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Frequently
Asked Questions
1. What is the mission of the Association of Jewish
Libraries?
2. When was AJL formed?
3. What are the benefits of membership in the Association
of Jewish Libraries?
4. Does one have to be Jewish or work in a Jewish library
to be a member of AJL?
5. Is there a discussion group for Jewish librarians?
6. What does it mean to have my library accredited?
7. Does AJL provide financial assistance to Judaica
libraries?
8. Does AJL provide financial assistance to aspiring
Judaica librarians?
9. Where can I find out about library courses online
leading to an MLS degree?
10. What classification systems are available for
Judaica collections? How are they alike and how do they differ?
11. Where can I find information about transliterating
Hebrew titles into Roman characters?
12. Where do I get a basic list of books for a Jewish
school library?
13. Where can I find reviews of Jewish books?
14. Where can I find a list of Jewish publishers?
15. Where can I find sources for out-of-print Judaica?
16. Where can I find recommendations for a book on
a particular subject for a given grade level?
17. What type of policies should I have for my library?
Are there templates I can use?
18. Where can I find suggested guidelines for weeding?
19. What are the various library automation programs
for Jewish school and synagogue collections?
20. How do I get cataloging for books? Where can I
find out about subject headings for synagogue and day school collections?
21. Where can I find out about subject headings for
synagogue and day school collections?
22. How do I handle mold on books?
23. My library has some archival material. How do
I deal with it?
24. Where can I find library shelving vendors?
1. What is the mission of the Association of Jewish
Libraries?
The Association of Jewish Libraries promotes Jewish literacy through
enhancement of libraries and library resources and through leadership
for the profession and practitioners of Judaica librarianship. The Association
fosters access to information, learning, teaching and research relating
to Jews, Judaism, the Jewish experience and Israel.
2. When was AJL formed?
The Association of Jewish Libraries was created in 1965 as a result
of the merger of two organizations: the Jewish Librarians Association,
founded in 1946, which concerned itself with collections of Judaica
in academic, archival or research institutions, and the Jewish Library
Association, founded in 1962, which concerned itself with collections
in the synagogue, school and community center libraries, as well as
other smaller libraries and media centers.
3. What are the benefits of
membership in the Association of Jewish Libraries?
AJL offers a wealth of services and benefits to its members including:
- AJL Newsletter which contains many timely book reviews
and news items;
- Judaica Librarianship, the annual scholarly journal
of the AJL;
- professional development courses which include Continuing
Education Unit (CEU) courses at conventions;
- access to membership list;
- access to the Children's Literature Comprehensive
Database (CLCD).
- The annual AJL Convention offers participants an
opportunity to participate in scholarly lectures, tours, and workshops.
In addition, AJL offers a freshman seminar at the annual convention
where librarians new to the field can gain expertise from experienced
librarians.
- Equally important is the intangible benefit of networking
with librarians from across the country and throughout the world.
Members of the AJL come from the United States, Canada, Israel, Europe,
Australia, and South America.
4. Does one have to be Jewish
or work in a Jewish library to be a member of AJL?
No. AJL has non-Jewish members and members who do not work
in a Jewish library or the Judaic section of a wider library. Anyone
can become a member, if he or she is interested in our mission.
5. Is there a discussion group for Jewish librarians?
HaSafran is a listserv (electronic mailing list) that was created by
the Association of Jewish Libraries in 1991 to provide a forum for librarians,
publishers, authors, and researchers to network and discuss issues of
importance to Judaica librarianship. You do not need to be a member
of AJL to join Hasafran.
This forum is moderated by Joseph (Yossi) Galron, Jewish Studies Librarian
at the Ohio State University.
To subscribe to hasafran, send the e-mail message SUBSCRIBE HASAFRAN
<your name> to the address listproc@lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
with the subject line blank.
6. What does it mean to have
my library accredited?
AJL accredits school, synagogue, community center, and central educational
agencies. Initial accreditation is good for three years, renewable for
another three years.
The AJL accreditation process provides a comprehensive evaluation of
an SSC library at the Basic or Advanced level. Measured against the
highest standards of excellence, an accredited library has enhanced
status within its institution and in the community at large. Accreditation
standards and application forms are available on our web site.
7. Does AJL provide financial
assistance to Judaica libraries?
No.
8. Does AJL provide financial assistance to aspiring
Judaica librarians?
Yes, in two ways. 1) The AJL
Scholarship awards money to one or more students each year that
are enrolled in or accepted to begin in an accredited graduate library
school program. 2) Travel
subsidies for AJL members, including students, are available to
attend the AJL Annual Convention.
Travel subsides for first time convention attendees and for international
members of the R & S Division are also available. These are
all competitive awards.
9. Where can I find out about
library courses online leading to an MLS degree?
The American Library Association (ALA) is the most authoritative
agency for learning about courses leading to an MLS and to continuing
education beyond the masters. ALA is the accrediting agency for MLS
programs, and makes available a number of directories and guides to
masters-degree level library study, post-masters study, paraprofessional
training, and continuing education. The best place to start is at ALA's
web page for Education
and Continuous Professional Development, which provides links to
ALA-maintained pages discussing and listing these programs.
Another useful website dealing with MLS and continuing education is
LibraryHQ. LibraryHQ
points to some of the same pages as ALA, but lists additional information
and directories of sites on library education and training.
10. What classification systems are available for
Judaica collections? How are they alike and how do they differ?
When choosing a classification (call number system) for your library,
consider the following issues: Do you have Judaica only or a broad collection
with a Judaica component? Do you have staff with the time and training
to create call numbers or do you need find cataloging with a call number
included?
The chart of available choices lists their advantages and disadvantages.
For information on libraries that use the Weine classification system,
contact Joan Gremont, library
director at the Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas.
Suggested reading:
Weinberg, Bella Hass "Judaica classification schemes for synagogues
and school libraries: a structural analysis," Judaica Librarianship.
V. 4:1 pp. 26-30.
11. Where can I find information about transliterating
Hebrew titles into Roman characters?
The Library of Congress has a romanization
chart for transliterating Hebrew characters into Latin letters.
Additional information about Hebrew cataloging issues is available from
Rachel Simon, who, in collaboration with Paul Maher and Joan Biella,
has created a useful
Hebrew cataloging resource. On this site, you can also find a list
of romanized spellings for common Judaica terms.
12. Where do I get a basic
list of books for a Jewish school library?
AJL publishes a number of booklists
that you can purchase that will be helpful. Among them are:
- Creating a Collection: A Resource Booklist for a
Beginning Judaic Library by Merrily F. Hart
- Notable Children's Books of Jewish Content 1985-2000
prepared by the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee
- Developing a Judaic Children's Collection: Recommended
Books and Videos by Linda Silver
Every year the Sydney Taylor Book Award Committee compiles a list of
Notable Children's Books of Jewish
Content. The Valuesfinder
is another excellent resource because it contains current as well as
older titles, all of which are recommended for Judaic collections.
You need not be an AJL member to access our Bibliography
Bank, which also contains useful lists.
A basic list of Hebrew books for Jewish high school libraries is available
from the Avi
Chai Foundation's Bookshelf Project.
13. Where can I find reviews
of Jewish books?
The Association of Jewish Libraries Newsletter, published
quarterly, contains reviews of adult and juvenile literature. AJL members
automatically receive this newsletter, and non-members can subscribe
to it by becoming a "Friend of AJL" for $30 annually.
The Sydney Taylor Book Award winners
and honor books are listed on the AJL web site.
AJL Publications: The Sydney Taylor Book Award committee reviews approximately
100 books each year. Every review written by committee members, including
conflicting opinions, can be read in AJL's annual compilation of reviews,
which can be ordered from AJL. Also available from AJL are publications
such as Notable Children's Books
of Jewish Content, 1985-2000, and Developing a Judaic Children's
Collection: Recommended Books and Videos.
In addition, children's and teen book reviews from the AJL Newsletter
are included in the Internet guide, Children's Literature Comprehensive
Database, along with reviews from a wide variety of secular media. Information
for AJL members about subscribing to CLCD is available from Barbara
Sutton.
The Jewish Book Council
publishes the journal Jewish Book World, which reviews adult
and juvenile literature. Their web site is undergoing renovation, but
you can contact them at (212) 532-4949 ext. 297.
Reviews and interviews relating to Jewish books (adult and juvenile)
can be read in the online literary magazine, Jbooks.
Baba Bookz is the book club
and online book store of BabagaNewz, a Weekly Reader style classroom
magazine for Jewish middle school students. At Baba Bookz, you can find
and order high-quality Judaic children's literature.
Detailed annotations and cover art of many Jewish children's books
are available from MyJewishBooks.
While not a sophisticated web site, it does include a wealth of information.
Another nonprofessional but very useful website is Books
(and Videos) for Jewish Children and Teens.
Nextbook, which calls itself
"the gateway to Jewish literature, culture, and ideas," has
a large collection of reviews and a database searchable by author, title,
and subject.
14. Where can I find a list
of Jewish publishers?
The Association of Jewish
Book Publishers, a currently inactive organization, has an old list
of its members.
15. Where can I find sources for out-of-print Judaica?
Our members have indicated that they use the following Judaica sources
in the United States: Broders
Rare and Used Judaica, Dan
Wyman Books, Eric Chaim
Kline Bookseller, Hollander
Books, Schoen Books, Schwartz
Judaica.
Three New York-based suppliers that do not have web sites are:
J.S. Biegeleisen
4409 16th Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11204
718-436-1165
Goldman Book Store
125 Ditmas Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11218
718-972-6200
Toll-free: 800-972-6201
Fax: 718-972-6204
Evelyn Pearl
219 W. 81st St., Apt. 5A
New York, NY 10024-5831
Tel. (212) 877-1704
Fax (212) 787-3466
E-mail: heim219@aol.com
Antiquarian Jewish booksellers in the UK include Fishburn
Books and Sifrantica.
Israeli sources for out-of-print Judaica titles include The
Book Gallery, Jerusalem
Books, Robinson Books,
Shemaria Judaica,
and Virtual Geula.
Out-of-print titles are also available through secular sources such
as Amazon.com, Alibris,
Abe Books, and Powells
Bookstore.
16. Where can I find recommendations for a book
on a particular subject for a given grade level?
The Jewish Values Finder
is a free online database of Jewish children's books that allows users
to search by moral qualities and age level. It provides useful annotations
for a wide range of titles, as well as lists of Sydney Taylor winners
and National Jewish Book Award winners.
17. What type of policies should I have for my
library? Are there templates I can use?
Every library should have a mission statement and a collection development
policy that includes a gift policy, a weeding or de-selection policy,
and a procedure for handling challenges to library materials. Circulation
procedures are also necessary: Who may borrow materials? What is the
loan period? Are overdue fines charged? What is the policy regarding
lost or not returned items? The web site Resources
for School Librarians has many samples of school library policies.
AJL's publication Collection Development in Smaller Judaica Libraries,
a 2-volume set by Susan Freiband, is an invaluable resource to assist
you with these questions. Use the AJL
Publications order form to purchase a copy.
In addition, AJL's Freshman Seminar documents (10
Essential Questions and Library
vs Room of Books) include many sample policies.
Sample mission statements
from a number of synagogue and community center libraries are available,
as is a sample policy dealing with
donations.
18. Where can I find suggested guidelines for weeding?
Many libraries use the CREW method. The acronym CREW stands for
Continuous Review, Evaluation, and Weeding. A summary of the weeding
guidelines by Dewey number is available on the web.
In this chart, the Dewey call number classes are in the first two columns.
Weeding guidelines are in the third column. A sample entry would look
like this: 10/3/MUSTIE.
The first number is the number of years since the book's lastest copyright
date. The second number is the number of years since the book was checked
out. So the number in this example, 10/3/MUSTIE, should be interpreted
as "Books should be discarded if they are over ten years old or
have not been checked out in three years." MUSTIE means books should
be discarded if they are Misleading, Ugly, Superseded by newer editions
or better books, Trivial, Irrelevant to patron interests, or easily
obtained Elsewhere through interlibrary loan.
AJL's publication Collection Development in Smaller Judaica Libraries,
a 2-volume set by Susan Freiband, is an invaluable resource to assist
you with these questions. Use the AJL
Publications order form to purchase a copy.
19. What are the various library automation programs
for Jewish school and synagogue collections?
Susan Dubin has created a list of library
automation systems used by many Jewish school and library collections.
Additional information is available from the International
Association of School Librarianship.
20. How do I get cataloging for books?
There are a number of ways to obtain cataloging for books and the
other items in your library. The first place to look is in the book
for the CIP—cataloging in publication, which can be copied onto
paper or digital format. The web has made obtaining free cataloging
very easy. The Library of Congress's MARC (Machine Readable Cataloging)
records, available from their online
catalog, may be downloaded directly into many library automation
systems. Services such as OCLC and Marcive, Brodart, and local library
consortia, can provide cataloging in both paper and digital format for
a fee. Judaica libraries, including but not limited to Yeshiva University,
Brandeis University, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and
Hebrew Union College, have made their catalogs accessible online. For
new books, library vendors such as Baker & Taylor and Brodart, will
provide cataloging for an additional fee with your purchase. If you
purchase software capable of z39.50 searches, you will be able to download
cataloging directly from some libraries into your library's own automation
system. One such product is BookWhere.
The cataloging information may also contain classification information,
which is not the same thing. A quick distinction is that cataloging
describes an item, while classification organizes its placement within
the collection, summed up as "what" vs. "where."
Classification systems include the Dewey Decimal System, Library of
Congress, Weine, and Elazar. The last two are classification systems
for libraries of Judaica.
21. Where can I find out about subject headings
for synagogue and day school collections?
In the AJL
publication Subject Headings for the Weine Classification Scheme
for Judaica Libraries. Rev. ed. Revised by the AJL/SSC Subject Headings
Committee. New York: AJL, 1999. 31 p. (ISBN 0-929262-57-3)
This publication and other Weine classification documents are available free of charge to AJL members to download and modify as needed. Non-AJL members may purchase most of these documents. Prepayment is required. To place an order, fill out the order form and include your check .
22. How do I handle mold on books?
People removing mold from books, paper, or other surfaces should
wear a mask to reduce the risk of infection. Even non-toxic mold can
cause respiratory problems. Remove any dry, loose mold from paper with
a clean, soft cloth or a HEPA vacuum. If mildewed paper is damp, dry
it first, in an airy place or freeze it. Spread pages of books out fanwise
to air. If the books are very damp, sprinkle cornstarch or talcum powder
between the leaves to take up the moisture. Leave starch or powder on
for several hours, then brush it off.
23. My library has some archival material. How
do I deal with it?
The Northeast Document Conservation Center has a good collection
of preservation
suggestions.
24. Where can I find library shelving vendors?
Shelving options include wooden shelves, metal shelves, and metal shelves
with wooden end caps. Wooden shelves are very attractive, but also very
costly. A listing of shelving vendors in the United States is available
in the Librarians' Yellow
Pages. Try searching the vendors' web sites for your local representative.
Make sure to ask whether the price includes assembly and installation.
Members of the Hasafran list have mentioned that they have been satisfied
with metal shelving made by Esty/Tennsco
and MJ. Standard library vendors
such as Gaylord and Brodart also sell shelving.
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