Theological Seminary Studies Guide


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Welcome

This Research Guide is designed to assist emerging theologians, seminarians, and students engaged in the fields of biblical studies, interreligious engagement, social ethics, worship, the arts, and counseling to find resources in the libraries (especially the Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary).  

Students at Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University, and students with a UNI and Password can access all materials referenced in this Guide.

Read Columbia's full access guidelines.


To Get Started:

 


Explore the tabs above to learn more about how to use our CLIO catalog and find books, databases, encyclopedias, technology and other resources in the libraries


Start Your Research


Planning a Project

Look in CLIO, our online catalog, to discover materials and find books on research methods.

 


Using the Library

It’s important to check My Library Account regularly and keep track of borrowed books, due dates, renewals, and late fees.

UTS and other non-Columbia students: make sure to set up Columbia UNI and email forwarding at the start of the semester to receive critical messages about due dates, late fees, and account updates.

Visit the Burke Library to learn more.

 


Not sure how to start?

Visit the Ask A Librarian page to consult with a specialist on how to start doing research and plan any project. Librarians at the Burke Library can help with religion and seminary research specifically.

 


CLIO


What is CLIO?

CLIO is the online catalog for the Columbia University Libraries (including the Burke). Use CLIO to search for books, articles, databases, audio-visual media, and more...

Get tips from the CLIO Guide and CLIO Help Tips

Video by Barnard Instructional Media and Technology Services  (IMATS)

Books & Journals


Where to Find Books

Use CLIO (the online catalog) to search for books, articles, and other media.

 


The Burke Library

image of a typical area of the stacks in the Burke Library Above is a typical area of stacks in the Burke Library.

The Burke Library has five (5) levels of stacks* (floors S1-S5) with over 700,000 books! Enter the stacks through the red door on the main floor (L1) or via the elevator. The Burke Library stacks consist of:

The "LC Stacks" (levels S4 and S5) books acquired from 1973 onward and catalogued under the Library of Congress (LC) classification system of call numbers.

The "Union Stacks" (level S3) books acquired before 1973 were catalogued under the Julia Pettee theological classification system of call numbers used at the Burke in the early-20th century.

Bound periodicals (levels S1 and S2) past issues of journals in theology and religion bound in book-like covers for ease of use. (Current issues** of subscription periodicals are available on level L2.)

 

 

* "Stacks" is a library term for areas containing shelves of books.

** More current academic journals, newspapers, and popular magazines can be found in the Periodicals Reading Room at Butler Library.

 


Featured Books in the Burke Library

New Books are shelved by call number in three bookshelves on L1 of the Burke Library. These are available to be checked out from the library.

Books by Faculty are shelved together on L1 near the entrance to the "green room" glass-walled study area. These can be read in the library but not checked out.

Reference Books such as encyclopedias, dictionaries, atlases, and Biblical commentaries are shelved in the Main Reading Room on L3 of the Burke Library. These can be used but cannot be taken out of the library.

Rare Books & Special Collections include the Burke Library's treasured manuscripts, incunabula, and scrolls, as well as unique contemporary books and archives. These items are housed separately and available by appointment only – schedule a visit at our Special Collections page.

 


Interlibrary Loan and Delivery Services

Not all books are available in this library system. We share with other schools and organizations through several delivery services (BorrowDirect, Interlibrary Loan, Scan & Deliver, ReCAP/Offsite/Shared Collections, etc.) If you cannot find a book or other type of media here, we can almost always get another copy delivered in a matter of days.

View the Interlibrary Loan/Delivery tab above to learn more.

 


Books at other Columbia University Library locations

There are 22 locations in the Columbia University Libraries system. This map shows every library, including the Burke Library and Butler Library (Columbia's largest and most central library), where students can read and study.

 


How to Borrow Books

Books that circulate in the Columbia University Libraries are available to be checked out using your University ID card. Here's how borrowing works in the Columbia University Libraries:

  • Go to any library and find the books you want in the stacks.
  • Staff can help you if you try to find a book but can't find it.
  • Books are shelved alphabetically by "call number," a series of letters and numbers on the spine.
  • Bring the books you want to the Circulation Desk.
  • Show and scan your University ID card.
  • Books can then be charged to your account.
  • Loan periods vary but can be a few weeks to a whole semester.
  • Books can be renewed online.
  • Check your Library Account to see due dates, renew books, and view your fines and fees.

 


How to Find Journals & Articles

There are several ways to find and discover articles in journals throughout the Columbia University Libraries:

  • See the Databases tab above to explore databases of journal articles in many subjects including theology
  • Go to CLIO Databases to find a journal database for any subject
  • Search for specific journal titles in CLIO
  • Use CLIO's Articles feature to locate a specific article by title

 


Databases


*FACT: Columbia University Libraries provide access to over 1,500 databases through CLIO.


Jump to database type:


Journal Articles (Theology and Religion)

ATLA Religion Database with ATLA Serials is a top resource for students in seminary that combines the index to journal articles, book reviews, and collections of essays in all fields of religion with the American Theological Library Association's online collection of major religion and theology journals.

African American Historical Serials includes African American periodicals, annuals, and reports published from 1829-1922 including materials from African American religious organizations and social service agencies. Developed in collaboration with the American Theological Library Association.

Oxford Islamic Studies Online is a growing collection of content, including more than 3,000 reference articles and chapters by leading scholars and specialists in their fields, Qur'anic studies resources, primary source documents, timelines, images, bibliographic references and more...

Index to Jewish Periodicals indexes  English-language articles, book reviews, and feature stories in more than 160 journals devoted to Jewish affairs. Journal coverage dates back as far as 1988.

 

More databases in the disciplines of Theology, Philosophy & Religion...

 


Journal Articles (Humanities/General)

JSTOR provides page images of back issues of the core scholarly journals in the humanities and social sciences from the earliest issues to within a few years of current publication.

EBSCOhost Research Databases provides access to various databases indexing journals and other scholarly publications, some with full text.

ProQuest Central includes citations and full-text articles in news, academic and professional disciplines, e.g. business, economics, gender studies, health, literature, management, political science, and general interest items.

Humanities Full Text features full text (starting 1995) plus abstracts and bibliographic indexes (starting 1984) of noted scholarly sources in the humanities, as well as lesser known specialized magazines. Includes feature articles, interviews, obituaries, bibliographies, original works of fiction, drama, and poetry, book reviews, and reviews of ballets, dance programs, motion pictures, musicals, operas, plays, radio and television programs.

 

More databases of journal articles in the humanities...

 


Arts & Music

ARTstor contains digital images and associated catalog data, with new image collections added several times a year. ARTstor covers many time periods and cultures, and documents the fields of architecture, painting, sculpture, photography, decorative arts, design, anthropology, ethnographic and women's studies, as well as many other forms of visual culture.

Oxford Art Online enables access to Grove Art Online, Benezit Dictionary of Artists, The Encyclopedia of Aesthetics, The Oxford Companion to Western Art, and The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms. Includes image partnerships with ARTstor, the British Museum, the Museum of Modern Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and numerous international art galleries and artists.

Music Online combines audio and video recordings that spans all time periods, hundreds of thousands of seminal artists, composers, choreographers, and ensembles to provide an unparalleled learning environment for the study of numerous genres, including Blues, Classical, Country, Dance, Folk, Hymns, Jazz, Latin, Opera, Rock, Reggae, R&B, Punk, World Music, and more.

 

More databases in Music & Performing Arts and in Art & Architecture...

 


E-Books

Note: E-books, or electronic books, are digitized full-text versions of printed books available online. E-books are also available and searchable via CLIO. They may be listed with "Online" as the format and/or location.

 

Ebook Central also known as "Ebrary" is a collection of thousands of online full text books and other materials in a variety of subject areas.

Gutenberg-e showcases a series of digital monographs in the field of historical scholarship produced in collaboration with the authors and the electronic publishing staff of Columbia University Press. Each e-text offers extensive documentation, hyperlinks to supplementary literature, images, music, video, search feature, and links to related web sites.

EBSCO eBook collection provides a searchable collection of current electronic books from university and commercial publishers and electronic books in the public domain.

 

More databases of E-books...

 

 


Encyclopedias & Reference

(One can always look things up on Wikipedia, but here are some librarian-recommended quick-reference sources with author-verifiable articles to check out.)

 

Credo is a database of background content. It's full-text and can help you learn the basics of any topic. Start your research here to focus your topic, find keywords and people, and discover more in-depth books and articles.

Religion Past & Present is an updated English translation of the 4th edition of the definitive encyclopedia of religion, Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart. It includes the latest developments in research and encompasses a vast range of subjects connected with religious, theological, and biblical studies.

Gale Virtual Reference Library is a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.

Blackwell Reference Online provides full-text access to reference works in the humanities, social sciences, and business and management.

 

More reference and encyclopedia databases...

(Also see the Encyclopedia and Background Info tab above.)

 

 


Films & Videos

These databases feature videos that can be streamed online from your computer:

 

Kanopy offers a broad selection of more than 30,000 films for streaming online, including the Criterion Collection and Academy Award-winning dramas and comedies, TV shows, documentaries, international films, and training videos.

The Docuseek2 Complete Collection features exclusive streaming access to important documentary films from renowned leaders in documentary distribution.

Counseling and Therapy in Video provides an online collection of videos available for the study of social work, psychotherapy, psychology, and psychiatric counseling. Videos include counseling sessions and demonstrations, consultations, lectures, presentations, and interviews.

World Cinema Video Collection showcases online streaming titles from Africa, America, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, including films from the silent era, from the mid-20th century, as well as award-winning contemporary works.

Independent World Cinema: Classic and Contemporary Film includes more than 400 of the most important films produced from the early 20th century to today. It proudly turns the spotlight on preeminent independent distributors--Milestone Films, Zeitgeist Films, Pragda, and Oscilloscope.

 

More video and film databases...

 

 


More Databases...

Other miscellaneous databases liked by staff at the Burke Library:

 

LinkedIn Learning Online Training Library includes training videos and courses in 140 specialties, ranging from Animation; Audio; Business including Office and Google software; Design; Photography and Video; and Web and social media. Videos use screenshots, narration, live action, smart boards, charts and graphics, audio and include captioning.

Historic Map Works is over 100,000 maps detailing the geographic and development history of the United States over several hundred years. The World Collection is a collection of maps covering the world through time. The Special Collection is an eclectic mix of maps, including decorative plates, portraits, and lithographs, as well as nautical and topographical maps.

 

More databases in the arts, humanities, and sciences, across media and types...

 


What is a database?

The difference between a database (such as JSTOR) and a catalog (such as CLIO) is that a database stores and provides direct access to its content, whereas a catalog simply shows how content is organized and where it can be found. Databases can be accessed through the CLIO catalog or in a research guide like this. Most require a UNI and Password to access off-campus.

A library database can be a collection of journal articles, data, e-books, images, archives, audio or video content, that can be read, viewed, or streamed online right from your computer or mobile device and often saved to your hard drive or cloud storage.

Choose from multiple disciplines and media to find the databases that suit your project. Search in any database for terms that describe your topic. Use the features of that specific database to limit and modify your search results.

database_images3

 

Browse all databases by discipline and resource type with CLIO.

 


Background Info


Background info on a new topic – names, dates, places, scripture verses, quotes – can easily be found on public web sites like Wikipedia; however, sometimes it can be difficult to verify the accuracy and authorship of such content. Here are some librarian-curated web resources that can be easily used online to refer to (that is why they are called "Reference" materials).


Online Reference Resources

General

Credo is a database of background content. It's full-text and can help you learn the basics of any topic. Start your research here to focus your topic, find keywords and people, and discover more in-depth books and articles.

Religion Past & Present is an updated English translation of the 4th edition of the definitive encyclopedia of religion, Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart. It includes the latest developments in research and encompasses a vast range of subjects connected with religious, theological, and biblical studies.

Gale Virtual Reference Library is a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.

Blackwell Reference Online provides full-text access to reference works in the humanities, social sciences, and business and management.

 

Bible & Scripture

Oxford Biblical Studies Online

Dead Sea Scrolls Electronic Library

Linguae Grecae

 

(See the Biblical Studies tab above, and the Research Guide for Biblical Studies, for more resources)

 

Traditions

Encyclopedia Judaica

Encyclopedia of Christianity

Encyclopedia of Islam and the Modern World

Oxford Bibliographies: Hinduism

Encyclopaedia of Sikhism

Encyclopedia of Buddhism

 

(See the Religious Studies Course Guide/Reference Resources page for more encyclopedias grouped by the following traditions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Jainism, Buddhism, and New Religious Movements.)


3_burke

Most print reference materials in the Burke Library are located in the Main Reading Room on level L3. These materials cannot be checked out, so they are always available. This makes it a great place for researchers in theology and religion to study. Here are some of the resources available in the Reading Room:

Atlases such as the Illustrated Atlas of Jerusalem

Bible Commentaries such as Calvin's Commentary on the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Biography sources such as African-American Religious Leaders: A-Z of African Americans

Concordances such as Graphic Concordance to the Dead Sea Scrolls

Dictionaries such as The Anchor Bible Dictionary

Encyclopedias such as the Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Gender Studies

Lexicons such as A Reader's Hebrew-English Lexicon of the Old Testament


Archives & Rare Books


Special Collections at the Burke

The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary preserves and provides access to rare books, manuscripts, and archives. These special collections cannot be checked out, but students, staff, and visiting researchers can see them by appointment as soon as 24 hours in advance in the Special Collections Reading Room (on level L3 in the Burke Library) during open hours. Special Collections research is FREE and easy to do!

 

How to see Archives, Rare Books & Manuscripts at the Burke Library:

 

Collection Highlights

Miscellaneous Arabic rare books and manuscripts

Incunabula

Hymnals

Ancient Greek materials, including several papyri

Items from the Van Ess Collection – some 13,000 pieces, which formed the core of the Library's original collection, consisting of manuscripts and early printed books, including many incunabula.

Items from the McAlpin Collection – an eminent collection of some 18,000 sixteenth and seventeenth century imprints, sources critical to an understanding of the political, theological, and ecclesiastical climate of this important period.

The Missionary Research Library Archive – a unique record of Protestant missionary activity throughout the world, provides a fascinating array of materials related to the geographic, sociopolitical, religious, and cultural settings in which this activity occurred.

The Union Theological Seminary Archives

The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Papers

The Archives of Women in Theological Scholarship Collection (including the papers of figures such as Emilie Townes, Carter Heyward, Phyllis Trible, and others)

Much more...

 

armenian_leather Armenian leather bound manuscript (15th or 16th century).
briggs Manuscript page from the archives of Emilie Grace Briggs, first woman graduate of Union Theological Seminary in 1897. (UTS Archives)

Other Special Collections at Columbia

Rare Book & Manuscript Library

The Rare Book & Manuscript Library (RBML) at Butler Library is Columbia's principal repository for primary sources. The range of collections in RBML span more than 4,000 years and comprise rare printed works, cylinder seals, cuneiform tablets, papyri, and Coptic ostraca; medieval and renaissance manuscripts; as well as art, realia and born-digital objects. Some 500,000 printed books and 90,000 linear feet (17 miles) of manuscripts, personal papers, and records form the core of the RBML holdings. One can find manuscripts from as early as the 14th century to the modern archives relating to Herman Wouk, Erica Jong, Serge Prokofiev, and Arthur Mitchell. Archives as varied as the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Random House, and Amnesty International-USA, and the archives of Columbia University are available for research.  

 

Starr East Asian Library

The C.V. Starr East Asian Library owns many rare and unique materials in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tibetan, and Western languages. Our Rare Book and Special Collections Reading Room provides access to the rare book collections, particularly strong in Chinese local histories and genealogies, Japanese Edo-period woodblock-printed books, and the Korean Yi Song-yi Collection, such non-print collections as ancient Chinese oracle bones, Chinese posters, Edo-period ukiyo-e, as well as a growing collection of major archives. These non-circulating materials are available for use by patrons during scheduled open hours. 

 

Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library

The Avery Drawings & Archives Collection consists primarily of drawings and architectural records by American architects of the 19th and 20th centuries. We hold a diverse range of original and reprographic drawings, photographic materials, project and building files, business papers, correspondence, diaries, and more. The Avery Classics Collection is the rare book collection of Avery Library and one of the largest architectural rare book collections in the world. Its strengths reflect the Library's original subject scope, established by Avery's founders in 1890: architecture, archaeology, urbanism and the decorative arts. Avery Library's Research Collection contains books and periodicals on architecture, historic preservation, art history, painting, sculpting, graphic arts, decorative arts, city planning, real estate, and archaeology, from all areas of the world and covering all time periods. It is a non-circulating, open stack collection housed in Avery Library and ReCAP, Columbia University Libraries offsite storage facility.

Faculty talking to students at Low Library protest, 1968 Columbia University student strikes of 1968. (Office of Public Affairs Protest & Activism Photograph Collection, Butler Library)
"Skyboy" photograph, 1930 Empire State Building Archive. "Skyboy," 1930. Photographer Lewis Wickes Hine. (Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library)

Get Books Delivered


Can't find a book in the library?

(It's checked out? It's not in another Columbia University Library? Not in CLIO, etc.?)

The library can probably have it delivered for you...


Delivery Services:

BorrowDirect is the best option for delivery services. Turnaround time is 3 to 5 days, books arrive at the library front desk under the borrower's name. Students, faculty, and staff can use BorrowDirect to request books from select institutions. Loan period is sixteen (16) weeks, no renewals. 

Interlibrary Loan (ILL) is the second best choice and similar to BorrowDirect -- books typically arrive within one to two weeks from other schools and lending institutions. Loan periods vary by institution (e.g. books delivered from Michigan State University might be due back one day, books from Oberlin College might be due a different day). *This guide has more information about the difference between BorrowDirect and ILL services.

ReCAP/Offsite is our storage facility, from which books and other materials can be delivered in 1 day. ReCAP stands for "Research Collections and Preservation" and operates jointly between Columbia, Princeton University, and the New York Public Library, providing access to more than 4.6 million books and archives.

Scan & Deliver is a service that lets students, faculty, and staff request small portions of books to be scanned and sent electronically from other Columbia University Libraries via their email accounts (for those who prefer not to walk across campus).

 


How to get books, articles, & other items Delivered:

The following services are all available to students and staff of Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University. See the Access page for full guidelines.

 

If all copies are checked out:

checked out screenshot

If all copies of the item owned in Columbia University Libraries are checked out, the option to request from BorrowDirect and ILL will appear in the CLIO record for that item.

Click "BorrowDirect" or "ILL" to have it delivered to the library front desk.

 

If copies are available from Offsite (ReCAP):

available offsite screenshot

If there are copies available at our Offsite facility (called ReCAP), then the option to request the item to be delivered from Offsite will appear.

Click "Offsite" to have it delivered to the library front desk in 2 business days.

 

If copies are available at another Columbia library that can scan part of it:

available scan and deliver screenshot

If there is a copy available in another Columbia University Library, there may be an option to have 1-2 chapters scanned and delivered electronically. Check the item's information record to access its Table of Contents and select which chapters you wish to have scanned and delivered.

Click "Scan & Deliver" to request this option.

 

If no copies are held at any Columbia location/not found in catalog:

no results found screenshot

TIP: Try re-typing your search. (CLIO does not auto-correct, so misspelled words will not yield accurate results.)

If no results are found, CLIO will offer the following options to get the item(s) from another library: BorrowDirect, and Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Also try using WorldCat.org (a powerful tool that searches across hundreds of thousands of public, academic, and private libraries around the globe).  

Students and staff can also recommend a title for purchase.


What about delivery between Columbia University Library locations?

There is no delivery service among the Columbia University Libraries locations. To get a physical copy of a book available at Butler, Lehman, Avery, etc., it is necessary to visit the location in person. This map shows all 22 library locations, and here are their hours.


UTS Courses


Course Reserves

What are Reserves?

Required texts for Union Theological Seminary courses are often placed on Reserve at the Burke Library. Reserves are a way to make sure lots of students can access a book in a short period of time. Check your syllabi to see which books are available on reserve for your courses. Students do not need to be enrolled in the course to check out a book on reserve for that course.

 

How long can Reserve books be borrowed?

Loan periods for Reserve books are 3 hours.     

 

To check out an item on reserve:

Go to the Burke Library Circulation Desk and give the following information:

  • Professor's last name (main professor teaching the course)
  • Title of the book

Union Theological Seminary links

The Burke Library at Union Theological Seminary

Many books required for UTS courses are available through the libraries.

To get help finding books or doing research, contact a librarian at the Burke Library, visit Ask A Librarian, or see the Help tab above.

Biblical Studies


See the separate Biblical Studies Research Guide for more resources...


Study Resources & Books

The Main Reading Room contains print reference sources:

Bibles

Bible Commentaries

Concordances

Lexicons

Dictionaries

more...

 

Rare Bibles and Special Collections

The Burke Library Special Collections and the Columbia Rare Book & Manuscript Library house several rare and unique editions of the Bible, the Gospels, the Septuagint, etc. Read more at our Special Collections page or browse CLIO to discover items viewable by appointment only in our Special Collections Reading Room.

King James Bible King James Bible

Digital Tools

Accordance

Accordance and BibleWorks software are installed on two computers on level L3 of the Burke Library.

Features:

  • Commentary
  • Dictionaries and definitions
  • Maps
  • Translations
  • more...

Events & Exhibits


View the Burke Library Calendar to see current events and exhibits.

See also the Columbia University Libraries Calendar for events across campus.


Exhibits

Display cases are located around the Burke Library on level L1, and on level L2 in the front area and in the back area. Check our Exhibits page for details about current and past exhibits on display.

Events

The Burke Library and other libraries host several events each semester, such as:

  • Workshops on research methods, using archives, and citation-management tools like Zotero
  • Study Breaks, crafting sessions, and social gatherings
  • Tours and scavenger hunts
  • Conferences, speakers, and book publishing events

 


Loading events...

Technology



UNI's and Passwords

Manage your UNI and Password here.


Computers

Computers for Students and Faculty at UTS/Columbia

The Burke Library has computers available for log in with a UNI and Password.

Locations: Login computers are located on L1 (3 computers nearest to the front entrance) and on L3 (5 computers near the printer outside the reading room).

Available Programs: These computers provide access to CLIO databases and online resources as well as a full range of programs (including Microsoft Word, Adobe Suite, and more.)

 

Guests

The Burke also has free public computers for use by anyone with reading privileges at the library.

Locations: Computers which do not require logins are labelled "No Login." They are located on L1 against the wall, and by the left scanner. There are two more in the stacks: one on L2, and one on L3.

Available Programs: These computers provide access to CLIO databases and online resources via Firefox internet browser, but are not equipped with programs such as Microsoft Word or with printing.


Internet/WiFi

To log into Columbia's wireless WiFi network, use a UNI and Password.

To log into Union's WiFi (in certain locations) please ask for the password at the Circulation Desk.


Printing

The Burke Library offers PawPrint printing in two locations: on L1 and on L3.

Print from a laptop to the library PawPrint printers by downloading a PawPrint driver.

Consult PawPrint via Columbia University Information Technology for more information and to manage your print quota.

 

Black & White and Color Printing:

The Burke Library has black-and-white printers only. Color printers can be found in Lehman and Butler Library. Please consult Columbia University Libraries printing services for details.

 

Union Theological Seminary students:

In the Burke Library, UTS students receive a $2.00 printing balance (20 pages) with PawPrint each week in addition to their UTS Computer Lab print balance. This $2.00 is added each week but does not roll over from week to week. This can be used to print at PawPrint print stations throughout the Columbia University Libraries. Go to PawPrint to add to your balance and find more information.


Scanning & Copying

There are no copy machines in the Burke Library, but there are scanners located on L1 and L3. There is no cost and no need to log in with a UNI and Password to use scanners.

 


Library Spaces


Burke Library Spaces

burke location guide
Burke Library Reading Room Burke Library Main Reading Room. (Silent study only.)
Stacks area of the Burke Library. Stacks area of the Burke Library.
Level L2 of the Burke Library. Level L2 (Mezzanine) of the Burke Library.
Level L1 (Ground floor) of the Burke Library. Level L1 (Ground floor) of the Burke Library.

Other Columbia University Libraries

  • Map of all Columbia University Libraries Locations
  • Guide to Study Spaces (quiet zones, talk zones, open 24-hours, etc.)
  • Make private or group study room Reservations

Cite


Citation Guides


 

Citation Management Tools

Zotero is a FREE tool that allows you to save sources and automatically cite them in your work with many handy features:

  • Collect sources directly from CLIO
  • Organize your sources by project, class, subject, etc.
  • Cite your sources with automatic bibliographies and notes
  • Download and store full text PDFs and websites

How it works: Search for sources in CLIO and save their information to your Zotero with one click. Manage sources in your Zotero library for each of your projects and generate bibliographies, footnotes, and endnotes automatically in Word to save time on formatting. Zotero uses browser extensions for Firefox (best option), Chrome, and Safari and word-processor plugins for Microsoft Word and others. Zotero is integrated with CLIO for optimal user experience.

Consult the Quick Start Guide for tips and videos on how to get started using Zotero. Be sure to download a word processor plugin to make the fullest use of Zotero with Word or other software.

Attend a Zotero Workshop from Columbia University Libraries.

Download Zotero


 

Zotero screenshot Collect, organize, and cite sources with automatic bibliographies using Zotero

See the Reference & Citation Management research guide for additional tools.

The libraries also provide support for Endnote and Mendeley.

This Guide provides information about which tool to pick. 


Help


Help

Contact a Burke Library Staff member for assistance, or try the following:

  • Visit the Ask A Librarian page to find help for any question, large or small.
  • Submit this form to ask a question by email.
  • Find a Subject Specialist in your area or schedule a research appointment.
  • Text us from your mobile phone at (215) TEXT-CUL or (215) 839-8285.
  • IM us at askuscolumbia via AOL, Google, MSN, or Yahoo!
Ask A Librarian

 

Trouble using this Research Guide?

Send feedback to burke@library.columbia.edu, we want to hear from you.

Thesis Writing