Research and Instruction

To speak with a Librarian, use Ask Us 24/7 chat, schedule a virtual consultation, or submit a ticket. Our FAQ page provides answers to common reference questions.

The library offers access to online self-guided information literacy tutorials through Percipio and ProQuest Research Companion and provides virtual classroom instruction.

Our AI Literacy Toolkit contains core competencies, skills, AI-enhanced search tools, instruction aids, and more. Explore our AI-enhanced databases, including LeapSpace, an AI‑assisted research workspace that helps researchers explore topics, review literature, and identify relevant authors and funding opportunities. 

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

Use our Discovery Platform to search multiple places at once, including:

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

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

• Books (print books and e-books)
• Journal titles
• RPI 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

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

Open access (OA) refers to freely accessible, digital, online information. It is a movement toward increased democratization of information, knowledge, and innovation.

The libraries' Open Access library guide includes:

• Open Access basics
• Finding OA content
• OA publishing, in general, and at RPI
• Open repositories