The University of Queensland

Welcome to the Fryer Library

The Fryer Library is one of the 15 branches of the University of Queensland Library. It contains the Library's special collections. The Fryer Library holds significant collections of Australian Studies resources to support the teaching, learning and research needs of staff and students in the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. Parts of the collection such as theses, rare books, architectural plans and manuscripts support wider cross-disciplinary teaching, research and community use.

Established in 1927 to assist the study of Australian literature, the Fryer Library continues to support scholarship and research through its extensive holdings of publications and manuscripts of some of Australia’s leading writers. In addition to the nearly 100,000 volumes of publications, there are manuscripts, rare books, research theses and other special collections. Rapid and streamlined access to collections is facilitated by providing guides to collections online and digitising selected material.

The Fryer Library is open Monday to Saturday, 9:00am to 5:00pm, except public holidays

The Fryer Library is the Special Collections section of the University of Queensland Library. It has an extensive Australian studies collection of published and unpublished material.

The Fryer Library is a rich store of rare books, manuscripts, theses, pictorial collections and architectural drawings. Its emphasis is on Australian literature, history, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, art and architecture. Within that range, it has a particular focus of material with a connection to Queensland, and to the University of Queensland.

The Fryer Library is open to everyone and welcomes all researchers to examine its collections.
Because material in the collection is often old, fragile, valuable and irreplaceable, we ask that you follow a few general procedures:

• Eating and drinking are not permitted in the Fryer Library reading room. This includes bottled water and the consumption of lollies, chewing gum or lozenges.
• Bags are not permitted in the reading room. Please ask at the desk for a key to a locker where you can safely store your belongings.
• Photographic identification is required when requesting materials from the Fryer collection. For staff and students of the University of Queensland, this should be your staff or student id. For other users, a staff or student card, driver’s license, 18+ card or any other form of identification, as long as it includes a photograph, is acceptable. Please note that desk staff will keep your id while you are using any Fryer material or hold a locker key.
• Fryer Library items may not be removed from the reading room.

More details regarding Reading Room Rules can be viewed here or can be explained to you by the library staff.

Print copies of Masters and PhD research theses produced at The University of Queensland before January 2008 are held by Fryer Library. They can be found by searching the library catalogue. All of these items are held in a warehouse, and must be ordered in advance. See below for the retrieval process.

Selected history theses from the print collection have been digitised and made publically available via Text Queensland.

Theses submitted after 2008 are available via UQ eSpace (some titles only available to UQ staff and students).

Resources held by the Fryer Library can be requested in person, via email fryer@library.uq.edu.au or by telephoning (07) 3365 6276. Resources can only be used in the Reading Room, they are not for loan. Material will be held at the desk upon request for later use.

• Reference material is available on open access shelving in the Reading Room
• Books and journals are held in closed access storage and are available on request
• Manuscript material is also held in closed access storage and is available on request. Please refer to the Manuscripts page for further information.
• Microform material is available in the Reading Room on open access shelving
• Theses are held in warehouse and should be requested 4-5 working days in advance by emailing fryer@library.uq.edu.au or telephoning (07) 3365 6276