As Linda Silver said " If public libraries are responsive to the interests of their users and potential users, then those located where there are significant numbers of Orthodox Jews will provide materials ..."
The Toronto Public Library (TPL) is sensitive, and responsive to the needs and interests of all members of Toronto's multi-ethnic population. The Toronto Public Library purchases materials responsive to the wide ranging interests and needs of all members of the Jewish community, not just one segment of it. Fiction and Nonfiction are bought, theme displays on holidays, and Jewish issues are mounted, programs on Jewish issues and programs as part of Holocaust Education Week, are regularly held in appropriate branch locations. Hebrew and Yiddish materials for both adults and children are selected by a system selector with the language skill. Hebrew and Yiddish videos, cassettes, music and language learning materials are bought. Hebrew and Yiddish newspapers and magazines are also purchased, including English language periodicals concerning Jewish issues ranging from the community level to national and international scope. In branches with large Jewish communities, the timing of programming is decided with an awareness not only of the secular calendar, but also of Jewish holidays. The Barbara Frum branch, which has been mentioned in other emails, is also open on Sunday afternoon. This schedule was not decided specifically because of the needs of the Jewish community, but it certainly enables easier access to the branch for Shomer Shabbos families. We provide curriculum support to children in the day school system. Orthodox families do use our branches. In response to the person who commented that not all Orthodox Jews are recognizable as such, many of our Orthodox users are. The boys generally have paeis (please excuse my spelling) and wear tzitzit and kippahs. The girls are usually dressed in long skirts and long sleeves. There will always be Orthodox children who are not allowed to use the public library, for reasons that others have already mentioned, and adults who are non-users. However, our experience is that when they do use the library the children take large amounts of fiction, and adults use a wide range of materials. TPL was responsive during the recent anti semitic incidents in both Toronto and Montreal. We mounted a bibliography of books on Anti Semitism on the library website and TPL donated $1,000 to the Montreal Talmud Torah to help them rebuild their collection. TPL is also an institutional member of AJL, and supportive of staff activities with AJL, as well as having hosted a reception at last year's AJL convention in Toronto. Gloria Jacobs Branch Head, Forest Hill Branch Toronto Public Library The views and opinions expressed are solely my own. Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the AJL =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
