childhood trauma has on dating, then on marriage/long-term partners.

A commissioned study interviewing long-term partners of dyslexics brings new perspective to understanding how dyslexia affects relationships and how they interact as parents.

Find Dyslexics dating, marriage and parenthood in Library Search

Visions : the inspirational journeys of epilepsy advocates

by Linda Sudlesky

Visions’ contains the stories of 50 people who have answered the call to advocate on behalf of those with epilepsy. They are people with epilepsy, family members, or friends who have been motivated by their own, unique experiences to make a positive impact in the lives of people who have epilepsy.

This book empowers people affected by epilepsy and inspires continued advocacy for what has been a misunderstood and underfunded neurological disorder.

Find Visions: the inspirational journeys of epilepsy advocates in Library Search

The Successful Dyslexic Identify the Keys to Unlock Your Potential

by Neil Alexander-Passe

This innovative book looks at the keys for success in dyslexic adults, comparing both those who are successful and less successful, enabling parents and teachers to use these keys to best support young dyslexics. These keys look at home life, school, career choices, working relationships, coping strategies, traits, unique selling points, and what is considered success for somebody with dyslexia.

Find The Successful Dyslexic Identity the Keys to Unlock Your Potential in Library Search

The Paralympic Games explained

by Ian Brittain

The Paralympic Games Explained is the first complete introduction to the Paralympic phenomenon, exploring every key aspect and issue, from the history and development of the Paralympic movement to the economic and social impact of the contemporary Games. classification in disability sport.

Find The Paralymic Games explained in Library Search

Blythe Spirit

by Sandy Blythe

This autobiography tells of the author’s life before and after the car accident that left him a paraplegic. Tells of the efforts he made to cope with his injuries, his triumph in co-captaining the Australian men’s wheelchair basketball team which won the gold medal at the Atlanta Paralympics, his determination to complete a Masters degree in physical education and his work helping other victims of spinal injury.

The author runs a disability management company.

Find Blythe Spirit in Library Search

Locked In: The Will to Survive and the Resolve to Live

by Victoria Arlen

Paralympics champion and Dancing with the Stars contestant Victoria Arlen shares her courageous and miraculous story of recovery after falling into a mysterious vegetative state and how she broke free, overcoming the odds and never giving up hope, eventually living a full and inspiring life.

Find Locked In: The Will to Survive and the Resolve to Live in Library Search

The Handbook of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

by Vassil Girginov

The Handbook of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the definitive, officially-licensed account of the world’s greatest sporting mega-event. It tells the complete story of the 2012 Games from inception, through the successful bidding process and the planning and preparation phase, to delivery, aftermath and legacy.

Written by a world-class team of international Olympic experts, sports researchers and writers, the book offers comprehensive analysis of the full social, cultural, political, historical, economic and sporting context of the Games. From the political, commercial and structural complexities of organizing an event on such a scale, to the sporting action that holds the attention of the world for three thrilling weeks, this book illuminates every aspect of the 2012 Games, helping us to better understand the vital role that sport and culture have in contemporary global society.

Find The Handbook of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Library Search

Without warning

by Damien Thomlinson

After losing both his legs in an accident in Afghanistan, Special Forces soldier Damien Thomlinson was determined not only to survive, but to meet life head on.

This is an uplifting story of guts, drive and exceptional resilience. Damien has set himself extraordinary challenges including walking the demanding 96km Kokoda Track in honour of a fallen comrade and becoming the public face of the Commando Welfare Trust.

Damien is now an aspiring Paralympian, determined to represent Australia in snowboarding.

Find Without warning in Library Search

Under the medical gaze: facts and fictions of chronic pain

by Susan Greenhalgh

This compelling account of the author’s experience with a chronic pain disorder and subsequent interaction with the American health care system goes to the heart of the workings of power and culture in the biomedical domain. It is a medical whodunit full of mysterious misdiagnosis, subtle power plays, and shrewd detective work.

Setting a new standard for the practice of autoethnography, Susan Greenhalgh presents a case study of her intense encounter with an enthusiastic young specialist who, through creative interpretation of the diagnostic criteria for a newly emerging chronic disease, became convinced she had a painful, essentially untreatable, lifelong muscle condition called fibromyalgia. Greenhalgh traces the ruinous effects of this diagnosis on her inner world, bodily health, and overall well-being.

Find Under the medical gaze: facts and fictions of chronic pain in Library Search

A Woman’s Courage : Inside Depression

by Christina Taylor

What is it like to live with depression? To feel you are in a black hole with no way to escape?

Christina Taylor presents an honest account of what it was like for her, keeping a smile on her face for the benefit of the outside world, as she battled daily with conflicting and abnormal emotions and behaviours. Finally, no longer able to keep up the facade, she attempted suicide.

Depression, once a taboo subject, is now a recognized and treatable mental illness.

Find A Woman’s Courage : Inside Depression in Library Search

Life After Darkness: A doctor’s journey through severe depression

by Cathy Wield

Life After Darkness is the remarkable and moving story of a doctor and mother of four who endured seven years of severe depression. Self-harm, attempted suicides and admissions to psychiatric units culminated in her resorting to brain surgery as a final attempt to escape her illness.

The story of Cathy Wield covers the horrors of time spent in archaic institutions and the loss of any hope, to a full recovery following surgery. Today she has returned to her career and rediscovered the joys of life and her family. This story is one of hope from an often hidden and stigmatized disease.

Find Life After Darkness: A doctor’s journey through severe depression in Library Search

Visualise Your Thesis

Congrats to Anastasia for her entry!

All the Best to Anastasia for their entry into the International 
Visualise Your Thesis Competition Final!

Join us to celebrate Anastasia Suraev, the winner of the University of Sydney competition and our runner for the 2021 International Visualise Your Thesis Competition Final!

Anastasia’s From prohibition to prescription: Cannabinoids as novel sleep aids will now compete against 24 finalists from six countries and have the chance to win up to $5000!

Link to From prohibition to prescription: Cannabinoids as novel sleep aids

Still shot of Anastasia’s visual thesis

What is Visualise Your Thesis 

Visualise Your Thesis is an international competition that challenges HDR students to present their projects in a 60-second, eye catching, audio-visual digital display. By creating a “visual elevator pitch”, participants describe their research to a non-specialist audience while developing crucial employability skills, such as effective communication and storytelling.  

How we can support Anastasia –
“Trending on VYT”

“Trending on VYT”, the Visualise Your Thesis Viewers’ choice competition, is back and will award the creator of the entry with the most views as recorded by figshare. Join us and support Anastasia’s From prohibition to prescription: Cannabinoids as novel sleep aids by sharing their entry as widely as possible from Monday, 4 October to Sunday, 10 October 2021. All the best Anastasia! 

Disability Inclusion Week 2021

photo of hands reading braille

Join us as the University of Sydney Library celebrates Disability Inclusion Week, 20 – 24 September 2021!

The theme for 2021 is Invisible Disabilities. There are 4.4 million Australians who have a disability and 90% of them have an invisible disability.

Access, inclusion and diversity are part of our core at University of Sydney Library. We’re proud to offer staff and students from all backgrounds the opportunity to get involved and build a stronger understanding of the challenges faced when living with a disability.

Here are some ways you can get involved and learn more.

Events

How invisible is an invisible disability? Myths and misconceptions from a student perspective and available support.

Tuesday 21 September, 12.30-1.30pm

In this panel discussion we will hear about the lived experiences of an invisible disability from current students, explore why invisible disabilities are often thought of as less legitimate disabilities.

Use this link to register for How invisible is an invisible disability? at eventbrite.

Deaf Communities: thriving cultures and languages

Wednesday 22 September, 1-2pm

This year Disability Inclusion Week also coincides with International Week of Deaf People. Learn more about the Deaf community as the panel discusses their cultures and languages. You will hear people sharing their lived experience, alongside those researching and working closely with Deaf communities.

Use this link to register for Deaf Communities: thriving cultures and languages at eventbrite.

Disability Inclusion Support Resources

Apps for Accessibility

On Canvas we have information and links to apps that may assist anyone who experiences difficulty with vision, hearing, reading, writing, physical dexterity, organisation and planning due to disability and temporary or situational impairments.

Use this link to visit the Apps for accessibility page on Canvas.

Clients with a Disability

Ensuring Library spaces, services and resources are easy to access for all clients is our priority. On the Library website, our Clients with disability web page is a guide to the support we provide all clients to help access resources and services needed for research and study.

Use this link to visit the Clients with disability page on the Library website.

TED talks

Tune in and learn about the perspectives of these prominent people living with disabilities:

Stella Young: I’m not your inspiration, thank you very much

Dylan Alcott: The Truth About Growing Up Disabled and Mainstreaming Disability

Jordan Raskopoulos: Living With High Functioning Anxiety

Jessica McCabe: Failing at Normal: an ADHD Success Story

Cecilia McGough: I Am Not A Monster: Schizophrenia

Kanopy

Current University of Sydney students and staff have access to the excellent streaming service Kanopy. We highly recommend the films listed below. To set up your Kanopy subscription use this link.

CODA

This critically acclaimed short film explores the challenges faced by a hearing person with deaf parents. Set in the world of competitive dance, it was produced in 2019 by the University of Southern California.

Link to the film Coda on Kanopy.

GURRUMUL

Celebrated by audiences at home and abroad, Indigenous artist Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu was one of the most important and acclaimed voices to ever come out of Australia. Blind from birth, he found purpose and meaning through songs and music inspired by his community and country on Elcho Island in far North East Arnhem Land.

Link to the film Gurrumul on Kanopy.

INTELLIGENT LIVES

This film stars three pioneering young American adults with intellectual disabilities, challenges what it means to be intelligent, and points to a future in which people of all abilities can fully participate in higher education, meaningful employment and intimate relationships.

Link to the film Intelligent Lives on Kanopy.

NORMAL PEOPLE SCARE ME TOO

A decade after the award-winning film about autism, Normal People Scare Me, Taylor Cross follows up with this sequel documentary including interviews of former and new cast members and family about attitudes and first-person perspectives/experiences in autism today.

Link to the film Normal People Scare Me Too on Kanopy.

PeerPod

Revisit Episode #15 “Disability Inclusion”. PeerPod is our bi-monthly podcast about topics relating to student life. In this episode our Peer Learning Advisors speak with Jack and Max about Disability Support Services; what they can do to assist with invisible disabilities and the positive impacts reaching out can have on your studies.

Reading List

We’re showcasing just a selection of books from our collection for Disability Inclusivity Week. Enjoy!

Transition to Retirement: a guide to inclusive practice

The Transition to Retirement (TTR) program aims to help older people with long-term disability gradually build an active and socially inclusive retirement lifestyle through volunteering and participating in mainstream community groups. Members of these groups are trained to act as mentors and provide support.

The three-year TTR research project and subsequent years of TTR service delivery have shown that this approach is feasible and has enduring positive outcomes for people with disability, mentors and community groups.

Find Transition to Retirement: a guide to inclusive practice in Library Search

book-cover-look-me-in-the-eye

Look me in the eye: my life with asperger’s

by John Elder Robison

Look me in the eye: my life with asperger’s tells of a child’s heartbreaking desperation to connect with others, and his struggle to pass as ‘normal’ – a struggle that would continue into adulthood. John Elder Robison’s memoir of growing up with Asperger’s syndrome (a form of high-functioning autism) at a time when the diagnosis didn’t even exist is both moving and blackly funny.

Along the way it also tells the story of two brothers born eight years apart yet devoted to each other: the author and his younger brother, who would grow up to become bestselling writer Augusten Burroughs and who has contributed a beautiful foreword to this book.

Find Look me in the eye: my life with asperger’s in Library Search

book-cover-The-one-and-only-Sam-a-story-explaining-idioms-for-children-with-Asperger-syndrome-or-other-communication-difficulties

The one and only Sam a story explaining idioms for children with Asperger syndrome or other communication difficulties.

Aileen Stalker

This is the story of a boy who struggles to understand non-literal expressions. Throughout the story, Sam encounters a range of common idioms, each of which is accompanied by an illustration of its literal meaning and one depicting its actual meaning, helping children to explore what the idioms sound like and why they might mean what they do.

Find The one and only Sam in Library Search

Marcelo in the real world

by Francisco X. Stork

Marcelo Sandoval, a seventeen-year-old boy on the high-functioning end of the autistic spectrum, faces new challenges, including romance and injustice, when he goes to work for his father in the mailroom of a corporate law firm.

Find Marcelo in the real world in Library Search

Dyslexics dating, marriage and parenthood

by Neil Alexander-Passe

This new and innovative book aims to investigate adult dyslexics and their long-term relationships, along with their journey through parenthood. The book begins by investigating adult dyslexics and their childhoods, looking at their emotional and behavioural coping strategies. These adults, with others from a website for adult dyslexics, look at the impact childhood trauma has on dating, then on marriage/long-term partners.

A commissioned study interviewing long-term partners of dyslexics brings new perspective to understanding how dyslexia affects relationships and how they interact as parents.

Find Dyslexics dating, marriage and parenthood in Library Search

Visions : the inspirational journeys of epilepsy advocates

by Linda Sudlesky

Visions’ contains the stories of 50 people who have answered the call to advocate on behalf of those with epilepsy. They are people with epilepsy, family members, or friends who have been motivated by their own, unique experiences to make a positive impact in the lives of people who have epilepsy.

This book empowers people affected by epilepsy and inspires continued advocacy for what has been a misunderstood and underfunded neurological disorder.

Find Visions: the inspirational journeys of epilepsy advocates in Library Search

The Successful Dyslexic Identify the Keys to Unlock Your Potential

by Neil Alexander-Passe

This innovative book looks at the keys for success in dyslexic adults, comparing both those who are successful and less successful, enabling parents and teachers to use these keys to best support young dyslexics. These keys look at home life, school, career choices, working relationships, coping strategies, traits, unique selling points, and what is considered success for somebody with dyslexia.

Find The Successful Dyslexic Identity the Keys to Unlock Your Potential in Library Search

The Paralympic Games explained

by Ian Brittain

The Paralympic Games Explained is the first complete introduction to the Paralympic phenomenon, exploring every key aspect and issue, from the history and development of the Paralympic movement to the economic and social impact of the contemporary Games. classification in disability sport.

Find The Paralymic Games explained in Library Search

Blythe Spirit

by Sandy Blythe

This autobiography tells of the author’s life before and after the car accident that left him a paraplegic. Tells of the efforts he made to cope with his injuries, his triumph in co-captaining the Australian men’s wheelchair basketball team which won the gold medal at the Atlanta Paralympics, his determination to complete a Masters degree in physical education and his work helping other victims of spinal injury.

The author runs a disability management company.

Find Blythe Spirit in Library Search

Locked In: The Will to Survive and the Resolve to Live

by Victoria Arlen

Paralympics champion and Dancing with the Stars contestant Victoria Arlen shares her courageous and miraculous story of recovery after falling into a mysterious vegetative state and how she broke free, overcoming the odds and never giving up hope, eventually living a full and inspiring life.

Find Locked In: The Will to Survive and the Resolve to Live in Library Search

The Handbook of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

by Vassil Girginov

The Handbook of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the definitive, officially-licensed account of the world’s greatest sporting mega-event. It tells the complete story of the 2012 Games from inception, through the successful bidding process and the planning and preparation phase, to delivery, aftermath and legacy.

Written by a world-class team of international Olympic experts, sports researchers and writers, the book offers comprehensive analysis of the full social, cultural, political, historical, economic and sporting context of the Games. From the political, commercial and structural complexities of organizing an event on such a scale, to the sporting action that holds the attention of the world for three thrilling weeks, this book illuminates every aspect of the 2012 Games, helping us to better understand the vital role that sport and culture have in contemporary global society.

Find The Handbook of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Library Search

Without warning

by Damien Thomlinson

After losing both his legs in an accident in Afghanistan, Special Forces soldier Damien Thomlinson was determined not only to survive, but to meet life head on.

This is an uplifting story of guts, drive and exceptional resilience. Damien has set himself extraordinary challenges including walking the demanding 96km Kokoda Track in honour of a fallen comrade and becoming the public face of the Commando Welfare Trust.

Damien is now an aspiring Paralympian, determined to represent Australia in snowboarding.

Find Without warning in Library Search

Under the medical gaze: facts and fictions of chronic pain

by Susan Greenhalgh

This compelling account of the author’s experience with a chronic pain disorder and subsequent interaction with the American health care system goes to the heart of the workings of power and culture in the biomedical domain. It is a medical whodunit full of mysterious misdiagnosis, subtle power plays, and shrewd detective work.

Setting a new standard for the practice of autoethnography, Susan Greenhalgh presents a case study of her intense encounter with an enthusiastic young specialist who, through creative interpretation of the diagnostic criteria for a newly emerging chronic disease, became convinced she had a painful, essentially untreatable, lifelong muscle condition called fibromyalgia. Greenhalgh traces the ruinous effects of this diagnosis on her inner world, bodily health, and overall well-being.

Find Under the medical gaze: facts and fictions of chronic pain in Library Search

A Woman’s Courage : Inside Depression

by Christina Taylor

What is it like to live with depression? To feel you are in a black hole with no way to escape?

Christina Taylor presents an honest account of what it was like for her, keeping a smile on her face for the benefit of the outside world, as she battled daily with conflicting and abnormal emotions and behaviours. Finally, no longer able to keep up the facade, she attempted suicide.

Depression, once a taboo subject, is now a recognized and treatable mental illness.

Find A Woman’s Courage : Inside Depression in Library Search

Life After Darkness: A doctor’s journey through severe depression

by Cathy Wield

Life After Darkness is the remarkable and moving story of a doctor and mother of four who endured seven years of severe depression. Self-harm, attempted suicides and admissions to psychiatric units culminated in her resorting to brain surgery as a final attempt to escape her illness.

The story of Cathy Wield covers the horrors of time spent in archaic institutions and the loss of any hope, to a full recovery following surgery. Today she has returned to her career and rediscovered the joys of life and her family. This story is one of hope from an often hidden and stigmatized disease.

Find Life After Darkness: A doctor’s journey through severe depression in Library Search

Pop Culture Club

graphic for Usyd-Library-PLAs-Pop-Culture-Club

Let’s be honest: this pandemic is the worst! Everyone is stuck at home and the already challenging task of meeting new friends at uni has been taken to a Final Boss level of difficulty!

We’ve been listening to you

We know you want to meet people, so the Library’s PLA team are starting a club and membership is FREE!

Usually, we’d bring the party to you in the Library with free Coffee & Croissants, but the pandemic has forced us to stay virtual! So instead we told the Library about our brilliant idea. The conversation went something like this:

PLA team: Hey Library, we really miss hanging out with students on campus

Library: Yeah, us too

PLA team: RIGHT!? Anyway, we wanna make a club for students to meet up on Zoom

Library: Cool, a Book Club sounds gre…

PLA team: NO! Not just a Book Club! A Pop Culture Club!

Library:

PLA team: Let us explain…

What is the Pop Culture Club all about?

We’re talking movies, tv shows, books (NOT for your course), comics, manga, anime, podcasts, games, basically everything we’re doing to help pass the time in lockdown.

When are we meeting up?

On the third Tuesday of every month, in the afternoon when classes are pretty much done and you have nothing else to do, jump into a Zoom with the PLAs and other students from all over the University to talk about stuff that has nothing to do with class and everything to do with having fun.

Use this link to register and join us online, or click on the button below.

There are also zoom backgrounds to download from the registration page!

See you in the Club!

Library Opening Hours

Our Live Chat services are changing leading up to the Labour Day Weekend.

Throughout the 2021 lockdown, the University has maintained safe places to study on campus, including at the Fisher and Law Libraries, the Quarter, Camden Commons, and the Carslaw Learning Hub. During the upcoming mid-semester break and in the lead up to the long weekend, University and Library staff have been given two days concessional leave, so that they can take a well-deserved break. 

The changes for each location and Live Chat are as follows:

Fisher and Law Libraries
Open from: 12pm – 8pm, Thursday 30th September – Monday 4th October

The Quarter (Postgraduate coursework students), Camden Commons, and Carslaw Learning Hubs
Open from: 6am – 11pm, Everyday

Library virtual services will be unavailable Thursday 30th September and Friday 1st October.
Live Chat normal hours of operation will resume from 5 October – check out our hours here.


You can still get online assignment support or help through our online subject guides.  

You can also submit a question and receive an answer by email; however, there may be a delay in our response during this time and we appreciate your patience. 

Wear It Purple Day 2021

graphic for Wear It Purple day 2021
graphic for Wear It Purple day 2021

Wear It Purple Day 2021 –
Start the Conversation 

Wear it Purple is an international movement all about creating a supportive, safe environment for rainbow young people that is both empowering and inclusive. 

Wear It Purple was founded in 2010 in response to global stories of rainbow teenagers who suffered heartache and took their own lives because of bullying, harassment, and lack of acceptance of their sexuality or gender identity. It was established to show young people that there are people who support and accept them and that they can be proud of who they are. 

The four core principles of Wear It Purple are: 

  1. Advocate for and empower rainbow young people 
  1. Celebrate and promote the value of diversity and inclusion in all community setting 
  1. Raise awareness about sexuality, sex and gender identity and challenge harmful social cultures 
  1. Champion rainbow role-models to help young people establish the confidence to be who they are

(Wear It Purple, 2021) 

The University of Sydney Library supports Wear It Purple Day. The theme for Wear It Purple Day 2021 is Start the Conversationand it serves to remind us about the importance of conversations around gender identity and sexual orientation.  

What can you do to show your support on Wear It Purple Day, August 27? 

For Wear It Purple Day 2020 we had staff on-site at Fisher and purple gorgeousness like this illuminated our Library spaces. Join us from wherever you are right now and decorate yourself, your home and your zoom backgrounds to celebrate Wear It Purple.