Library Research Guide


Intro to Human Rights V3001.001

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Pamela Graham
Director, Center for Human Rights Documentation & Research
Telephone: (212) 854-3630
E-mail: chrdr@columbia.edu


Library Contact

This research guide highlights resources that will be useful to completing the writing assignments in this class. Please see the Center's website for information about our human rights collections.

Getting Started -- Finding a Topic and Background Information

Topic Guides
News Sources
Reference Books

USE these databases to find entries and background articles on your topic in reference books.

Regional and Country Information

Search Tools

Find Scholarly Articles

Find Articles

Search the following resources:

  • International Political Science Abstracts
  • JSTOR
  • PAIS International
  • ProQuest Research Library
  • Social Sciences Full-Text
  • Worldwide Political Science Abstracts

Human Rights Reports

Books and Book Reviews

Find Books

CLIO - Columbia's Online Catalog

Use these standard Subject Headings:

  • female circumcision (for female genital mutilation)
  • child soldiers
  • human trafficking OR forced labor
  • Human rights
  • Human rights advocacy
  • Human rights--Government policy--[country]
  • Human rights movements [may subdivide geographically]
Sources for Book Reviews

Library Services

The Columbia University Libraries offer a wide range of research, instruction, and borrowing services to support all levels of academic research.

Hours & Study Spaces

Check the hours of our libraries, departments and services. We offer a variety of study spaces and venues.

Reference & Research Help

Librarians are available to assist you with research in person, via e-mail, phone, IM, or by appointment. If you need help, Ask a Librarian.

Library Essentials and Workshops

Library Essentials video available are short video tutorials to help you with your research. Many of the Columbia Libraries offer hands-on research skills workshops to help you make better use of the libraries.

Finding Library Materials

The Libraries' website is a gateway to collections and services, including access to a wide variety of databases and e-journals.

CLIO is the online catalog for the Columbia, Barnard, and Union Theological Seminary libraries. Search CLIO for print and electronic books, journals, videos and dvd's, sound recordings, newspapers, and other materials. Use CLIO to request materials from Offsite, renew books, place recalls and holds.

Borrow Direct enables you to borrow books directly from six other Ivy League university libraries in the event the book you need is either unavailable because it is circulating; or is not owned by a Columbia University library. Typical delivery time is 4 business days.

Interlibrary Loan is the service to use for all other items not available through Borrow Direct, such as journal articles. Delivery time may be within 1-2 days for articles; 2-3 weeks for books.

For more information about library services at Columbia, use the drop-down menus (under "Libraries & Collections," "Catalogs," etc. located at the top of this page).