Journalism Research Guide: Books

Finding Books

CLIO is the Columbia University Libraries' catalog, and the place to search for both print books and ebooks. Search by title, author, or keyword. 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).

For ebooks, use the link(s) listed under "Location" to access the book. Download limits vary by title; not all ebooks can be downloaded.

In addition to CLIO, see these two other library catalogs:

  • Educat+ is the catalog for the Gottesman Libraries at Teachers College. The Gottesman collection is strong in education, teaching, and behavioral science materials. Columbia affiliates have access to the print books, ebooks, and other resources listed in Educat+.
  • Pegasus is the Columbia Law Library catalog. See the Guide to Columbia Law Library Services and Policies about accessing materials from the Law Library.

Library Account

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

Not Available at Columbia?

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 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.