Do Research

Picture of library computer and desk

Where to Start Your Research

George C. Gordon Library is home to a wide variety of state-of-the-art research tools. The Library's dedicated and knowledgeable staff, user-friendly facilities, and comprehensive online/on-site services and resources are available to support current WPI students, faculty, and staff in conducting their research and in using those tools.

Library Search Tools

WPI Library Search is the Gordon Library's main search box, and it searches across all library resources. Researchers can also search within a particular library database, or previous student projects (IQPs, MQPs, theses, dissertations).

Library databases are online searchable collections of published, reliable resources that provide access to a wide variety of information sources, including newspaper articles, encyclopedias, ebooks, data & statistics, and journal articles.

 

Databases can be found on the library webpage by:

All Databases A-Z: A complete alphabetic list of the library's databases

Databases by Subject: Find databases for engineering, natural sciences, humanities, and more

Databases by Type: Find databases for specific types of sources, such as newspapers, patents, standards, statistics, and other categories.

 

When looking for a specific journal publication, search in WPI Library Search, or use BrowZine, a tool that lets you browse, read and monitor the latest scholarly journals from any device.

Library Research Guides

The Library also has research guides available for self-paced instruction. Research guides are collections of resources specifically for the WPI community. There are guides for different courses and subjects, as well as several guides on popular research topics, such as citing sources and research methodology.

Contact Us

For questions about using our resources, or about finding a particular piece of information, make an appointment with a librarian or email reslib@wpi.edu 

352

Number of students and project teams that meet with librarians during the year

77%

of student survey respondents said they visit the library at least once per week

1 million+

number of ebooks in the WPI Library Search 

Archives & Special Collections

Archives & Special Collections at Gordon Library collects and preserves university records, historical and cultural collections, artwork, and objects of enduring value. All of these items are available to the WPI community; visit their website for more information.