The skills to use information and communication technologies (ICT) to efficiently search, select, and organize information to make informed decisions about the most suitable sources of information for a given task. Key components: formulate a search statement, find and retrieve information from a variety of online sources, use ICT to judge the usefulness and sufficiency of information for a specific purpose, and organize information to be able to find it later (van Laar et al., 2017).
Information Management
Insights
Datasets are as crucial for research in health sciences as are publications, and — like publications — data should also be cited. Proper citation benefits users and producers of data alike.
ClinicalKey: textbooks, articles, drug info, and more
ClinicalKey is an excellent resource for multi-disciplinary books, journal content, videos, patient education, drug information, and more from the publisher Elsevier.
EndNote users: Should you switch to Zotero?
With local EndNote support now at an end, learn what to consider before switching. Choose based on your needs, cost, or features.
Libraries beyond Columbia
Columbia has great libraries, but we’re not the only game in NYC.
Read by QxMD brings journal articles to your phone or tablet
Use Read by QXMD to easily discover, read, save, and share journal articles of interest on your phone or tablet.
Searching in the AccessMedicine database
AccessMedicine is a great database with 100s of ebooks, as well as multimedia, self-assessment, case studies, and more.
Selecting a citation manager: EndNote and Zotero
This article will help you make an informed decision in choosing the right citation management tool to match your current and future needs.
Study tools for medical education: flashcards, Q+A question banks and cases
Use study tools available through AccessMedicine, LLW Health Library, and Thieme MedOne databases. Books that include board review content and USMLE style questions are also available through CLIO.
The Medical Heritage Library
The Medical Heritage Library has vast resources for those looking for older health sciences books and articles.
Knowledge Base Articles
AccessMedicine: e-books and much more
AccessMedicine provides a multi-disciplinary collection of medical e-books and a number of useful tools for use by CUIMC faculty, staff, and students.
Alumni access to electronic resources
Columbia University alumni can access a wide range of databases and journals from off campus for free.
Controlled vocabulary in databases
Learn how to find and use controlled vocabulary in select databases.
Finding print and online books
Use the following hints to help you find the book you need, whether online or in print.
Finding print books in the library
Find the newest or most requested print books in the Knowledge Center.
Fundamentals for systematic review protocols
A comprehensive guide to create and register protocols for systematic reviews.
Getting started with Elsevier APIs
Use Elsevier's APIs to search and retrieve information from Embase, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and other Elsevier databases.
How can I read journal articles on my phone?
Read by QxMD and BrowZine are two smartphone apps that make it easy to find and access articles, available through Health Sciences Library subscriptions, on any mobile device.
How do I organize my references?
Organizing references using citation management software makes the entire process of managing and using citations much more efficient.
How to access the library's books, journals, and databases
How to find and access books, journal articles, databases, and tools provided by the libraries at Columbia University.
Installing, configuring, and using Read by QxMD
Read by QxMD provides a platform on which to discover, read, save, and share journal articles on an Android or Apple phone or tablet.
Locating information from earlier CUIMC websites
Search archived websites for information no longer readily available online.
Non-print sources citation: Audiovisual works
Guide to getting started with citing audiovisual works.
Scoping review methods and resources
Learn about the scoping review methodology and utilize appropriate resources to prepare for and conduct your review.
Selecting a journal for publication: considerations and resources to aid in the decision-making process
Looking for appropriate journals to submit your work? Here are some key points to consider along with several resources on finding the best journals for your needs.
Start your first Covidence review
Make systematic reviewing faster and easier. Covidence supports import and de-duplication of citations, title, abstract and full-text screening, risk-of-bias assessment, and data extraction.
Translating an initial search into other databases
Translating searches from one database to another database is required for many research projects. Here are some approaches to consider when working on a translation.
Use Google Scholar to locate full-text articles via the library
Set up GoogleScholar to connect with Columbia University Libraries subscriptions.
Programs
Introduction and Overview of Scoping Reviews
This introductory, discussion-based class will help you get started on your scoping review. Prior to attending, you will watch a JBI Scoping Review Network video to learn more about the methodology.
Tutorials
How do I import from EndNote to Zotero?
Want to switch from EndNote to Zotero? Zotero provides this step-by-step guide to ensure the migration process goes as smoothly as possible.
Advanced search functions in CINAHL.
Demo of advanced searching functions and features of CINAHL on EBSCOhost.
All of Us Cohort Builder and Cohort Review
This brief video introduces the Cohort Builder, one of the tools in the NIH's All of Us Researcher Workbench.
Build Better Searches with Web of Science Search Tools
This tutorial explains use of functions and features in WoS to build better searches.
CINAHL basics.
Demo of the basic searching features and functions of CINAHL on EBSCOhost.
EndNote 20 for Mac in 7 minutes
Quick overview for getting started with EndNote 20 for Mac.
EndNote 20 for Windows in 7 minutes
Quick introduction to the basic workflows in EndNote 20 (Windows).
EndNote 2025 Essentials: File Attachments and PDF Annotations
Video introduction to working effectively with file attachments and PDF annotations in EndNote 2025.
EndNote 2025 for Mac in 3 minutes
Quick video overview for getting started with EndNote 2025 for macOS.
EndNote 2025 for Windows in 3 minutes
Quick video overview of the most basic workflows in EndNote 2025 for Windows.
EndNote 20: Configure Sync
Overview and demo of the EndNote 20 (Windows) sync feature.
EndNote 21 for Mac in 7 minutes
Quick video overview of the most basic workflows in EndNote 20 for macOS.
EndNote 21 for Windows in 7 minutes
Video overview of the basic workflows in EndNote 21 for Windows.
EndNote for iPad: Overview
Video tour of EndNote for iPad.
EndNote for iPhone: Overview
Video tour of EndNote for iPhone.
EndNote Online Quick Reference Guide
User guide that walks you through the features and functions of this online tool.
EndNote2025 Essentials: Library Management and Reference Citation
Video introduction to the basic library and reference functions of EndNote 2025.
EndNote: Get Started in Two Minutes
Introduction to EndNote Click, a browser plug-in for accessing full-text journal articles.
Figshare Scoping Review Protocol
Figshare is a repository where users can make all of their research outputs available in a citable, shareable and discoverable manner.
Filter Results using Refine function in Web of Science
This tutorial explains how to refine search results by using filters in Filter Panel on the WoS platform.
Getting Started with Mendeley Reference Manager
Introduction to Mendeley Reference Manager
How to Use Mendeley Reference Manager (Complete Beginner's Guide)
Overview for beginners of Mendeley Reference Manager
How to Use Zotero: A Complete Beginner's Guide
Video introduction to Zotero, designed for beginners.
Managing search results in EMBASE.
Demo of options to manage search results in EMBASE.
Managing search results in OVID MEDLINE.
Demo of options to manage search results in OVID.
Mendeley Tutorial for Beginners (2022 Edition)
Overview of Mendeley, a free and easy reference tool.
Open Science Framework Scoping Review Protocol
This video provides step-by-step guidance on how to register your studies and preregister your hypotheses on Open Science Framework.
Personalize Web of Science
Tutorial for personalizing your WoS experience.
PRISMA Scoping Review Checklist
This brief video introduces the standard tool for reporting information in a scoping review manuscript, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews checklist.
PubMed: Find Articles from a Citation
A brief NLM tutorial on how to find articles from a known citation using PubMed.
PubMed: Get the Full Text for an Article
A brief NLM tutorial on how to get the full text for an article in PubMed
Saving Searches and Set e-mail Alerts in PubMed
A brief tutorial from the National Library of Medicine on how to get updates on saved searches in PubMed .
Using author impact beamplots in Web of Science author records
This tutorial explains why and how to use author impact beamplots, one of the many tools available in Web of Science.
Using MeSH and CINAHL subject headings in CINAHL
Demo of how to use CINAHL/MeSH functionality in EBSCOhost.
Using Zotero: Importing your EndNote library
Moving an EndNote library to Zotero can be done in a few steps that this video tutorial go explains in detail, including exporting a library from EndNote, importing that library into Zotero, and cleaning up the files.
Web of Science Essentials
A "must-see" recorded session for anyone new to Web of Science.
Web of Science Essentials Training Course
Self-guided video course providing training on how to use Web of Science.
Web of Science: Discover Trends Using "Analyze Results"
Video tutorial on using the "Analyze Results" tool in Web of Science to understand current trends across a field or a discipline.
Zotero 6 for PC Quick Tutorial
Introduction to Zotero 6 for Windows.
Zotero 6 Mac and Zotero App Quick Tutorial
Introduction to Zotero 6 for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android.
Zotero Quick Start Guide
Overview of Zotero's features and capabilities
Zotero: Tips and Tricks
Tips and tricks for using Zotero more efficiently.