The Schaeffer Fine Arts Library

With the word we clothe our ideas. The essence of a university - the concentrated breeding ground of ideas - is held in trust by its library.

In 1968, the Power Research Library of Contemporary Art (PRL) was established as a reference library specialising in twentieth century art. The first acquisitions were made on the advice of Mr Bernard Karpel, the Librarian of the Museum of Modern Art, New York.

Today, the Schaeffer Fine Arts Library, completed in May 2000, is one of the leading art libraries in Australia in terms of the academic quality and breadth of its holdings. It incorporates the Power Research Library of Contemporary Art, and specialises in art and culture of the twentieth and twenty first centuries, works dealing with theory, semiotics, philosophy, cultural studies, photography, media and film.

The collection comprises over 22,000 books and exhibition catalogues, 4,000 bound journal volumes, a comprehensive film studies and photography collection, an expansive collection of books on Asian arts and the rare books and journal collection, including valuable catalogue raisonnes, original exhibition catalogues and complete sets of important art journals. The Library also houses an additional 2,000 original honours and higher degree theses and essays archived since 1971; they are the special heritage of the Department of Art History and Film Studies and add to the unique nature of the collection. The library is increasingly collecting non-book materials in digital and video format, as well as indexes and exhibition catalogues on CD Rom.

Allen, Jack & Cottier architects designed the Schaeffer Fine Arts Library as a synthesis of both modernist and humanist ideals. The Library's clean-lined formalism and its open structure focuses on the beauty of natural light, creating a space that is naturally lit by skylights along the generous mezzanine area which occupies the entire Eastern side of the Library.

Large Wilkinson-inspired windows overlook the playing fields to the West, where you will find airy individual reading rooms suffused with natural light; each one dedicated to different research areas. The Library epitomises the influence that intellectual curiosity can have on architecture and the reciprocal rewards that beautiful surroundings can exercise on the scholarly mind.

The Schaeffer Fine Arts Library provides open access to University staff and students, members of the arts community and the general public. It is a reference only library, so borrowing of books and materials is not permitted.

Semester Opening Hours

Monday 9.30am - 7:00pm
Tuesday 9.30am - 5:00pm
Wednesday 9.30am - 7:00pm
Thursday 9.30am - 6.30pm
Friday 9.30am - 5:00pm

Restricted opening hours apply during the University vacations.

CONTACTS

Senior Librarian:
Research Librarian:

The Schaeffer Fine Arts Library
Level 2, RC Mills Building, A26
Fisher Road
University of Sydney
Sydney NSW 2006

Phone: 61 2 9351 2148 Fax : 61 2 9351 7624

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The Schaeffer Fine Arts Library holdings are included in the University of Sydney Library On-line Catalogue which can be accessed via the internet.

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