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REGISTER NOW: Academic Commons Workshops on Time Management, Inclusivity in the Classroom, Writing Tips, Educational Technologies, and more

Jump into the fall semester with our Academic Commons workshops. All hybrid, you can attend sessions in-person or on Zoom. Workshops are open to all instructors, scholars, and staff.

Sessions for instructors cover tips to use educational technologies like Canvas, VoiceThread, and even AI tools to engage students.  Writing workshops, hosted by the Office for Professional Writing, Publishing, and Communication (OPWPC), will teach grammar and editing tips, time management techniques, and more. Librarians from Gutman and Scott libraries will lead sessions on data management and sharing, systematic reviews, and AI-driven tools that help you annotate, read, and cite scholarly literature.

Keep reading for each workshop’s tile and a brief description. Visit our website to read full descriptions and instructor details.

Find the Time: Time Management
Thursday, October 6, 1-2pm
200A, Scott Memorial Library or Zoom
REGISTER HERE

Do you struggle to find time for what matters to you? Maybe you want to write more, or balance your work and home life. The purpose of this hour of time is to give you tools and strategies to begin finding the time to do things that you value. Practicing well-tested methods used by some of the most productive people in history, you can enhance how you prioritize commitments and interruptions.

Creating a Data Management and Sharing Plan for Your Research
Tuesday, October 18, 1-2pm
200A, Scott Memorial Library or Zoom
REGISTER HERE

Get resources and advice about creating data management plans for research data using the 2016 FAIR Guiding Principles for Scientific Data Management and Stewardship. These plans will be required for NIH grants starting in the new year, but data management is also valuable for every researcher to consider. Special attention will be paid to how Jeffersonians can use LabArchives as an openly accessible data repository.

Engaging Discussions
Wednesday, October 26, 12-1pm
LIS, Gutman Library, or Zoom
REGISTER HERE

While discussions have the potential to provide avenues for exploration and analysis, they are also unpredictable in nature as instructors are tasked with surrendering a certain degree of control. The goal of this workshop is to provide numerous resources and opportunities to practice evidence-based strategies to engage both you and your learners dynamically via the co-creative process of educational discussions.

Mini Writing Retreat
Friday, October 28, 8-11am
200A, Scott Memorial Library or Zoom
REGISTER HERE

Join us at our half-day writing retreat, devoted solely to your writing projects. Most importantly, you’ll get quiet time to write. We’ll also have a writing consultant and librarian available to answer writing and research questions, help you find materials, talk over your journal choice, edit your work, or just read what you have so far.

Getting Started with Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Tuesday, November 15, 12-1pm
200A, Scott Memorial Library or Zoom
REGISTER HERE

Are you interested in doing a systematic review? Do you want to learn what type of review can best fit your research needs? Do you have questions about the process of conducting a review?

This workshop will start with a brief overview of systematic reviews and other types of reviews. The workshop will then go over resources and services the library has available to support review projects.

Inclusive Scholarly Writing
Wednesday, November 16, 12-1pm
200A, Scott Memorial Library or Zoom
REGISTER HERE

Have you ever paused while drafting a scholarly paper because you’re uncertain of the most inclusive, contemporary terminology to employ for a participant’s, individual’s, or group’s identity? When publishing, being conscious of the weight and power these terms hold is crucial, but staying up to date can be difficult as language is constantly evolving. In this workshop, we will discuss current industry standards and directions for terms involving race, gender, disability, and other identities. You will also learn how to navigate journal expectations, particularly when they might contradict current social norms or personal preferences.

Mini Writing Retreat
Friday, December 2, 8-11am
200A, Scott Memorial Library or Zoom
REGISTER HERE

Join us at our half-day writing retreat, devoted solely to your writing projects. Most importantly, you’ll get quiet time to write. We’ll also have a writing consultant and librarian available to answer writing and research questions, help you find materials, talk over your journal choice, edit your work, or just read what you have so far.

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Need Canvas Support? CANVAS CLINICS this August

If you’re an instructor teaching summer or pre-fall courses, let the Academic Commons help you prepare for the term. Join us in August for CANVAS CLINICS.

Our curriculum and instructional designers will offer hands-on support at these drop-in sessions as you build out your courses in Canvas, Jefferson’s learning management system. Learn how to use the Canvas discussion boards, grade book, and more.

Tuesday, August 9
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
200A, Scott Memorial Library, Center City

Wednesday, August 10
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Room 306, Kanbar, East Falls

Faculty are encouraged to come with Canvas questions and course materials as they prepare for the term. We encourage faculty to bring their own devices, but it is not necessary.

Registration is not required. Drop-in at a convenient time during our 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. window.

Need help now? View our Help page on Canvas to use the live chat, download how-to guides, and watch tutorial videos.

Can’t attend a Canvas Clinic? Sign up for a consult on the “Growing with Canvas” calendar or email Julie.Phillips@jefferson.edu to schedule a consultation.

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NEW ON-DEMAND WORKSHOP SERIES: Information Literacy Starter Pack (4 videos)

As Jefferson faculty, researchers, and staff, we know that you are busy. That’s why we recently created four (and more to come!) video recordings so that you can enjoy the Academic Commons and Thomas Jefferson University Libraries workshops at a convenient time.

These four videos make up a workshop series called Information Literacy Starter Pack, which highlights databases and resources to assist in your clinical and teaching practice. Resources discussed in the video series include ClinicalKey, DynaMed, Draw it to Know it, Statista, JoVE, and more.

Click a workshop title below to watch the videos or scroll down to read workshop descriptions and learning objectives.

Information Literacy Starter Pack: Clinical:
Evidence Based Practice (ClinicalKey)

Information Literacy Starter Pack: Clinical:
Evidence Based Practice (DynaMed)

Information Literacy Starter Pack: Sciences:
New Databases to Enhance Your Curriculum (Draw it to Know it, Statista)

Information Literacy Starter Pack
We Have a Video for That



Clinical: Evidence Based Practice (ClinicalKey)
The tools of evidence-based medicine are continually evolving. It is vital for those working with patients and in the healthcare field to keep up to date on how to interact with the current evidence-based tools.  One of the newest resources to Jefferson Health is ClinicalKey, which provides an array of literature, tools, and resources.

After completing the session, participants will be able to:

  • Search and access information in ClinicalKey for Nursing
  • Understand what resources are available
  • Successfully create a personal account in the platform

Watch Workshop Recording

Clinical: Evidence Based Practice (DynaMed)
The tools of evidence-based medicine are continually evolving. It is vital for those working with patients and in the healthcare field to keep up to date on how to interact with the current evidence-based tools.  One of the newest resources to Jefferson Health is DynaMed, a point of care resource. DynaMed is implemented within the EHR system EPIC at Jefferson Health and has a mobile app available. 

After completing the session, participants will be able to:

  • Search and access information in DynaMed
  • Understand what resources are available
  • Successfully create a personal account in the platform

Watch Workshop Recording

Sciences: New Databases to Enhance Your Curriculum (Draw it to Know it, Statista)
Are you frustrated with curriculum planning or looking for new ways to get students engaged in learning? Want to know more about what resources are available to you at Jefferson? This portion of our series will take you on a detailed tour of the Draw It to Know It and Statista resources. Draw it to Know it: Medical & Biological Sciences is a multimodal database for interacting with biological science materials with illustrated and narrated tutorials. Statista is a resource with data on over 80,000 topics from over 18,000 sources onto a single professional platform that you can use for a variety of subjects.

After completing this session, participants will be able to:

  • Access and utilize Draw it to know it and Statista resources
  • Effectively implement these resources into their course instruction
  • Inform others about these resources

Watch Workshop Recording

We Have a Video for That
Did you know that there are a variety of resources that can help enhance your curriculum? Found easily on our library database menu are all the resources needed to help your students learn in a variety of ways. Let’s take a deeper dive into how FA Davis and JoVE can make a difference in your courses.

FA Davis is a comprehensive resource with searchable texts and in-depth multimedia materials that covers a variety of topics from athletic injuries to rehabilitation techniques. JoVE is a scientific and peer-reviewed journal with publications in video format.

At the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Access and utilize FA Davis and JoVE resources
  • Effectively implement these resources into their course instruction
  • Inform others about these resources

Watch Workshop Recording

Check out our other workshops, including live sessions on professional writing, instructional design and educational technologies, and open educational resources.

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FALL 2021 WORKSHOPS: Faculty Development, Time Management, Professional Writing, Research Impact, & more

As you return to the classroom, lecture hall, or research lab and start setting your goals for the year, let the Academic Commons help! Our fall 2021 workshops cover various topics, including time management, video recording and editing, publishing your scholarly work, and more.

All workshops will be held virtually and are open to all. Browse our workshops below and register online. Check out this digital clickable flyer, and feel free to share it with colleagues and teammates! 

Responding to Reviewers’ Comments
Wednesday, October 13, 1 – 2 p.m.
REGISTER HERE
In this workshop, we’ll look at ways to make the process of responding to reviewers’ comments less painful and more productive. Learn how to interpret and respond to reviewers’ comments using a simple tool.

Leveraging Open Educational Resources (OER) and Open Pedagogy to Support Students & Promote Educational Equity
Tuesday, October 26, 12 – 1 p.m.
REGISTER HERE
The use of Open Educational Resources (OER) is growing. At this session learn the reasons behind the increased interest in OER, get tips on how to search for OER resources effectively, and find out how the library can support you in using OER.

Evidence Synthesis for Evidence-Based Teaching
Friday, October 29, 12 – 1 p.m.
REGISTER HERE
This workshop will show you how to find evidence synthesis publications about teaching practices. Learn options for publishing evidence synthesis projects on education topics, such as the Best Evidence Medical Education (BEME) Collaboration.

25 New eBooks in October: Books cover environmental health, telehealth for nurse practitioners, bariatric surgery, and the vocabulary of colors

Fall is in full swing, and we’re celebrating with 25 new eBooks. Many resources discuss nursing and environmental health, but other topics include infectious disease, hematology, and bariatric surgery. Check out the list of our new eBooks below, or browse our complete eBook collection for Center City/Scott Library and East Falls/Gutman Library.

AACN Essentials of Critical Care Nursing

AACN Essentials of Progressive Care Nursing

Adult-gerontology Nurse Practitioner Certification Intensive Review: Fast Facts and Practice Questions

Climate Changes and Epidemiological Hotspots

Climate Change and Global Public Health

Current Trends and Concerns in Infectious Diseases

Delivering Quality Healthcare for People with Disability

Environmental Health – Theory and Practice. Volume 1, Basic Sciences and Their Relations to the Environment

Environmental Health — Theory and Practice Volume 2, Coping with Environmental Health

Environmental Policy and Public Health. Volume 1.  Principal Health Hazards and Mitigation

Environmental Policy and Public Health. Volume 2, Emerging Health Hazards and Mitigation

Extreme Weather Events and Human Health: International Case Studies

Field Guide to Telehealth and Telemedicine for Nurse Practitioners and Other Healthcare Providers

Global Climate Change, Population Displacement, and Public Health: The Next Wave of Migration

Guidelines for Nurse Practitioners in Ambulatory Obstetric Settings

Hematology Board Review: Blueprint Study Guide and Q & A

Johns Hopkins Evidence-based Practice for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals: Model and Guidelines

 Leininger’s Transcultural Nursing: Concepts, Theories, Research, & Practice

Nursing Informatics for the Advanced Practice Nurse: Patient Safety, Quality, Outcomes, and Interprofessionalism

 Occupational Therapy Essentials for Clinical Competence

Otolaryngology: Head & Neck Surgery: Clinical Reference Guide

Pocket Guide to Bariatric Surgery

Successful Transition to Practice: a Guide for the New Nurse Practitioner

Transformational Leadership in Nursing: From Expert Clinician to Influential Leader

Werner’s Nomenclature of Colors: Adapted to Zoology, Botany, Chemistry, Mineralogy, Anatomy, and the Arts

Congratulations to the 2nd Annual Yeo Prize Winners

The 2nd annual Yeo Writing Prize, an award given by the Eakins Writers’ Council, highlights Jeffersonians who wrote impactful, personal, and therapeutic pieces on gun violence.

After careful review of all the entries by the Prize Judging panel, comprised of 11 members across the Jefferson Health Enterprise, the Eakins Writers’ Council announced the following winners:

First place:  “It Was Only One Bullet…” by Mark Chilutti, Asst VP Development

Second place (tie):  “Your Last Shot”  by Keyur Patel, General Surgery Resident

Second place (tie): “One Surgeon’s Story of Gun Violence” by Adam Frank, Surgeon, Dept of Surgery

Third place:  “One Lucky Day” by Margaret Kreher, Palliative Care Physician, Dept of Family and Community Medicine

Honorable mentions:

Abdul Waris Kazi, Internal Medicine Resident 
Christopher Drumm, Family Medicine Physician (Norristown)
Nancy Dinh, Work Study Student
Xiao Chi Zhang, Emergency Medicine Physician
Lyena Birkenstock, MD/MPH student 

There will be a reception featuring the readings from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners on Thursday, November 17, from 5:30-7pm in the Eakins Lounge at Jefferson Alumni Hall at 10th and Locust on the Center City Campus. The keynote speaker will be Laura Madeline, Executive Director and Curator of Souls Shot Portrait Project.  This project links fine artists with families or friends of victims of gun violence.  Souls Shot’s goal is “to present diverse works that in some way relay graphically, or through narrative, the essence of the person being portrayed.”  Please save the date for this special event. 

The Writers’ Council and Judging Panel were moved by all the entries, many of which were deeply impactful, raw, chilling, and even inspiring. 

Also, it is not too late to submit a piece of writing for consideration for publication in the next issue of Evanescent. 

Read guidelines and submit at: https://evanescent.submittable.com/submit/224281/evanescent-issue-4

Health Humanities Reading Group: Henrietta Lacks & Joshua Under Contract

Join the Humanities Department for their upcoming reading groups in October. Participants are expected to read, and come prepared to discuss, the text selected for each session. Open to all Jefferson students, faculty, and staff.

Health Humanities Reading Group: Henrietta Lacks
Monday, October 3, 12-1 p.m., Scott Memorial Library 200A (register here)

Reading/Listening:

This week, the Health Humanities Reading Group explores the life and legacy of Henrietta Lacks, whose cervical cells, taken and used without her knowledge, have played a role in modernity as we know it: from vaccines to medicine to space travel. Lacks’ story is unique but also representative of the pervasive mistreatment of Black people by institutions of medicine, science, education, and healthcare.

Special guest discussant: Ana Mari­a Lopez, MD, MPH, MACP, Professor and Vice Chair, Medical Oncology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Chief of Cancer Services, Jefferson Health New Jersey, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Health Humanities Reading Group: Joshua Under Contract
Tuesday, October 25, 12-1 p.m., Scott Memorial Library 200A (register here)

Reading: “Joshua: Under Contract,” a chapter from The Beauty In Breaking: A Memoir (Penguin, 2020) by Michele Harper. Join a discussion about one night of Harper’s ER work in a Veterans’ hospital and how two very different patients helped her change her thinking about what it means to “cure” someone. She also discusses the difficulties of everyday life outside her work at the hospital and how to find peace in those places.

Facilitator: Katherine Hubbard, MA, Teaching Instructor, JeffMD Humanities Selectives, Sidney Kimmel Medical College

Access the Reading:

Participants are expected to read, and come prepared to discuss, the text selected for each session. To access the reading, participants must visit the Health Humanities Reading Group module in the Jefferson Humanities & Health organization on Canvas. Most Asano students are already users in the Humanities & Health Canvas course. If that is not the case, participants may email Kirsten Bowen, Humanities Program Coordinator, at kirsten.bowen@jefferson.edu.

YOU’RE INVITED: Snacks, Games, and Fun at Campus Catch Up on Tuesday, October 11

Welcome back, Jefferson! Celebrate the start of the fall semester with the Scott Library. Stop by outside the library on Tuesday, October 11, from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. to catch up, enjoy some snacks and games, and learn about what’s new at Scott Library this year.

Play trivia to test your Jefferson knowledge, and you could win an Amazon gift card and other prizes. Grab some candy and snacks and learn about new library resources and tools to help you throughout the year.

No registration is needed – we can’t wait to catch up with you on Tuesday, October 11!

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Mare Jannicelli, New Access Services Assistant

Get to know new Access Services Assistant, Mare Jannicelli. You may not see Mare during the day (they work nights!), but they’re active at the Circulation Desk and behind-the-scenes helping make sure Gutman patrons get the resources they need via interlibrary loan, the process of borrowing materials from other libraries, and our recently updated course reserves, the place where instructors put course materials that students can borrow.

Read our Q&A with Mare to learn about what a typical day at Gutman is like and what inspired them to pursue their Master of Library Science.

What is your role, and how long have you worked at Thomas Jefferson University?
Here at TJU, I am an Access Services Assistant in the Circulation department at the Gutman Library. I started in June of this year!

In your role as Access Services Assistant, what does a typical day at Gutman Library look like for you?
Working nights, my shifts are a bit different from most people. Since our Access Services Assistant Victoria Bonelli is here during the day, I generally help her finish up any leftover tasks. This can range from interlibrary loans (ILL) that need to be shipped out/returned or helping with any projects. This summer, Victoria spearheaded reviving the library’s course reserves, and it was great to assist her as I learned the ropes. Other than that, I help our student workers and patrons with any questions or requests they may have.

What interested you in working at Jefferson and the library?
When I was accepted into Graduate School to begin obtaining my MLIS, I was hoping I could get myself into the field as soon as possible. I knew I would enjoy working in an Academic Library (I frequented the Paul Robeson Library at Rutgers University—Camden until I graduated). When I heard about the opening here at the library, it felt like an opportunity to get my foot in the door. TJU sounded like the perfect environment for me to get my bearings as someone who is learning to become a librarian.

What’s your favorite part about working in the library?
Right now, getting to know our collection and what we can provide for the students has been my favorite part about working here. I love being a resource for people and feeling like I can help them, so familiarizing myself with things and gaining the confidence to do so has been a really great experience.

Tell us a bit about what you’re studying right now at Rutgers and why?
Since this summer, I have been attending Rutgers University to obtain my Master of Library Science. My concentration is Archives and Preservation, and I hope to specialize in film preservation and history. Upon graduating in January, I began to research my career options and what I really wanted to do. I was looking for a field that felt like an amalgamation of my passions and professional goals, and Library Sciences fit the bill. Since starting school, I can say I made the right choice.

When not working in the library or studying, what are some things you like to do in your free time?
When I can, I love practicing film photography, hiking, biking, and spending time with my partner and our beloved cat. Once a week, we try to spend some quality time together, which often includes making or ordering food, going on a walk, and watching a movie or show until we’re dozing off on the couch. Exciting, I know. We’re both super busy, so we like to indulge in simple pleasures!

Jefferson Humanities Forum: Calling In the Calling Out Culture (Monday, Sept 19)

Join the Jefferson Humanities Forum on Monday, September 19, for their latest event with Loretta J. Ross, an award-winning, nationally-recognized expert on racism and racial justice, women’s rights, and human rights.

Monday, September 19, 5:30-6:30 p.m.  
Connelly Auditorium, Dorrance H. Hamilton Building, 1001 Locust Street
Learn more and register here

The work of Loretta Moss emphasizes the intersectionality of social justice issues and how intersectionality can fuel transformation. Ross has co-written three books on reproductive justice: Undivided Rights: Women of Color Organize for Reproductive Justice, winner of the Outstanding Book Award by the Gustavus Myers Center for the Study of Bigotry and Human Rights; Reproductive Justice: An Introduction, a first-of-its-kind primer that provides a comprehensive yet succinct description of the field and puts the lives and lived experience of women of color at the center of the book; and Radical Reproductive Justice: Foundations, Theory, Practice, Critique. Her latest book, Calling In the Calling Out Culture, is forthcoming in 2022 from publisher Simon & Schuster.

Check out this flyer for more information and register online. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Updates to White House’s Public Access Policy  

On August 25th, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) issued a memorandum updating its public access policy guidance to federal grant-making agencies. The previous guidance, written in 2013, allowed journals to require authors to embargo their articles for 12 months before making the full text freely accessible to the public. With the implementation of this new policy, that embargo period is no longer an option. 

By January 2026, all federal funding agencies are required to have updated their policies to ensure that research that has been publicly funded is openly accessible to the public on the first day it is published. In a press release, the OSTP referenced the Covid-19 pandemic and noted that making research on the virus immediately accessible was a “powerful case study on the benefits of delivering research results and data rapidly to the people.” The office noted that the “insights of new and cutting-edge research stemming from the support of federal agencies should be immediately available—not just in moments of crisis…but to advance all areas of study, including urgent issues such as cancer, clean energy, economic disparities, and climate change.” 

While this policy update is undeniably a win for proponents of open access, an article from InsideHigherEd.com noted that some scholars have concerns that researchers working at smaller institutions have had trouble publishing open access due to the often high cost of article processing charges (APCs). The funding to publish open access articles in top-tier journals without embargo will have to come from somewhere. Currently, researchers can ask for this cost to be included as part of their grant budgets, and many colleges and universities, including Jefferson, have programs to help fund open access publishing.

Please visit our guide to help bring publications into compliance with the current NIH public access policy. 

In addition to addressing peer-reviewed publications, the memorandum also addresses research data. But don’t wait till 2026. The NIH has a new data management and sharing policy that will take effect in January 2023. Learn more and register for a training session on creating a data management and sharing plan for your research. 

September’s New eBooks: Topics include hematology, 3D printing, sustainable agriculture, design thinking, and many more

As we settle into the fall semester, we’re adding 25 eBooks to our digital shelves. This month’s eBook topics cover topics ranging from 3D printing, to anesthesiology, to podcasting, and engineering. Scan the titles of September’s eBooks below to see what interests you, or browse our complete eBook collection (Scott/Center City) (Gutman/East Falls).

100 Statistical Tests

3D Printing Technology and its Diverse Applications

Cannabis/Hemp for Sustainable Agriculture and Materials

Clinical Immunology and Serology: A Laboratory Perspective

Design Thinking Research: Interrogating the Doing

Encyclopedia of Counseling: Master Review and Tutorial for the National Counselor
Examination, State Counseling Exams, and the Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Examination

Faust’s Anesthesiology Review

Gender(s)

Health Professional as Educator: Principles of Teaching and Learning

Hematology in Practice

Knowledge Management: A Practical Guide for Librarians

Manual of Traumatic Brain Injury: Assessment and Management

The Meaning of Everyday Occupation

Medical Parasitology: A Self-Instructional Text

Molecular Diagnostics: Fundamentals, Methods, and Clinical Applications

The Monster at Our Door: The Global Threat of Avian Flu

NPR’s Podcast Start Up Guide:  Create, Launch, and Grow a Podcast on Any Budget

Occupational Therapy in Community and Population Health Practice

Patient No Longer: Why Healthcare Must Deliver the Care Experience that Consumers Want and Expect

The Phlebotomy Textbook

Physical Properties of Materials

Smith’s Recognizable Patterns of Human Malformation

Type Specimens: A Visual History of Typesetting and Printing

Understanding Clinical Papers

Urinalysis and Body Fluids

YOU’RE INVITED: Snacks, games, and fun at CAMPUS CATCH UP on September 29

Back by popular demand: CAMPUS CATCH UP!

Celebrate the start of the school year with the Paul J. Gutman Library. Stop by outside of the library on Thursday, September 29, from 12 – 2 p.m. to grab some snacks and swag, meet your subject librarian and learn how they can help you, and find out what’s new at the library this year.

Play games to test your Jefferson knowledge, and you could win an Amazon or Wawa gift card and other prizes. Grab some candy and treats and learn about new library resources and tools to help you throughout the year.

No registration is needed – we can’t wait to catch up with you on Thursday, September 29!

It’s Library Card Sign-Up Month at the Free Library of Philadelphia

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month at the Free Library of Philadelphia.

If you live, work, pay taxes, or attend school in the city of Philadelphia YOU are eligible for this free service. A Free Library card connects you to thousands of books, DVDs, CDs, and other materials from the Free Library’s catalog, and grants you instant access to its collections of digital media, online databases, and much more. Use the card both in-person and online to access the Free Library’s online resources (via Libby/OverDrive). 

Learn more now at freelibrary.org/yourcard and find your local Free Library of Philadelphia.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Get to know Anita Lai, Digital Archivist at Scott Library

Earlier this summer, Scott Memorial Library’s Archives & Special Collections team grew to add Anita Lai, the new Digital Archivist. And the timing was perfect! The Archives & Special Collections department is busier than ever – preparing for the university’s 2024 bicentennial celebration and embarking on a renovation and expansion project of the Archives space. Read our Q&A with Anita to learn what excites her about the world of archives and how she can support researchers at Jefferson.

What is your title and what are your responsibilities within Scott Memorial Library?

My title is Digital Archivist and what it means is that I collect, describe, preserve, and provide access to digital assets (digitized and born-digital material) that have long-term historical value across their life cycle. Within Scott Memorial Library, I manage the scholarly work and historical collections available in the Jefferson Digital Commons (JDC). I work with researchers across Jefferson to create new collections in the JDC that highlight and make freely available scholarly work by faculty, students, staff, and researchers. I also work with colleagues across the University to document the history of Jefferson. My work includes describing and digitizing material in the Archives & Special Collections, creating and adding content to the JDC, and managing the web-archiving program to preserve Jefferson’s web presence and online born-digital material, including, but not limited to Jefferson news, publications, blogs, and video content.

What sparked your interest in the world of archives and why do you think it’s an important field?

For me, entering the world of archives, finding aids, and rare books was serendipitous. Growing up, I’d always been drawn to history and historical sites. However, I didn’t discover archives and special collections until I worked as a work-study Special Collections Assistant during my undergrad at Bryn Mawr College. I couldn’t believe I could touch a book over 400 years old with my bare hands. That summer and fall, I worked on digitizing late 19th-century advertising trade cards and helped to process an alumna’s collection of theatre ephemera. I loved every bit of it, even working to shift 40,000 rare books in the collection. From there, I continued to work at several different academic and cultural institutions before pursuing my MLIS degree. I have to say that working in the archives field is a unique experience that allows me to participate in a wide range of tasks ranging from collection management to outreach. I feel fortunate to have stumbled upon this field, and it’s one that I’d highly recommend.

It’s a bit difficult for me to concisely answer why the archives field is important. Archivists often work with unique unpublished material such as photographs, business records, letters, diaries—things that document people, businesses, institutions, communities—society. In general, they’re tasked with identifying and making decisions about what items fall within their collecting policy, have historical value, and warrant long-term care. Whether dealing with analog (i.e. paper, photographic prints, etc.) or digital (i.e. flash drives, CDs, websites, video recordings, etc.), history and the historical record matter.

Community archives, university archives, government archives, museum archives, or corporate archives—all archives document individuals, events, and institutions. However, archives are more than just records; they tell stories of the past. They are evidence of the activities of individuals and institutions, of which archivists play an integral role in the selection and preservation of. For this reason, the archival field is extremely important for those who access and utilize archives for information and knowledge of the past.

Now that you’ve had time to get to know the Center City Archives & Special Collections, is there anything in particular that you’ve been interested in or want to learn more about?

I’m excited to delve into and learn more about the history of Jefferson and medicine. Admittedly, most of my time in these first few months has been spent familiarizing myself with existing workflows and focusing more on our “contemporary” collections. I’m looking forward to slowly shifting gears to our historical collections. I know that acquiring institutional knowledge and familiarity with Jefferson’s collection will take time—I’m eager to jump in. Part of my excitement stems from the fact that we will soon be celebrating our bicentennial in 2024. The other part is because the Archives & Special Collections recently received a donation for renovations and much-needed expansion of the space (thanks to Dr. Marion Siegman). With these two milestones, there is much to do and plan for.

Can you tell us a bit more about what the JDC? Why should researchers submit their work to the JDC?

The Jefferson Digital Commons (JDC) is Jefferson’s open access institutional repository. The Academic Commons is committed to helping make scholarly work by Jefferson faculty, students, staff, and researchers readily available. Content found in the JDC includes published articles (pre-prints and post-prints), posters, presentations, newsletters, photographs, theses/dissertations, and other scholarly works. The JDC also houses historical collections from the Archives & Special Collection, ranging from oral histories, course catalogs, yearbooks, rare books, historical photographs, and more.

The Academic Commons offers this free service to TJU researchers to make their research more easily discoverable and accessible. In supporting open access publishing and submitting work to the JDC, Jefferson researchers can increase both the reach and impact of their scholarly work that would otherwise be locked behind a subscription paywall. The JDC is a great way for researchers to get their work out to more people worldwide. Not only does your work appear in Google searches, but the author dashboard also allows you to access detailed metrics on the number of downloads and streams and what institutions are looking at your work. Since its founding in 2005, the repository has grown to over 23,000+ posted works, 6.6 million downloads, and 49,000+ streams. If you’re interested or have questions about submitting work to the JDC, feel free to reach out and email digitalcommons@jefferson.edu.

How can the Jefferson community get in touch with you if they want to discuss the JDC or Archives?

The best way to reach me is to email me at anita.lai@jefferson.edu with any questions about the JDC or the Archives & Special Collection.

How do you like to spend your time outside of work? Is there anything your coworkers would be surprised to learn about you?

I enjoy working with my hands. I like anything that allows me to take part in the creative process. Some of my hobbies/interests include drawing, painting, sewing, jigsaw puzzles, thrifting, cooking, and eating. My latest project is trying my hand at building my first piece of furniture—perhaps a coffee table or shelving/organizational unit. I’m waiting for the weather to cool first, at least that’s what I’m telling myself.

WRITE YOUR STORY: New creative writing workshop on personal writing

Do you want to tell your story but feel like you’ve never been a writer? The WRITE YOUR STORY workshop is for you. All are welcome to attend!

Writing is an incredible tool to share stories, but it can feel exclusive or intimidating. In this two-part creative writing workshop, gain tools to write and share a story about your life and experiences in a supportive, inclusive environment. Your writing can be a poem, personal essay, short story, or writing of your choice.  

Learn more about workshop details and register.

IN-PERSON COHORT

1st session: Wednesday, September 21
                      12-1pm

2nd session: Wednesday, October 26
                      12-1pm

ZOOM COHORT

1st session: Wednesday, September 28
                      5-6pm

2nd session: Wednesday, October 19
                       5-6pm

Open to anyone in the Jefferson community, this series is a collaboration between the Office for Professional Writing, Publishing, and Communication and the Eakins Writing Project, whose mission is to promote inclusion and expression through writing.

Booking Study Space in the Library Just Got Easier!

You can now reserve an individual or group study room in Gutman or Scott Library using our new, self-booking system! Check room availability, book a room, or cancel a reservation in a few easy steps.  

Gutman Library in East Falls
Study rooms on the first and second floors of the library can be reserved by students, staff, and faculty. Study rooms can be reserved for up to 4 hours per day. Find out what tools and tech are available in each room, browse room availability, and book a room on our website. Use your Jefferson email address to set up your booking. You will receive an email confirmation once your booking is finalized.


In addition to study rooms, the Rena Rowan Reading Room and Nexus Library Instruction Space (LIS) can be booked on our new reservation system. Learn more about these spaces.

Please adhere to all room policies and procedures detailed on our website.


Scott Library in Center City
Group study rooms on the second floor and individual study rooms on the third floor can be reserved up to seven days in advance on our new booking system. You can reserve a study space for up to 4 hours per day. Browse room availability, find out what tools and tech are available in each room, and reserve space on our website. You will receive an email confirmation once your booking is finalized.


Please adhere to all room policies outlined on our website.

NEW INITIATIVE: The Clinical Research Professions Workforce Development Program

In an effort to address the critical need for well-trained, entry level clinical research personnel, The Jefferson Clinical Research Institute (JCRI) created a Workforce Development Program that is now accepting applications. If chosen, candidates will be full-time employees of Thomas Jefferson University; they will be sponsored by a research department, matched with a mentor within the department, and go through a didactic program, with increasing levels of work responsibilities over time. 

As a full-time employee, you will have access to Jefferson’s benefits package including medical, dental, paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and continued access to science, healthcare and technology curriculum. The Workforce Development Program will employ a blended learning approach, including independent study, classroom training, webinars, on-the-job training and shadowing experiences. The goals of the program include reducing barriers to entry, improving retention and creating a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve, while delivering high quality, competent employees. View this flyer for more information and distribution.

For questions, contact Kathleen.omalley@jefferson.edu.