History of St Mark's College Library

The College opened its doors in 1925 with Archibald Grenfell Price as Master.

The first reference to a library occurs in the St Mark's College Record of 1927 where mention is made that the then Governor of South Australia, Sir Tom Bridges, "kindly donated some eighty books to the College Library." Also donated were some valuable histories by Mr C. J. B. Symon. This nucleus of a future library was housed in the imposing Symon Bookcase which still stands in the Downer House Ballroom.

In 1934 Sir Henry Newland converted the loft of the commodious old stable into a Library and Lecture Room. (The ground floor had already been converted into a gymnasium). Before World War II intervened many wonderful books were received from the library of Sir Josiah Symon, as well as donations from many other people.

From 1941 to 1946 the College was leased to the RAAF. During this time the books were crated and stored off-site, suffering some damage and loss in the process.

College reopened in 1946. Mr Robert Brook "Bob" Lewis, first as Vice-Master (1946-1957) and then as Master (1957-1968), was passionately interested in the development of the library. During the 1940s he was the person chiefly responsible for the conversion of the ground floor of the stable from the gymnasium into a functioning library. The idea grew that a College without a good library was lacking in one of its prime resources and that its aim was to satisfy the intellectual and recreational needs of the residents, not only their study needs.

In 1950 Mrs J T Mortlock donated handsome blackwood bookshelves to the College in memory of her late husband, John Tennant Mortlock. These shelves can still be viewed at the St Peter's Cathedral end of the library together with the Mortlock family crest.

During the 1950s the Library grew at a much faster rate and large numbers of books were purchased, including novels, and the catalogue was expanded.

The Archibald Grenfell Price Building was completed in 1961 with the top floor earmarked to become the library at a later date. Meanwhile the existing library, still housed on the ground floor of the old stable, was terribly overcrowded.

The early 1960s saw a four-fold increase in the library's budget and a professional part-time librarian was employed. This period was also rich in donations by such people as Canon Julian Bickersteth, the Dutton family, and Miss Kilmeny Symon.

In 1966 the library finally moved to its present location on the top floor of the Archibald Grenfell Price Building.

In 1967 Mr Lewis retired and the Librarian was also gone. The 1970s were a much quieter period and circumstances in the library deteriorated. Conditions remained quiet until 1989 when a professional librarian was again employed.

The library has grown enormously since then. Among the many changes subject cataloguing was commenced for the first time, the catalogue itself was automated, the budget was substantially increased and continues to grow, donations and gifts were encouraged, student-use computers were installed, the twice-yearly Library Newsletter was commenced, contact was promoted between the Barr Smith Library (University of Adelaide) and other residential college libraries, a student bursary position was set up and many functions were held to promote interest in the Library.

St Mark's College considers its library to be one of its most outstanding assets and makes every effort to maintain its relevance to students through continuous assessment and encouragement of student opinion.