Journalism Research Guide: Books

CLIO is the Columbia University Libraries' catalog, and the place to search for both print books and ebooks (along with all other library materials). Search by title, author, keyword, ISBN, publisher, or other options. Books will be listed under the main "Catalog" heading in CLIO.

For print books, check the CLIO record for the library where the book is held under "Location" and make use of these library services:

• Pick-Up Service: Many books will have a "Pick-Up" link listed, which allows a patron to have the item delivered to a library circulation desk of their choice. For any print book listed as held Offsite, use the "Pick-Up" link to have the item delivered to a campus circulation desk.
• Scan & Deliver: If a "Scan" link is listed in the CLIO record, a patron can request a scan of a small portion of the work (for instance, one chapter of a book). The scan will be delivered by email.

For ebooks, use the link(s) listed under "Location" to access the book. Some notes about ebook access:

• Download limits vary by title; not all ebooks can be downloaded.
• Some ebooks have restrictions on the number of simultaneous users (typically 1-user or 3-users). If all copies are in use, check back later.

In summer 2025, materials from the Columbia Law Library were added to CLIO. Many Law materials are now available for Pick-Up Service and Scan & Deliver. See the Guide to Columbia Law Library Services and Policies for additional information about accessing materials from the Law Library.

The Gottesman Libraries at Teachers College has a separate library catalog called Educat+. The Gottesman collection is strong in education, teaching, and behavioral science materials. Columbia affiliates have access to Gottesman and all of the print books, ebooks, and other resources listed in Educat+.

Log in to My Library Account to viewed checked out titles and renew eligible books.

For books and other items not available at Columbia, use the following options:

• Borrow Direct
  For print books not at Columbia, search the Borrow Direct catalog and place a request. Books are delivered in 3-5 business days, and patrons are notified by email when the book is ready to be picked up.
• Interlibrary Loan (ILL)
  For print books not available at Columbia or through Borrow Direct, place an ILL request. Log in to ILL and select the "Book" option from the Make a New Request menu. Requests can also be made for a book chapter or an article, delivered electronically using the "Article" option. Fulfillment times vary, and patrons are notified by email when the item is ready or if the request couldn't be fulfilled. 
• Recommend a Title for Purchase
  Fill out this form to recommend a book for the Columbia University Libraries' collection. The librarian for the selected subject area will evaluate the request and follow up.