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Albert S. Cook Library

Research Tech: AI, Citations, Data, and More

This guide provides an overview of technology that supports every stage of the academic process—from reading and organizing sources to conducting literature reviews, managing citations, analyzing data, and sharing research.

Learning Technologies Librarian

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If you need help now, try our chat service during open chat hours. You can also email, text, or call us directly. If you need help with a specific assignment or course, connect with the librarian for that subject.

How To Use this Guide

Technology can help make the academic research process more...

  • Accessible: Tools like text-to-speech, screen readers, captions, and alternative formats make research easier for everyone, including people with disabilities.
  • Accurate: Copying quotations and visualizations directly from sources helps ensure proper attribution, while citation tools save time by formatting references correctly.
  • Collaborative: Work with classmates or colleagues from anywhere by sharing files and editing documents together in real time.
  • Engaging: Research isn’t just about text—multimedia content, interactive materials, and new digital formats offer exciting ways to explore and present ideas.
  • Organized: Digital tools help you store, tag, and search for sources quickly, so you can find what you need without sorting through stacks of papers.

Explore this guide to find librarian-approved tools that support your reading, research, and writing, whether you're gathering sources, organizing information, collaborating, or polishing your final draft!

Play Your Way: Additional Resources

The tools highlighted in this guide are ones Cook Librarians have personally used and recommend based on reliability. That means: You can contact us for help with these tools! However, there may be other tools that are a better fit for you.

You can explore software available through TU or discover it from trustworthy organizations such as Ithaka S+R, whose Generative AI Product Tracker is regularly maintained. You also have TU access to LinkedIn Learning and Microsoft training, which offers an Educator Center and Student Hub.

Don't forget to learn from your peers, too! Level up your discovery of new technology by following individuals and groups such as @crashcourse's How to College playlist and @Thomasfrank / College Info Geek for general college success or @GradCoach, @DrAndyStapleton, and @lennartnacke for graduate and advanced research support.

Of course, technology can help with more than just research. It can help with studying, group projects, and presentations too. Explore our Student Guide for Learning Online for even more librarian-approved tools and tips.