Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
The University of Sydney Library acknowledges that our buildings, collections, and practices exist on unceded Aboriginal lands. We recognise the diversity and knowledges of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and students across all the lands the University stands on, and respect the ongoing connection Aboriginal people have to these lands, their cultural practices, knowledge systems and histories. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, who have handed down custodianship to each generation for more than 60,000 years.
Money, J. (2021). Yilabara (Now). Filmed on Gadigal Country. Commissioned by the University of Sydney Library
A–Z of Rare Books
Three open book covers with luxurious pink, magenta and green fabric inside
Opened in October 2023, A-Z of Rare Books explores the breadth of the Library's Rare Books and Special Collections. Organised by alphabetical terminology, the display highlights various terms used to describe the features and production methods of rare books and manuscripts, such as bookplate, octavo and vellum.
This exhibition consists of books, prints, art, and manuscripts, with highlights including a folio page from Banks Florilegium, elaborately embellished golden bindings, hidden masterpieces in the form of fore-edge paintings and a watercolour of an alternative design for a key London building. You may have to stand back to view one of the largest books in our collection, and squint to see the smallest.
This exhibition was organised by the Library's Rare Books and Special Collections and Digital Collections teams.
A-Z of Rare Books is located on level 2 of Fisher Library and will be on display for the remainder of semester 1 2024.
A range of books with illustrated covers on display in a glass cabinet
Display of books in glass cabinets
Book binding tools on display in a glass cabinet
Open books on display in glass cabinets, including a book with Chinese calligraphy
An open book, displaying an elaborate illustration of the alphabet.