What you can access
If you hold a University of Sydney card or current University of Sydney Library membership, you already have access to Rare Books and Special Collections items.
You can view items from Rare Books and Special Collections in the Reading Room at Fisher Library. Make a request to view an item via the Library catalogue, under "more options". See further information on the request process, including timeframes, and bookings for some restricted items.
What you can access online
University of Sydney cardholders and current University of Sydney Library members have access from home to most of our online resources, but due to licensing restrictions some are only available for current University of Sydney students and staff.
For more information, see the list on our restricted access database page. Please note this list may not be exhaustive, and licencing agreements and access to databases may change at any time. We have public access computers at some of our libraries that will allow you to search most of our databases, but availability cannot be guaranteed.
For external clients with a Rare Books Community ID, you do not have access to electronic resources except for the Library’s Digital Collections.
All clients can make a booking to use our Virtual Reading Room (VRR) service, enabling you to view RBSC items remotely over zoom. You do not require any type of Library membership to access this service. Find out more and make a booking.
Cost
Your Rare Books Community ID is free of charge and for Rare Books & Special Collections access only. It will not allow you to request or borrow from anywhere else at the University of Sydney. Your Rare Books Community Membership will not give you access to electronic resources, except for the Library’s Digital Collections. For access to wider Library collections and resources, please apply for a paid Community membership.
How to apply
If you are not a University of Sydney cardholder and you do not currently have another type of membership to the University of Sydney Library, you can apply online for a free Rare Books and Special Collections Community ID.
Apply for a Rare Books and Special Collections Community ID.