Research consultations are one-on-one or small group appointments lasting 30-60 minutes, in which a librarian will ask questions about your information needs and guide you to the best resources and search strategies available. We are currently offering consultations remotely via Zoom or phone.
Our goal is to help Columbia affiliates become more effective researchers. We will help you with your research by explaining the best ways to access and utilize information resources, provide tips to make your time spent searching databases more productive, and provide guidance on managing your research with citation management tools.
Common consultation activities include:
We will not analyze assignments or come up with appropriate research topics. We can help focus a general topic in a more specific direction, but choosing a research topic is ultimately the responsibility of the student. We will not assist with or edit the content of assignments, papers, or dissertations. For assistance with the content and direction of an assignment or paper, we suggest consulting your instructor, as well as the Writing Center or GSAS Writing Studio.