(17 Sept 2025) In a world where policy decisions shape societies, understanding how scholarly work intersects with policy is a crucial part of measuring the influence of research beyond the walls of academia.
Overton Index is a large database of policy documents and gray literature, sources that are usually harder to find than academic research, making it a valuable tool for faculty, researchers, and students looking to broaden their literature searches. What makes Overton especially useful is that it also tracks where and how scholarly works—like journal articles, books, and book chapters with DOIs—are cited in policy documents from around the world, helping users uncover their real-world reach.
Rachel Miles, assistant director for research impact and information management at Virginia Tech University Libraries, reviews this database in details here.
