Social Work Library

Social Work Library

Located on the second floor of the Columbia School of Social Work building, the Social Work Library is one of the world’s most premiere libraries dedicated to social work and social services. As a student of the School of Social Work, you have access to the Columbia University Library system offering collections and services of the other 21 libraries making up more than 75,000 volumes, it provides comprehensive coverage of the various areas of social work including child welfare, gerontology, health and health care, international social welfare, marriage and the family, and social policy.

Additional information about the Social Work Library’s collections and services can be found on the Social Work Library Web site, a micro-site of Columbia University Libraries.

Other Services Available

Library Hours

Throughout the academic year, we are open:
Monday: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm
Tuesday – Thursday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm
Friday: 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday:  Noon – 5:00 pm
Sunday:  Noon – 8:00 pm

Our hours are more restricted in the summers. To confirm our hours for a particular day, go to the Social Work Library Calendar.

Book Reservations

You may request a reserves item at the circulation desk. The system for returning regular reserves items works as follows:

RESERVES ITEMS REQUESTED

Mon – Thurs: Before 3:00 pm (Can keep for two hours only.)
Mon – Wed:  After 3:00 pm (Can keep overnight—but must return by 11:00 am the following day.)
Thurs after 3:00 pm (and all weekend hours) Return by Tues at 11:00 am

NOTE: Last available copies of a reserves item cannot be kept overnight.

Research Consultation

To get started on your search, go to Recommended Databases for Social Work Research. You are also welcome to schedule a research consultation with the Librarian using this webform (UNI ID and password required). Research Consultation: By appointment only. Go to online appointment system.

Copiers/Scanners

There are no public copiers in the library. We have two public scanners. One is in the Photocopy Room, located across from the Instructional Lab and to the right just before the stacks. The other is in the back of the library, near our three conference rooms.

Online Sources

Students have access to thousands of online databases in various subject areas. Visit Recommended Databases for Social Work Research. You are also welcome to schedule a research consultation with the Librarian using this webform (UNI ID and password required).

Columbia Libraries

You can access a number of electronic resources and databases from your home computer through the Alumni and Friends gateway, using your UNI and password.

You also have lifetime visiting and reading privileges (borrowing privileges cost $30 per month) at all Columbia University libraries.

NOTE: To activate those privileges, you must first register with the Library Information Office at Butler Library and obtain a University ID card (This can only be done by visiting Butler Library.

Please make sure to bring a government-issued photo ID with you.)

For more information, go to Using the Libraries (on the Columbia Libraries site).

General Questions

We are located on the second floor of the Social Work Building.

Throughout the academic year, we are open:

Monday: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Friday: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday: Noon – 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: Noon – 8:00 p.m.

Our hours are more restricted in the summers. To confirm our hours for a particular day, go to the Social Work Library Calendar.

Graduate students at Columbia University have access to thousands of online databases in various subject areas.

To get started on your search, go to Recommended Databases for Social Work Research. You are also welcome to schedule a research consultation with the Librarian using this webform (UNI ID and password required).

Columbia University Libraries supports three citation management software products:

EndNoteRef
Works
Zotero
All three products enable you to retrieve and save references from bibliographic databases so that you may later use that information in formatting in-text citations, footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies. To download one of these programs, go to Options for Citation Management on the Columbia University Libraries site.

You may request a reserves item at the circulation desk. The system for returning regular reserves items works as follows:

RESERVES ITEMS REQUESTED

Before 3:00 p.m. Mon – Thurs: Can keep for two hours only.

After 3:00 p.m. Mon – Wed: Can keep overnight—but must return by 11:00 a.m. the following day.

After 3:00 p.m. on Thurs (and all weekend hours): Return by Tues at 11 a.m.

NOTE: Last available copies of a reserves item cannot be kept overnight.

Reserves items must be returned to the reserves desk or the book drop at the Social Work Library.

Most Library items in our regular circulating collection check out for a semester loan. They can be renewed online unless they have been recalled.

You have access to the collections and services of all 22 libraries that make up the Columbia University Library system. To see where they are, go to Library Locations and Addresses and/or Map of Campus Libraries on the Columbia Libraries site.

There are no public copiers in the library. We have two public scanners. One is in the Photocopy Room, located across from the instructional lab and to the right just before the stacks. The other is in the back of the library, near our three conference rooms.

Still Have Questions? Contact Us.


School of Social Work Library
1255 Amsterdam Avenue, 2nd Floor
New York, NY 10027

Email[email protected]
Tel: 212-851-2194

Kae Bara Kratcha
Supervisor, Social Work Library