I agree with Rachel. The small/er Orthodox synagogue is different from a large synagogue from another denomination. Public libraries in large cities, in areas where many Orthodox Jews live make sure to have a collection that serves these communities. The children get the books in their day schools. A collection of books in a room is a blessing, but AJL, as the LEADING AUTHORITY IN JUDAIC LIBRARIANSHIP, can’t offer that room an accreditation. I’m my few years as the chairperson of the Accreditation Committee, only one library was not eligible for accreditation on the basic level because of the size, the small number of operation and making of the collection. Wishing all libraries to grow and have skilled librarians, Amalia W.
Sent from my iPad > On Jan 3, 2022, at 5:18 PM, Rachel Greenblatt via Hasafran > <hasafran@lists.osu.edu> wrote: > > Hi, > > This is an interesting discussion about what constitutes a library. I would > add to Michelle's definition and the other comments that it might (or might > not) make sense to take into consideration the size (and financial standing) > of the synagogue. The modern Orthodox synagogue we belong to, for instance, > has two full-time staff: a Rabbi and an office manager. That's it. Custodial > services and bookkeeping are outsourced. The lack of a paid librarian, in > that context, is, to my mind, quite different from a larger synagogue that > has 1-2 Rabbis, an educator and/or cantor, executive director, a rabbi's > assistance or other office help, etc. A two hundred family synagogue is not > the same as 800. That doesn't make the smaller collection a "library" > necessarily. But when we, as AJL, think about accreditation, supporting a > wider public in a variety of ways, etc.--in other words, all American > synagogues, not only those that fit the purpose for which Michelle is > compiling the list--I think that's important to keep in mind. I want to be > clear that I am not criticizing any of the previous responses in any way. > They're all important, as is the question. Just another layer to keep in mind. > > Best wishes, > > Rachel > > -- > Rachel L. Greenblatt > Judaica Librarian, Brandeis University > Lecturer in Jewish Studies, Dartmouth College > https://urldefense.com/v3/__https://dartmouth.academia.edu/RachelGreenblatt__;!!KGKeukY!hZKJAFs0Sa1LzlKdbU8RgdYoX3ane1__aRyXZVSzXI0iwcqpiS8uT3dnk0zDAZWGots$ > > https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://jewish.dartmouth.edu/people/rachel-greenblatt__;!!KGKeukY!hZKJAFs0Sa1LzlKdbU8RgdYoX3ane1__aRyXZVSzXI0iwcqpiS8uT3dnk0zDu5kX51E$ > Author of To Tell Their Children: Jewish Communal Memory in Early Modern > Prague > https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=20110__;!!KGKeukY!hZKJAFs0Sa1LzlKdbU8RgdYoX3ane1__aRyXZVSzXI0iwcqpiS8uT3dnk0zD0h34QcM$ > > __ > 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: > hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu > To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: > https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran > Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu > Ha-Safran Archives: > Current: > https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran*40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html__;JQ!!KGKeukY!hPkFZ4r1z0qhuPXyA_gOqxwqnU-A7U7VHi4pPnxq7g0jQxvXXiIG3yB9jri0_23MvB8$ > > Earlier Listserver: > https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran*40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html__;JQ!!KGKeukY!hPkFZ4r1z0qhuPXyA_gOqxwqnU-A7U7VHi4pPnxq7g0jQxvXXiIG3yB9jri0BpmktFk$ > > AJL HomePage > https://urldefense.com/v3/__http://www.JewishLibraries.org__;!!KGKeukY!hPkFZ4r1z0qhuPXyA_gOqxwqnU-A7U7VHi4pPnxq7g0jQxvXXiIG3yB9jri0CNyDz0s$ > > -- > Hasafran mailing list > Hasafran@lists.osu.edu > https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran __ 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: hasaf...@lists.service.ohio-state.edu To join Ha-Safran, update or change your subscription, etc. - click here: https://lists.service.ohio-state.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran Questions, problems, complaints, compliments send to: galro...@osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.service.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html Earlier Listserver: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org -- Hasafran mailing list Hasafran@lists.osu.edu https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
