As one of the nine campus libraries in the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries system at Vanderbilt, the Central Library advances multidisciplinary learning, teaching, research, and collecting in the arts, humanities, and social sciences. As the largest of the campus libraries, the Central Library serves the College of Arts and Science and the Graduate School as well as the Vanderbilt community and beyond through developing, preserving, and furnishing equitable access to its collections and reference services, in addition to providing welcoming spaces for study and instruction, collaboration, and contemplation.
Central Library Goals and Priorities
In supporting the Jean and Alexander Heard Libraries, the Central Library’s work is aligned with its campus library peers, informed by the needs of the university community, and animated by a set of collective goals and priorities as we endeavor to:
Develop users' critical information and data literacy skills through strategically positioned teaching and co-curricular partnerships.
- Build AI instruction into information literacy programs across the libraries.
- Increase liaisons' teaching effectiveness across the libraries by creating systems of accountability and feedback.
- Increase reach and impact of information literacy programs through strategic engagement.
Embed librarians at critical points in the research life cycle to facilitate the production of impactful research that enhances scholarship.
- Build competencies in AI applications for research.
- Promote consistency in liaison services by implementing the recommendations of the Research Engagement Committee across all disciplines.
Build and maintain diverse and accessible collections that reflect current curricular and research needs through intentional stewardship.
- Promote transformative agreements (TA) signed by the libraries to the Vanderbilt user community.
- Continue to expand our TA agreements with publishers to enable open access to Vanderbilt research.
- Strategically review legacy collections to meet current research and teaching needs.
Develop and refine the library’s physical and virtual spaces to foster learning and knowledge creation.
- Improve library spaces by pursuing fundraising and naming opportunities.
- Enlarge and evolve our service model around providing unique and emerging technologies that support teaching and research.
- Strategically partner with other groups on campus and in the Nashville community to expand the programs and events happening in the libraries.
Improve and streamline library workflows to create a seamless user experience.
- Utilize benchmarking data from FY24 to identify areas for change and improvement.
- Share best practices with library teammates to increase efficiency and effectiveness within and across departments.
- Investigate AI solutions for departmental workflows.
Proactively engage with the campus community to create innovative programming that fosters belonging and positions the libraries as integral to campus life.
- Increase partnerships on and off campus.
- Develop and implement an approach to connect with and seek partnerships with new centers and initiatives as they come online.
- Establish and/or solidify relationships with existing centers.
Expand the impact of the Vanderbilt Libraries through strategic engagement with local, national, and global audiences.
- Seek and pursue grant opportunities to support library initiatives.
Foster an inclusive team culture that promotes collaboration, a sense of belonging, and professional growth.
- Identify areas for cross-library collaborations and/or projects.
- Create opportunities for mentorship of library staff.
- Engage in professional development for continued growth and lifelong learning.