We’re excited to introduce one of the newest members of our team at the Paul Gutman Library – John Vance! John joins us as an Access Services Coordinator and will be a friendly and welcoming face at the Circulation Desk on the Main Floor of the library. Whether you're a student, faculty member, or researcher, John is here to help you navigate the library's resources, tools, and services. Read our Q&A below to learn more about John. We’re thrilled to have John on board and know he’ll be a valuable asset to our community!
What's your title, and when did you start working at Thomas Jefferson University in the Academic Commons & Paul J Gutman Library?
I am John Vance, the new Access Services Coordinator for the Paul J Gutman Library. I started at the beginning of this year and very much look forward to growing with the organization.
Can you describe your role as an Access Services Coordinator a bit? What does that title mean to you, and what types of work do you do? Who do you support?
The Access Services Coordinator is primarily responsible for maintaining the Inter Library Loan (ILL) system. A functioning ILL department guarantees library users access to vast resources through lend-and-share agreements with other libraries. I also assist my supervisor, Thomas Pickering, with the day-to-day functionality at the Service Desk on the library's Main Floor. If you have any questions, need specific resources, or would like to just chat, please drop by!
What are a few of your favorite Gutman Library resources or collections that you think could help or interest students?
Gutman Library hosts many unique and exciting resources spanning broad topics from the history of textiles/architecture to medicine, geopolitics, and all things in between. Using Inter Library Loan (ILL), we can provide an almost limitless array of resources from other libraries. In a perfect world, every library would be a boundless expanse full of every conceivable material. With the ILL system, we can accomplish this lofty goal without the need for infinite space.
What can students and staff/faculty contact you about? How can you help them?
Students and faculty can come to me anytime with access questions or resource requests. Feel free to reach out to John.Vance@jefferson.edu. You can find me at the Circulation Desk on the Main Floor of Gutman Library, Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm.
When you're not supporting Jefferson's East Falls community with access to resources, how do you like to spend your free time?
I am a great lover of music and work in the live music industry assisting with production and event management for a few music venues in the Philadelphia area. I also enjoy international travel and taught English as a Second Language for several years.