Sociology
Literature for sociology is available at the BBWiSo, the Central Library, and the Historical Building. We provide information on subject-specific services, research-related services, and research data management.
Latest news
Data Literacy Course:
Since the winter semester 2025/26, a course on Data Literacy and Research Data Management: Upskill your data competencies for your thesis is offered to BA and MA students of the Faculty of Social Sciences who are preparing their thesis.
Kanopy:
The license for the streaming service Kanopy has been extended for another year (until 31.1.2027). Kanopy offers numerous BBC series as well as documentaries and feature films. It is possible to filter by different languages and subjects such as politics, sociology, anthropology or education.
Catalogues
In the Göttingen University Catalogue (GUK) you will find locally available books and other media (excluding journal articles).
GöDiscovery lets you find books, journals, databases and a large number of journal articles. By default, only the local holdings are searched (SUB Göttingen including divisional and departmental libraries). The search scope can be extended to additional data sources and the holdings of other libraries via the settings, also allowing you to place inter-library loan requests.
Books: print and digital
Print books
Print books are accessible in the Central Library, the BBWiSo or the Historical Building. However, a large part is located in closed stacks and can be ordered via the Göttingen University Catalog (GUK). If a title is available in another library, you can order the book via interlibrary loan.
E-Books
The SUB acquires individual e-books and e-book collections from various publishers. The individual titles are indexed in GUK and GöDiscovery. University members can access the university network remotely via VPN. You can search for e-books in the databases licensed by us, but also in interdisciplinary databases and, for example, in the national license collections of monographs.
Book not available?
If you need a book that is not available in Göttingen, you can send us a purchase suggestion. For students who need a textbook for their term paper, thesis or other coursework, there is the book acquisition programme of Göttingen University.
Journals
Sociological journals are available both in print and, in many cases, digitally. You can find e- and print editions in GöDiscovery and in the Göttingen University Catalogue (GUK). The Electronic Journals Library (EZB) offers an overview sorted by subject and uses colour symbols to indicate access to the full text. Using the VPN, University members can access licensed titles (marked in yellow) at home and on the go.
Databases
Databases can be found in the Database Information System (DBIS), organized by subject. Please pay particular attention to the "top databases" listed at the top! You can also find the licensed fee-based databases in GöDiscovery and in the Göttingen University Catalogue (GUK). The free databases can only be found in DBIS.
Useful for research
Google Scholar
Portals, Open Access, AI
Portals and associations
GESIS (Society of Social Science Infrastructures)
German Sociological Association
European Sociological Association (ESA)
Open Access (OA)
SSOAR - Social Science Open Access Repository
OA information on sociology in the Open Access Network
The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) lists numerous freely accessible sociological journals in various languages.
Opportunities to publish Open Access
Research-related services of the SUB and the University
Information on Open Science can be found here: Open Science Network and Events
Would you like to publish in Open Access? Do you need funding? Find out more here:
Open Access at the University of Göttingen
Data must be collected, understood, managed and maintained. Support is available for this:
Are you planning or interested in projects for scientific services? The SUB Göttingen works with over 100 partners in Germany and worldwide on projects for future-oriented scientific services. Find out about current and completed projects.
Training courses
Feel free to visit our library tutorials, courses and educational offers - online or in class. We are happy to train professors, researchers and students in literature research, research data management and data literacy, please contact me if you have any questions.
Find out more
Contact
Platz der Göttinger Sieben 1
37073 Göttingen