As classes and research get underway this fall, the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries are here to support Vanderbilt faculty in a variety of ways. Check out the 10 tips below to make the most of all the libraries have to offer.
Seamlessly Access a World of Resources
The libraries offer a robust discovery system for books, articles, journals, databases and other resources that can assist you in your research and teaching. Additionally, there are research guides to make the research process easier, interlibrary loan and faculty delivery services to put more resources at your fingertips, and various tools to simplify your work. One such tool, LibKey Nomad, is a browser extension that allows you to authenticate and access content from anywhere and quickly add citations to a variety of citation managers. You also can create your own virtual bookshelf on your PC or mobile device using BrowZine, which lets you read and save articles from thousands of academic journals while never missing a new issue thanks to table of contents alerts.
Collaborate with Our Librarians
With nine campus libraries and a team of knowledgeable librarians working across every discipline, we are well equipped to help you accomplish your goals. Contact our subject librarians for one-on-one research help, to discuss teaching partnerships and assignment design, or to suggest purchases for our collections. You also can make an appointment with our Digital Lab, which works with the Vanderbilt community to create, develop and sustain digital projects.
Publish Open Access for Free or at a Discount
The libraries have negotiated multiple transformative agreements with leading academic publishers that increase the potential reach and impact of your published work. The agreements reduce the barrier to publishing open access by waiving or discounting article processing charges for thousands of journals.
Engage with Unique Collections
Our Special Collections and University Archives house a wide array of rare books, manuscripts, photographs, artifacts, audiovisual materials and Vanderbilt institutional archives, many of which are accessible online through our extensive JSTOR digital library. In addition, the libraries are home to the Slave Societies Digital Archive, the world’s largest collection of records documenting the history of Africans and their descendants across the Atlantic World; the Vanderbilt Television News Archive, the world’s most complete archive of television broadcast news; and a broad range of U.S. government documents thanks to our designation as a federal depository library. You also have access to diverse collections from around the globe through our affiliation with the OCLC Research Library Partnership.
Subscribe to News Sites for Free
We provide Vanderbilt faculty, students and staff free premium subscriptions to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and Nashville Business Journal news sites, as well as free access to O’Reilly e-books and online courses.
Attend Our Events and Exhibits
The libraries host a variety of engaging community events throughout the academic year, including author talks, panel discussions and other gatherings that promote civil discourse and the exchange of ideas. We also organize rotating exhibits that enhance the cultural and intellectual life of the campus community by showcasing our primary resources, artifacts and book collections.
Plan Your Courses
Our Readings & Resources course reserves tool in Brightspace makes planning your classes simple. The tool provides easy navigation of our catalog, streamlined selection of course materials, automatic creation of reading lists in Brightspace, greater copyright compliance, and more.
Explore Our Technology
We offer an extensive selection of technology for your use, from specially equipped computers in Peabody Library’s GIS Lab that are capable of advanced spatial analysis and interactive mapping, to state-of-the-art podcasting equipment in Central Library’s Studio 608, to a Bloomberg Terminal in the Central Library used for tracking and analyzing financial market data. You also can check out equipment on your own, including digital cameras, audio production equipment and virtual reality kits, through the Science and Engineering Library’s Gear2Go technology lending program.
Reserve Our Spaces
Our nine campus libraries contain a variety of spaces that are ideal for teaching, studying, conducting research and hosting gatherings. Vanderbilt community members have the option of reserving small study rooms as well as classrooms and larger spaces that can be used for classes, campus activities and community events.
Take a Break
When you have some downtime, peruse our leisure reading collection, which includes a broad selection of print books, e-books, audiobooks and digital magazines. You also can listen to music and watch concert performances, masterclasses, ballets, operas, documentaries and more through our Music Library’s audio and video streaming services.