Never underestimate the power of browsing the stacks for books. Once you learn the secrets of the call numbers, you can go straight to the stacks and serendipity might strike. Gernerally, books on similar topics will be next to each other on the shelf.
In the 'N's, books are separated by country. Historical movements are located within their country. Monographs on architects are organized first by nationality, then alphabetically.
The outline of 'N' call numbers can be found here.
NA -- Architecture
NA260-NA340 -- Classical Architecture. Greek and Roman
Ex: NA281 - Parthenon
NA324 - Roman houses
NA737 -- American Architects
Ex: NA737.W7 - Wright, Frank Lloyd
NA1053 -- French Architects
Ex: NA1053.J4 - Le Corbuiser (Jeanneret-Gris, Charles)
NA4100-NA4145 -- Buildings classed by material
Ex: NA4140 - Glass architecture
Other areas of possible interest
SB -- Horticulture
Ex: SB472 - Landscape architecture
HT101-HT395 -- Urban groups
Ex: HT330 - Metropolitan areas
Chicago Manual of Style, 17th ed., 2017
Cooper Reference Z253 .U69 2017
Earlier edition (2010) in circulating collection: Z253 .U69 2010
Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL):
Chicago Manual of Style 17th edition, (offers basic information and examples of Chicago formatting style according to the 17th (2017) edition; does not include the entire Manual), OWL website last updated 11/08/2017.
Turabian, Kate
A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations: Chicago Style for Students and Researchers, 8th ed., University of Chicago Press, 2013
Cooper Reference LB2369 .T8 2013
Walker, Janice R.
Columbia Guide to Online Style
Columbia University Press, 2006
Available via Cooper Library subscription to Ebook Central
Recommended Search Strategy
Analyze your topic & search with peripheral vision
Critically Analyzing Information Sources
How to Find an Article (or Book) from a Citation
The basics of deciphering citations gathered from a bibliography or an article index.
Distinguishing Scholarly Journals from Other Periodicals
Evaluating Websites: Criteria and Tools
Evaluating Web Pages: Techniques to Apply & Questions to Ask
Citing Your Sources
Material Connexion is both an online database and a physical library. Search their online catalog for information on different materials.
You can search by multiple characteristics as well as manufacturer's name and product number.
The Library is located at 60 Madison Avenue on the 2nd floor, between 26th and 27th Streets. They are open Monday through Friday, 9am to 6pm.
The Cooper Union Library
7 E 7th St.
New York, NY
10003