I dont understand why there is a need for a certificate in Judaica Librarianship. What we do is a specialty within the library profession. If we think that a special credential will increase interest and provide for the continuing pool of librarians in Judaica we are going in the wrong direction. When people go to a professional school they receive a global education in that field with course work in specific specialties. When a person goes to either law school or medical school they dont train to be a corporate attorney or surgeon respectively. Certificate programs do not always guarantee that those who receive one will enter the profession. Sometimes people will take this certificate for their own personal edification. It is true that the program will benefit those already working in a library, but that is the point, they are already there. I dont think that the certificate program provides an effective recruitment tool. I spoke to the Dean of the Library School at Drexel University with a possible proposal for a reference course in Judaica with a formal similar to other areas. He asked me what kinds of numbers of interested parties are out there. Obviously it would be difficult to ascertain that number. He said that without even a ballpark figure his school was not interested in starting even a reference course. I do feel that creating such a course is more to the point if it can be done that creating a certificate program. Perhaps a graduate with such course work might be motivated to work in a Judaica library. Even if this interest is there the remuneration is a major stumbling block.
Our specialty has several overall difficulties in recruiting new people. The main problem is salary. Many Judaica libraries pay very poorly and have little opportunity for advancement. I have met people who would jump to the opportunity to be in a Judaic environment. The answer as to why they dont is because of the poor salaries. I dont believe anything short of raising professional remuneration standards will make a significant impact on recruiting people to our specialty. Gratz College had a certificate program at one time. I taught in that program. The majority of the class was not librarians. We need to elevate our salary structures, opportunity for advancement and a general uplifting of our own professional self-esteem within the general library community. I believe that these elements will have a more effective influence on our goal than instituting a certificate program. Such programs do not always bring the desired results. Eliezer M. Wise Library Director Tuttleman Library of Gratz College Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (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
