Interesting. I’m sending this off to my Rabbi. He s young and game for
challenges and change. Our synagogue’ s library has become a dumping ground. We
never had a librarian , nor any library programs. I always say , as Jews , we
are people of the book twice blessed. Let’s showcase our libraries anyway
possible. Whether to our own congregations or to the public, for Jewish
communities, holidays, personalities( books on Anne Frank Ruth Bader Ginsberg,
various sports players) .)history ( the Holocaust), and books discussing
intolerance ,immigration and of course values, mitzvot . B Shalom Wendy a.
MarxPresidentLong Island AJL
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Wednesday, July 12, 2023, 10:53 PM, toby Harris via Hasafran
<hasafran@lists.osu.edu> wrote:
#yiv6172691628 #yiv6172691628pfptBanner1vqpiwx {display:block
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{background-color:#8c8e91 !important;} I have worked at two Reform synagogue
libraries in Seattle. The first cut back librarian hours to the point of
ridiculousness back in 2017 and still has no librarian. The other had me remove
1/3 of their collection to change the library toI have worked at two Reform
synagogue libraries in Seattle. The first cut back librarian hours to the point
of ridiculousness back in 2017 and still has no librarian. The other had me
remove 1/3 of their collection to change the library to a multi-use room. All
both needed, in my opinion, was more promotion from the clergy and staff plus
displays in the foyer. The pandemic certainly made the situation even worse as
people were not in the building for 2 years and even now, things are still
hybrid.
My take on the demise of time and/or money investment in synagogues libraries
is 1) Many do not think of checking the synagogue library collection for
specific titles or browsing like they do the public libraries. 2) Many people
nowadays do not value serendipity or the library experience. They buy books
online or visit independent bookstores. 3) synagogues themselves are changing
and having to make tough financial choices. 4) Clergy and staff do not promote
library usage - I cannot explain that one at all!
This is all especially sad because our Jewish youth are not getting exposed to
good quality Judaic literature from a curated collection. Books with Jewish
themes or characters are buried in school and public libraries.
Thanks to AJL, at least we have access to great recommendations to award
winning Jewish books. We just have to do our best to promote them. Even sadder
than the loss of these synagogue libraries is the loss of so many regional JCC
or Jewish public libraries!
keep up the good work, AJL!
Toby
On Tue, Jul 11, 2023 at 12:01 PM Michelle Sandler via Hasafran
<hasafran@lists.osu.edu> wrote:
Dear Judaica Librarians: My library at Beth David in Westminster, California
is being cut in half. They need the classroom for the Youth Lounge. The
Youth Lounge is being turned into a preschool classroom to make more money for
the synagogueDear Judaica Librarians:
My library at Beth David in Westminster, California is being cut in half. They
need the classroom for the Youth Lounge. The Youth Lounge is being turned into
a preschool classroom to make more money for the synagogue as the Preschool has
a waiting list.The 1,100 childrens and teen books are going into the Religious
School Directors office. The 100 reference books are going into the Rabbi's
office. 400 of the 1800 adult fiction and non-fiction books are staying in the
new Youth Lounge. The remaining 1,400 or 1,500 books are going away. This is
a nightmare to eliminate the books that are going away from my ResourceMate
catalog. Has anyone else had to deal with this? I have been the Volunteer
Librarian there for 10 years.
Michelle Sandler MLSLibrarianBeth DavidWestminster, California__
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