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Film Studies

This guide is intended to support research for film and media studies

Books about Film

Browsing the stacks

Interestingly enough, books on film are classified in the Library of Congress Classification (LCC) system under "Literature (General)." Most books on film or performance will be found in the PNs, which is the section on literary drama.​​​ Some helpful call number ranges for the Barnard/Columbia Libraries include:

  • PN1990-1992.92 Broadcasting
    • PN1991-1991.9 Radio broadcasts
    • PN1992-1992.92 Television broadcasts
  • PN1992.93-19 92.95 Nonbroadcast video recordings
  • PN1993-1999 Motion pictures
    • PN1997-1997.85 Plays, scenarios, etc.​

Searching in CLIO

While searching for a specific film title can help find books about that film, not all relevant books may be indexed in such a way. For example, in a book about Silent Film, you may find a chapter on Buster Keaton, but his name may not otherwise appear in the CLIO record.

screenshot of CLIO catalog with dropdown choosing subject

Searching by subject heading allows you to find a greater number of relevant books. The links here lead to CLIO, but many of these phrases will also work in databases. You can also combine these subject headings with other keywords in CLIO's advanced search (e.g., adding "Latin America" or "History" or "criticism") to narrow your search.

Relevant subject headings include:

Media Collections

Barnard

The Barnard Media Collection houses an extensive collection of CDs, DVDs, and VHS tapes. Loan periods for Barnard media available on this page.

All media items are located in the Barnard Library in the Milstein Center for Teaching & Learning, and can be found on the 2nd floor (see map for exact location).

The Barnard Library has four media viewing stations on the south side of the Milstein Center second floor (see floorplan) - these are both able to play VHS and DVD.

Search tips for finding media materials using CLIO:
  • If you know the title of the item, enter the full title or the first word(s) in the title. If you are unsure about  the title, try a keyword search.
  • For visual materials select Limit to: Films/Videos
  • For audio materials select Limit to: Music Sound Recordings
  • If you only want to find those media items that are at Barnard, limit the results list to Location Barnard
  • If you know the director of a video recording, but not the title, do an author search and enter the director's name, last name first

To request purchase of a video for the permanent collection, please use the Request for Library Materials form

Faculty Reserves

To place a personal copy of a media title on reserve, send an email to reserves@barnard.edu or bring the item to the Circulation/Reserves desk. 
Faculty reserves are listed under the name of the faculty member. They are not searchable in CLIO.

At Columbia

Butler Media circulating and non-circulating research film collections support Columbia University instruction and research. All titles in the collection are cataloged in CLIO. Request and pick up films at the Butler Circulation & Reserves desk on the 3rd floor.

Butler Media Circulating Collection

Collection consists of popular feature films and documentaries on DVD format.

Circulate to current faculty, students, and staff with valid borrowing privileges (Columbia University, Barnard College, Teacher's College, and Union Theological Seminary). For loan policies, see this page.

CLIO Location:  Butler Media, Circulating (208 Butler Library)

Butler Media Research Collection

Collection consists of U.S. and foreign feature films, early cinema, avant-garde cinema, video art, and a wide range of documentary film content on DVD, VHS, and LaserDisc formats.

In-library use only for students and staff.

May be placed on course reserve by faculty/instructors or borrowed for class screenings.

DVDs are located in Butler Media Services behind the Reserves Desk, 208 Butler Library. VHS tapes, LaserDiscs, and 16mm films are located in our offsite storage facility in Princeton, New Jersey. Use the "Request from Offsite" link located on the film's CLIO record to request a title on VHS, LaserDisc, or 16mm format.

CLIO Locations:

  • Butler Media, Res (208 Butler Library)
  • Offsite <Butler Media Reserves> (Non-circulating)
Sound Recordings

Columbia's Gabe M. Wiener Music & Arts Library has a collection of over 20,000 sound and video recordings that Barnard students, faculty and staff have access to. Look for CLIO location "Music Sound Recordings."