Schaffer Library can partner with you on your research and teaching needs. Our collections and services can help you meet research goals, foster learning outcomes, and stay aware of the latest ideas and trends in your field. Learn more about our collections, resources for teaching / instruction, and faculty research and scholarship, as well as our rare and unique items and services from Special Collections & Archives and the Permanent Collection & Mandeville Gallery.
Library Collections:
Books and articles.
Access to hundreds of thousands of books, journal articles, book reviews, and more. All of our items (print and electronic) are searchable in Primo, the library’s discovery tool.
Film
The library has access to several streaming services, as well as an extensive DVD collection. Learn more about using films in classes and customized research needs with our research guide.
Databases and primary sources
Search subject-specific databases like JSTOR, EconLit, IEEE, or ScienceDirect with our databases list. Databases of primary sources are also available here.
Online popular newspapers and services
Union College community members can sign up for a personal subscription to sources such as the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg.com, and Chronicle of Higher Education.
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.
Instruction Sessions
Teach with the Library.
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.
Customized Library Guides (LibGuides)
LibGuides allow librarians to gather, organize, and share library and web resources like research databases and explanatory videos. Our subject and course guides assist researchers and research-based classes by pairing relevant resources with overviews on how to research. Email reference@union.edu for questions or to request a guide.
Course affordability and course materials
Library course materials
Millions of resources are free for students and faculty to use in Union College courses. The Library is available to help you find physical and digital materials for your classes, whether those materials are already available at Union or available elsewhere.
Open Educational Resources (OERs)
Learn more about freely available textbooks and other resources that help lower the cost of classes for students.
Data sets
The library can offer assistance in locating and acquiring data for teaching and research needs. Email us to tell us more about your data needs.
RefWorks
RefWorks is a citation and bibliography manager that allows users to create their own online database of citations that can be organized and used in writing a paper or article. Learn more with our LibGuide to RefWorks.
Copyright for faculty
Learn more about copyright, fair use, and classroom applications.
Off-Campus Access
Our resources are available from off-campus without the use of a VPN (though some faculty and students abroad may need to use the campus VPN). Use Primo to find what you need, and then log in when prompted.
Faculty Research and Scholarship:
Research Data Management
Schaffer Library offers a variety of services and resources to faculty as they conduct their research. View our guide to learn more about:
- Research data management
- Data management plans (DMPs)
- Open publishing agreements and open access (OA) publishing
ISBNs and ISSNs
Need an ISBN for an upcoming publication or an ISSN for a forthcoming journal? We can help!
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.
Center for Research Libraries (CRL)
The 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 Digital Library contains over 17 million digitized items. 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. The HathiTrust Research Center enables the collection to be text mined via such methods as topic modeling and named-entity recognition.
Special Collections & Archives:
Teaching and research with SCA
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 AskSpecialCollections@union.libanswers.com.
Adirondack Research Library
The Adirondack Research Library is available to visit by appointment. It has a selection of its collection available online for use in research and teaching.
Permanent Art Collection & Mandeville Gallery:
Teaching and research with the permanent collection and gallery
Our collections are 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.
Permanent Collection Online.
A selection of collections are available online through our website.
Consultations.
Consult with you or students regarding study and research of Collection items.
Artwork Discussions.
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).