East Asian collection, University of Sydney Library

East Asian Collection

Supporting teaching & research in East Asian Studies

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How to view items

Request to view items in the reading room

You can view items from the East Asian Collection in the reading room at Fisher Library. Make a request to view an item via Library Search, under "more options".

Requests need to be made at least two business days before you wish to visit. You will be notified by email once your selected items are available to view in the reading room, and they will be kept on hold for you for the next 7 days. Please do not come in until you have received your notification email.
If you do not view your requested item within the 7-day period, the hold will automatically expire, and you will need to place a new request.

View items online in the Virtual reading room

Use our Virtual reading room service to view items from the East Asian Collection remotely, via Zoom.
Find out more and make a booking

External clients

If you do not hold a University of Sydney card or current Library membership, please register for a free Rare Books and Special Collections Community ID. Details on how to log in to Library Search with your new RBSC Community ID are available here.
Please read the Reading Room Terms of Use before submitting a hold request.

Request digital copies of materials

For digital copies of East Asian Collection materials located at Rare Books & Special Collections, please email rbsc@usyd.libanswers.com

Submit a research or reference enquiry

For research and reference enquiries relating to East Asian Collection materials, please contact Rare Books & Special Collections.

About East Asian Collection

East Asian Collection supports the University’s Chinese Studies, Japanese Studies, and Korean Studies, as well as others researching materials in vernacular Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages.

The University Library’s East Asian Collection comprises of material published in Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages, and is the third largest East Asian collection in Australia - after the East Asian Collections of the National Library of Australia and the Australian National University.

The Collection has grown to over 123,350 volumes, and supports Australian research and teaching in East Asian Studies.

Areas of particular strength include:
- Literature
- History
- Philosophy
- Religion
- Archaeology
- Anthropology
- Art
- Sociology
- Political Science
- Ancient Architecture
The Library has recently purchased more than 1,700 electronic books on traditional Chinese medicine and health sciences in Chinese language.

Works on science consist mainly of dictionaries of science and technology and works of current topical interest. The East Asian Collection does not contain modern scientific and technical works.

More about our collections

Finding East Asian Collection

The majority of East Asian Collection materials are located on Level 9 of Fisher Library and can be borrowed. For help in browsing the collection on Level 9, see Classification for East Asian Collection.

The rare, string-bound books and expensive art collections are located at Rare Books & Special Collections and are not for loan. Make a request to view these materials in the Rare Books & Special Collections reading room.
- UniKey users: request materials through Library Search
- All other users: complete our online request form
Go to Library Search to find the location of East Asian Collection items.

Watch instruction videos:
Where else to look

Request materials, make an appointment, or register for a class

- Request East Asian Collection materials held at Rare Books & Special Collections
  - UniKey users: request materials through Library Search
  - All other users: external clients can register for a free Rare Books and Special Collections Community ID. Details on how to log in with your new Community ID are available here.
- Register for a group visit or a class
- Make an appointment with the East Asian Collections Liaison Librarian

Suggest an item for purchase

Contact the Library

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