Research and Instruction

To speak with a Librarian, use Ask Us 24/7 chat, schedule a virtual consultation, or complete the contact us form. We also have an FAQ page for common reference questions.

The library offers live and recorded workshops, and online self-guided tutorials about information literacy, and assists individual students and researchers via email or in person at the Library. 

For tips in getting started with discipline-specific research, view Rensselaer's Library Guides.

Use the Libraries' discovery tool Quick Search to search multiple places at once, including:

• The Rensselaer Libraries' Catalog
• The Libraries' Databases, which contain a vast collection of articles and other materials, including many available in full text.
• Rensselaer Digital Assets

Use the Rensselaer Libraries' Catalog to search for materials we own, subscribe to, or have on order, including:

• Books (print books and e-books)
• Journal titles
• Rensselaer technical reports
• Musical scores
• DVDs, videos, CDs, vinyl records, and software
• Rensselaer theses and dissertations from 1855 to the present
• Links to electronic journals, e-books, government documents, and reference materials

A-Z Database List

Rensselaer faculty, staff, and students have access to many online databases where they can find both discipline-specific and multi-discipline research materials.

Rensselaer is a member of ConnectNY, a consortium of academic institutions in New York State which share their catalogs so that authorized users can borrow books and selected materials from other members' collections. You can request materials using the combined catalog by using your RCS ID and password to authenticate. 

For more information, visit the Borrowing from ConnectNY information page.

Make an online appointment with the Center for Global Communication+Design for assistance:

• Working on a data visualization or other visual design project
• Starting your essay assignment
• Redesigning your resume before the Career Fair
• Designing slides for your class presentation
• Making sure the paper you wrote makes sense