Books and Reading
All things books and reading
At the Adelaide City libraries you can enjoy our collection of over 80,000 items, plus millions more as part of the One Card Network. There are endless opportunities to find your next great read and share your love of reading with like-minded people.
Library Collections
There are many ways to enjoy our extensive collection of books, DVDs, magazines, graphic novels and more. We can also help you to find something new to read by asking our friendly staff or using the resources on our Virtual Library.
Adelaide City Libraries Book Groups
Book groups give you the chance to meet like minded people and discuss a new book each month. Adelaide City Libraries host three book groups, or you can borrow a set of books and start your own. Choose a time and venue that suits you and fill out a registration form to get started.
Meets: First Thursday of the month, 10:30 am to 12:30 pm
Where you’ll find us: Studio 2 at the City Library
Level 3, Rundle Place, Rundle Mall
Book to be discussed June: We come with this place by Debra Dank
Book to be collected for July: Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran
Meets: First Thursday of the month, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where you’ll find us: Upstairs meeting room at Hutt Street Library
235 Hutt Street, Adelaide
Book to be discussed June: Edenglassie by Melissa Lucashenko
Book to be collected for July: The fabulous flying Mrs Miller by Carol Baxter
Registration for the Book Group not available - currently at capacity.
Meets: First Thursday of the month, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Where you’ll find us: North Adelaide Library,
176 Tynte Street, North Adelaide
Currently meet at: The Caledonian Hotel - 219 O'Connell St, North Adelaide
Book to be discussed June: At the foot of the cherry tree by Alli Parker
Book to be collected for July: Prophet song by Paul Lynch
Registration for the Book Group not available - currently at capacity.
Are you already a part of a book group but have run out of titles? Or do you have a group of friends who are keen to start one?
The Adelaide City Libraries have a special collection of book sets that you can use to start your own book club.
Book set titles available to borrow:
- Bridge of Clay by Markus Zusak – 9 copies
- Invisible by Paul Auster – 8 copies
- Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne – 10 copies
- Mothering Sunday by Graham Swift – 10 copies
- Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates – 8 copies
- Siege of Contraries by Roe Helen Mitchell – 9 copies
- The Aunts' House by Elizabeth Stead – 10 copies
- The Good People by Hannah Kent – 10 copies
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – 11 copies
- The Librarian by Sally Vickers – 10 copies
- The Lost Pages by Marija Pericic – 10 copies
- The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy - 10 copies
- The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan - 5 copies
Join us for an exciting selection of stories, songs and rhymes aimed at babies and children aged 0 to 5 years. You don’t need to book - just come in, enjoy the session and browse our huge range of children’s material afterwards.
City Library
Level 3, Rundle Place, Rundle Mall, Adelaide
(Enter via Francis Street)
Thursdays 10:30 am to 11:30 am
Please note that these sessions run during the school term only.
Hutt Street Library
235 Hutt Street, Adelaide
Tuesdays 10:30 am to 11:15 am
Saturdays 10:30 am to 11:15 am
Please note that these sessions run during the school term only.
North Adelaide Library and Community Centre
176 Tynte Street, North Adelaide
Wednesdays 10:30 am to 11:15 am
These sessions are offered throughout the year.
For more information see our Activities and Programs page.
Through the One Card network, you can access eBooks and audiobooks. Choose from classics, new releases, non fiction and bestsellers for all ages. Titles can be borrowed for up to 21 days and are returned automatically.
Access our eBook and eAudiobook collection and find out more in our Virtual Library.
Or, download the Libby app:
We have a range of special collections available to browse on your next visit:
Awards
This is a collection of a selection of titles which have won or been nominated for major literary awards including the Man Booker prize, the Miles Franklin Literary Award and the Nobel Prize in Literature. See what can be found in each of our library centres from the list below:
- City Library (Adult): International Dublin Literary Award, Nobel Prize in Literature, ABIA Book Award (Book of the Year, General Fiction, and General Non-Fiction), and the Indigenous Writer's Prize
City Library (Children and Youth): CBCA Early Childhood, CBCA Picture Book, CBCA Younger, CBCA Older, Wilderness Society's Nature Book Week Award, Environment Award for Children's Literature (Fiction, Non-Fiction, and Picture Fiction) and the Carnegie Medal - Hutt Street Library (Adult): Stella prize, Dylan Thomas Prize, Indie Book Awards (Book of the Year, Fiction, Debut Fiction, and Non-Fiction), Miles Franklin, and CWA Dagger Awards (Gold Dagger, Ian Fleming Steel Dagger, and Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction)
- North Adelaide Library (Adult): Booker Prize, Ned Kelly Award (Best True Crime, Best Crime Fiction, and Best International Crime Fiction), and the South Australian Literary Awards (Premier's Award, Fiction Award, Non-Fiction Award, and Unpublished SA Manuscript)
North Adelaide Library (Children and Youth): Newbery Medal and the South Australian Literary Awards (Children's Award and the Young Adult Award)
Aboriginal Culture
This collection was developed in response to consultation with Kaurna community representatives to highlight and celebrate the achievements of Aboriginal people. We have a variety of fiction and non-fiction works for all ages created by Aboriginal Australians, or that reflect Aboriginal Australians' history and culture.
Classics
Sometimes the best place to start is with the best-loved classics. Visit any of our libraries to see our collection of children’s, teen and adult classic novels.
Short Reads
Browse our collection of short-format books at City Library for those who want a more straightforward reading experience.
Community Languages
Adelaide City Libraries offer material for loan in the following languages:
- Chinese
- French
- Japanese
- Spanish
- Vietnamese
These items are located at City Library but can be placed on hold to collect from any library.
Find out more about other languages available across the One Card Network to read material in your own language.
Need more information?
Talk to the friendly Adelaide City Libraries staff about all things books and reading: