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The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries play an integral role in Vanderbilt’s campuswide research and teaching efforts by bolstering critical skills in information literacy, data management and digital research for both students and faculty.
The solutions offered by the libraries bridge traditional resources with emerging tech, supporting everything from faculty research to course design to student projects, said University Librarian Jon Shaw.
“Our librarians embed in courses, design assignments, teach research skills, and consult on data management, GIS and digital preservation,” Shaw said. “They also teach critical evaluation of sources, including the responsible use of AI, to combat misinformation and foster a more informed citizenry.”
By integrating these services into its mission, the Heard Libraries are central to the university’s goals, transforming students into scholars and strengthening faculty research through hands-on support and advanced resources.
The libraries operationalize this work through a set of shared research platforms and services used across the university. These tools support the full research lifecycle—from discovery and collaborative writing to data collection, research visibility and responsible AI use—while reducing friction for faculty and students.
“By providing institutionally supported and well-governed infrastructure, the libraries help ensure that research and teaching are innovative, scalable, ethical and sustainable across disciplines,” Shaw said.
Key research tools and platforms supported by the Heard Libraries include:
Overleaf – Premium access to Overleaf Professional, an online tool designed to make scientific and technical writing simpler and more collaborative, is available to Vanderbilt students, faculty and staff free of charge, courtesy of the Heard Libraries. Overleaf is a web-based LaTeX code editor that enables users to write, edit and publish scientific documents. It simplifies the creation of complex documents with precise layouts by incorporating equations, figures and bibliographies seamlessly, making it ideal for structured writing and eliminating the need to install LaTeX software locally. Learn more about the Vanderbilt community’s access to Overleaf.
Esploro – Vanderbilt’s Esploro portal, supported by the Heard Libraries, is a cloud-based research information management system and institutional repository designed to help faculty showcase their research, increase its impact, and streamline administrative workflows. Esploro moves beyond traditional institutional repositories by offering a more automated, comprehensive and connected approach to managing the entire research lifecycle.
REDCap – The Heard Libraries now host a dedicated REDCap instance for university faculty, postdocs and staff, separate from Vanderbilt University Medical Center. REDCap is a secure web application for building and managing online surveys and databases specifically designed to support data capture for research studies and operations. University REDCap users who have projects on the VUMC instance should take immediate action to migrate them to the VU instance, or archive projects that are no longer needed, by April 15, 2026. Learn more about the transition to VU’s REDCap instance.
Generative AI – The Heard Libraries join other campus partners—including the Office of Learning Innovation, the College of Connected Computing’s Amplify GenAI Innovation Center, and VUIT—in leading support of Vanderbilt’s multi-tool AI strategy. The university has expanded access to ChatGPT Edu, Amplify 2.0 and Grow with Google to all eligible faculty, students and staff. The libraries will oversee generative AI instruction for students and collaborate to provide workshops, quick guides and an AI faculty toolkit to help all users maximize these tools as well as to foster innovative, ethical and secure AI use. Learn more about Vanderbilt’s expanded generative AI strategy.