Whether you’re new to UQ or returning for Semester 1, 2026, we’d love to share some of the updates we’ve made to our spaces and services since last year.
Updates to Library Search
Library Search has some great new features to make it even easier for you to find the information you need.
- To stay up to date, visit UQ Library new resources to browse all the new items added to our collection over the last three months.
- When searching for a physical book, use the ‘Available physical items’ filter to quickly find which items are ready to pick up straight from the shelf.
- We’ve made it easier to understand how you can use online items in our collection. When you open an online resource result, select Show licence under ‘View it’ to access the updated Licence terms display.
Study and learning support
Check out our Artificial Intelligence (AI) resources
The AI Student Hub has been updated and improved for Semester 1, 2026, to help you use AI responsibly and effectively for your studies.
We have also added new AI training sessions on AI tools, prompt engineering, literature searching and systematic reviews.
Build your digital skills
We regularly add new resources to the Digital Learning Hub to help you find all our modules, videos and guides in one place.
- Try one of the filters to view all the objects for that topic e.g. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander or Artificial intelligence.
- Log in to ‘favourite’ an object and get quick access next time you want to use it via the Library homepage.
Upgrades to our spaces
We’ve made a range of updates to our spaces to make them more comfortable and convenient for you.
Central Library
- Level 1 gets a lot of foot traffic, and over time, that can take its toll. We’ve installed new flooring and carpet to refresh the space and make it more comfortable for everyone.
- On Level 3, we’ve added comfortable new furniture and expanded the low‑light study area throughout the space. You’ll now find more long tables with lamps, high‑backed chairs, height‑adjustable desks, and additional power and device‑charging options.
- Level 4 has also been updated with new long tables equipped with lamps and charging points.
Read more about the updates to levels 1, 3 and 4 of Central Library.
Dorothy Hill Engineering and Sciences Library
- Visit the Level 2 entry to enjoy our new lounges, perfect for taking a break.
- On Level 3, we've added 20 additional powered study carrels to help you focus on your work.
Biological Sciences Library
There’s a brand-new fridge in the Level 2 kitchen. You may remember that the previous fridge could get a bit too full, making it hard to close the door. The new fridge is larger to help keep everyone’s food cool.
Help us keep our kitchens tidy by not keeping food in the fridge overnight. The fridges are cleaned regularly to maintain a clean and healthy space.
Enjoy the artwork in our spaces
We hope you enjoy the art installations displayed in our Library spaces. We encourage you to take a moment to view the latest additions.
Central Library
As part of our ongoing collaboration with the UQ Art Museum, a new artwork has been installed on Level 1 in Central Library — Whispers by Megan Cope, 2023.
This work was recently featured in the UQ Art Museum exhibition ‘to come together as water' and is a small part of the entire work that has been exhibited internationally.
Megan Cope, Whispers (2023), repurposed oyster shell waste on cypress pine. Collection of The University of Queensland. Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program by Megan Cope, 2025. Photo: Joe Ruckli.
Biological Sciences Library
Visit the Biological Sciences Library Postgraduate Room to view two finalist works in the UQ APS Postgraduate Art Prize 2025.
- UQ Lakes Edifice by Kevin Foo - a line-and-wash work that blends humour, mythology and observation, imagining a façade shaped not just by architecture, but by the wildlife that calls UQ home.
- Burst of Colours by Rohan Kalisch - an abstract painting that embraces chaos and control, inviting viewers to move through layered forms and shifting perspectives.
Events
Orientation tours and sessions
Get to know your Library through library tours and sessions during O-Week and Connect Week.
HackAIthon
UQ students can register for our hackathon event happening over the weekend of 13 to 15 March 2026.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to team up to tackle real-world challenges to harness the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) or address its risks, and compete for fantastic prizes!
Registration is free! You can also purchase a hack-pack ticket to get exclusive HackAIthon merch.
Read more about the different ways your Library can support you.
