Jean And Alexander Heard Libraries

Research into an aging paradox reveals details on why certain dysfunctions in mitochondria can lead animals to live longer lives. Read More

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries have something to offer everyone in the Vanderbilt community, whether you’re a student, faculty member or staff. Read More

A new pilot program between Vanderbilt University’s Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries and Cambridge University Press will expand Vanderbilt’s Evidence-Based Acquisitions (EBA) ebook agreement with Cambridge to include book publishing opportunities for Vanderbilt authors. Read More

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries will celebrate the conversations that arise from books, reading and the exchange of ideas when they host a series of talks on Vanderbilt University’s campus this fall featuring prominent authors. The Vanderbilt Libraries’ author series will be held in collaboration with Parnassus Books and Dialogue Vanderbilt. Read More

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries have launched a new web platform and improved database for the Vanderbilt Television News Archive, one of the most extensive and complete archives of television news in the world. The new system includes enhancements to the archive’s search capabilities, the option to browse by date, automatic delivery of loaned materials, single sign-on for Vanderbilt and sponsoring institutions, and more. Read More

Students from the Vanderbilt Cloud Innovation Lab for Libraries and Applied Digital Preservation, powered by AWS, represented Vanderbilt University through technical demonstrations, professional networking, and award-winning innovation at the 2026 AWS Summit Washington, D.C. Read More

Dewey Data, an academic research platform that provides access to commercial, third-party datasets, is now available to Vanderbilt users, courtesy of the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries. Dewey Data acts as a central hub where students, faculty and researchers can license and combine premium data from various industry-leading providers through a single, centralized portal. Read More

Humanities Tennessee, in partnership with Vanderbilt University, today announced exciting updates to the author lineup for the 2026 Southern Festival of Books. Joining the packed schedule of authors is Pulitzer Prize recipient Jayne Anne Phillips, New York Times bestselling authors PC Cast and Sarah Beth Durst, actress Danica McKellar, Nashville historian Benjamin Houston and more.   Read More

Vanderbilt Divinity Library has launched a comprehensive redesign of its Art in the Christian Tradition (ACT) website, fully integrating this database of more than 7,000 religious images with the Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) platform to support digital scholarship and worship. The updated resource features improved search functionality, an IIIF viewer for detailed image analysis, and a commitment to diverse representation. Read More

Vanderbilt University Librarian Jon Shaw, who has led the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries since 2022, has been reappointed for a five-year term and named dean of libraries and letters, effective July 1. Shaw is the inaugural Connie Vinita Dowell University Librarian, thanks to generous support from Dowell, M.L.S.’79, Vanderbilt’s first dean of libraries, and her husband, Stephen P. Miller. Their gift, made during Vanderbilt’s Dare to Grow campaign, reflects the couple’s ongoing commitment to the Heard Libraries and strengthens philanthropic momentum for the library dean’s role and strategic priorities.  Read More

The world’s preeminent scholars of early American history convened at Vanderbilt University June 11–13 for the Omohundro Institute’s 29th annual conference, hosted by the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries. This premier gathering for historians and researchers who focus on American history through the early 19th century featured cutting-edge research, panels and workshops covering “Vast Early America”—that is, North America, the Caribbean and the Atlantic world. Read More

Check out the initial author lineup for the 2026 Southern Festival of Books! Read More

A new exhibit at the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries celebrates America’s semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence—by exploring the United States’ formative years. 'Forging a Nation' will be on view through December 2026. Read More

The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to advancing respectful, community-engaged research and supporting Indigenous knowledge preservation. Read More

Library professionals from across North America came together at Vanderbilt University May 27–29 for the 2026 Southern Library Support Staff Conference. This annual gathering, hosted by the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries, is designed to offer all levels of staff at academic, public, school and special libraries an opportunity to learn, teach, share and develop connections with others in their field. Read More

Vanderbilt University computer science students have developed an accurate, reliable and cost-effective solution for segmenting and labeling television news broadcasts, making them more discoverable and accessible to researchers. This new tool, the first created through the Vanderbilt Cloud Innovation Lab for Libraries and Applied Digital Preservation, powered by AWS, uses artificial intelligence to improve upon manual processes and may reduce costs up to 80 percent. Read More

In an age defined by information overload, viral narratives, and deepening political divides, Vanderbilt University’s McGee Applied Research Center for Narrative Studies is positioning itself at the forefront of media literacy education. Read More

The Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries have migrated to a new journal finder for open access publishing. Read More

Lamar Alexander, BA’62, continues a six-decade journey on the path of public service, one that famously began with a thousand-mile trek across Tennessee in his signature red-and-black plaid shirt. However, for the Vanderbilt community, his legacy is rooted even deeper—stretching back to his days as an undergraduate, serving as editor of The Vanderbilt Hustler and a key student voice of support for racial integration at the university. Soon, a variety of activities led by the university will allow the broader community to learn more about his storied history and engage with the former Tennessee governor and U.S. senator. Read More

Vanderbilt faculty, staff and administrators can gain free unlimited access to Inside Higher Ed courtesy of the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries. This online news source provides daily updates, in-depth analysis and career resources for higher education professionals, covering topics such as federal policy, faculty issues, admissions, technology, AI and more. Read More