Finding Books, Articles and Film in our Collection:
Journal Articles and eBooks.
Schaffer library offers access to hundreds of databases and thousands of online journal articles and ebooks. View our Database A-Z Guide or search for specific material using our catalog, Primo.
Primary Sources.
Schaffer library also offers access to hundreds of online primary databases that provide first or direct evidence about objects, people, events, or works of art. Please visit our Primary Source Database A-Z guide to access a partial list of primary source databases.
Film in Primo
The library has access to several streaming services. Use the advanced search (Material Type = Video/Film) in Primo to find titles available for streaming in the classroom. If you do not see the title you wish to stream, please send an email to Robyn Reed (reedr@union.edu) for assistance.
Suggest a Purchase.
If we do not own the video you need, please use the Suggest a Purchase form below or contact Library Collections (librarycollections@union.edu) with your purchase request information.
Using Films in Classes
For more information about streaming services, including information about using films in classes and customized searching needs, visit our Films at Union guide.
Off-Campus Access
When accessing digital resources through our catalog, you will be prompted to log in using your Union username and password. You do not need a VPN, though faculty abroad may need to use the campus VPN. For more information, we have put together a guide on connecting when off-campus access.
Please contact reference@union.edu to learn more about our online resources or if you encounter problems finding and accessing digital content.
Center for Research Libraries (CRL).
Center for Research Libraries (CRL) offers topic guides listing a selection of key source materials that can support research in various areas. New citations are added from time to time; reformulated guides also provide an overview of the current “landscape” of information dissemination and collecting in particular fields, and reference selected online resources available through CRL.
HathiTrust
HathiTrust (pronounced “hah-tee”) Digital Library contains over 17 million digitized items, a collection that is growing and fully accessible to member institutions, of which Union is one. HathtiTrust’s holdings are mainly books and articles, many of which are historical, full-text searchable, and downloadable. It is an essential repository of primary sources for historical research.
Additionally, the HathiTrust Research Center enables the collection to be text mined via such methods as topic modeling and named-entity recognition.
Kanopy.
Kanopy is a purchase-on-demand film streaming service. The service provides access to educational, international, independent and documentary films. You can connect to Union’s Kanopy account directly or find it through our Database A-Z guide.
RefWorks.
RefWorks is a citation and bibliography manager that allows you or your students to create their own online database of citations that can be organized and used when writing a paper or article.
See our RefWorks LibGuide for more information.
The Chronicle of Higher Education, The New York Times, and the Washington Post Subscriptions.
Union College community members can sign up for a personal subscription to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Chronicle of Higher Education using your Union credentials. For more information on signing up see our guide to these subscriptions. If you are having trouble logging into your account, make sure that your subscription is current (these subscriptions need to be renewed periodically) and that you are signing in with your Union credentials. For other login issues, look for the troubleshooting links or email address in the guide for the subscription you are having issues with.
ISBNs and ISSNs
Need an ISBN for an upcoming publication or an ISSN for a forthcoming journal? We can help! Please reach out to librarycollections@union.edu.
Digital Scholarship at Schaffer Library
Digital scholarship is research and teaching that critically engages with data and computing technologies. Digital scholars employ computational tools and methods (such as 3D / AR / VR) to extend knowledge production, dissemination, and preservation, while also uncovering technology’s limitations, biases, and misuses to create a more just and equitable digital world.
Meeting with You and Your Students.
Librarians are available to answer questions about sources, consult on our materials, host workshops, and meet with your students regarding how to find sources and navigate our collections online. We are available by phone, email, and appointment to work with you and your students.
Finding open datasets or datasets in our collection.
The library is available to offer assistance in locating and acquiring data for teaching and research needs. We are happy to assist you in finding the data resources necessary for your courses, your research, and your students’ work. Please reach out to reference@union.edu for more information on the library’s data services and what can work best for your data needs.
Compiling library resources using LibGuides.
LibGuides are web-based content management platforms that enable librarians to gather, organize, and share library and web resources, such as research databases, and information, such as explanatory text and videos. Schaffer Library’s LibGuides function as subject and course guides, resource lists, and tutorials; our current guides can be found on our LibGuides website.
Our subject and course guides are meant to assist researchers and research-based classes, such as SRSs and thesis seminars, by cohering relevant resources, from catalog holdings to primary and secondary source databases, and pairing them with overviews to teach how to research.
Our LibGuide tutorials likewise provide walkthroughs of a range of topics. Schaffer librarians are happy to create a LibGuide for your course, topic, or tool; please reach out to reference@union.edu with any questions or requests.
Access Content from The Special Collections & Archives Department of Schaffer Library.
Available to support faculty in utilizing special collections and archives in the online learning environment. We are able to offer instruction sessions on a variety of topics. Many of our collections are available online, and we can help integrate these resources into your course.
Please reach out to specialcollections@union.edu for additional information.
Access Content from The Adirondack Research Library
The Adirondack Research Library has a selection of its collection available online as well, found on our online repository here: https://digitalworks.union.edu/arl/
Exhibition Resources, The Permanent Art Collection & Mandeville Gallery Department
Available to support faculty with methods of integrating artwork from the permanent collections or gallery exhibitions within teaching.
Please contact the mandevillegallery@union.edu for more information.
Artist Talks Online.
Some of our past events were recorded and available on our website.
Permanent Collection Online.
A selection of collections can be seen on our website.
We can also do the following for you:
Consultation.
Consult with you or students regarding study and research of Collection items.
Artwork Discussion.
Present Permanent Collection artwork to class groups for in-depth examination and discussion.
Request specific images.
We can send Permanent Collection artwork images and available documentation to you or students for close study (not to be republished or printed).