Librarianship X-Original-To: [email protected] X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 7.0.1.0 X-Spam-Score: 0.00 () [Tag at 5.00] X-CanItPRO-Stream: lists X-Canit-Stats-ID: Bayes signature not available X-Scanned-By: CanIt (www . roaringpenguin . com) on 128.146.216.12 X-Listprocessor-Version: 8.1 -- ListProcessor(tm) by CREN
After much thought, I would like to wholeheartedly second James's recommendations, especially #3, which encourages Judaic libraries to hire librarians who may not (yet) be Judaic specialists. In my library career, I have always worked in the field of Special Libraries, and I support the concept that a well-rounded undergraduate education combined with a good professional library science degree can prepare one to work in a wide variety of Special Libraries devoted to varying special subject areas. I have at various times worked in or run libraries devoted to education, to U.S. history (at the U.S. National Archives), and now to Judaics. In all cases, my liberal arts undergraduate education combined with my M.L.S. have allowed me to fulfill the libraries' needs in terms of acquisitions, technical services, and patron services while at the same time updating my knowledge of the specific relevant subject matter and its literature. I came to my current position, establishing this brand new Judaic library in 1993 and building it to a collection of over 5000 (with over 4000 patrons), with extensive Special Library experience, but no Judaic Library experience and some, but minimal Judaic education. I do believe, from my own experience, that a truly professional librarian can learn a subject literature on-the-job and can grow into almost any job. Again from personal experience, there are 2 areas in which I believe specialized education might benefit Judaic librarians (including myself): (1) Hebrew language fluency and (2) comprehensive familiarity with Talmud and other rabbinic texts. It would be great if library schools could be encouraged to offer courses in the second (or if AJL could provide such courses to those of us who are already out in the field). As for the first, while at least a beginner's ability to read Hebrew is probably necessary for all of us, fluency, though helpful, is probably not essential except in some academic situations. If we try to make Hebrew fluency a requirement for cerification in Judaic librarianship across-the-board, we will probably sadly decrease rather than increase our numbers. To sum up, I would not want to diminish the value of a professional library science degree by suggesting that only those with specialized certification are qualified to work as Judaic librarians. Thanks for your patience with my thoughts. Elizabeth Edelglass, Library Director Department of Jewish Education of Greater New Haven [EMAIL PROTECTED] 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
