The closing of libraries affiliated with bureaus of Jewish education has been going on for at least several years. It is not surprising if you look at the Jewish education literature, from which you will conclude that Jewish libraries do not exist. There is virtually no recognition of libraries in the initiatives and publications of JESNA, PEJE, CAJE, or any of the organizations that support Jewish education. Despite a huge amount of research into public school library service in the past 15 years, there is no research bearing on Jewish school libraries. The AVI CHAI Foundation, which funds some Jewish school libraries and underwrites their librarians' attendance at AJL conventions, has neither conducted nor sponsored studies into Jewish school library effectiveness. When a convention program for AVI CHAI Bookshelf librarians on school library effectiveness research was suggested to the foundation several years ago, they were'nt interested. A handbook for Jewish teachers published by ARE several years ago is thick with articles except for any on school libraries. A recent book published by URJ Press for children about synagogues doesn't mention synagogue libraries. AJL itself has no materials promoting the importance of Jewish libraries. The examples are endless and depressing; the silence is deafening. The handwriting has been on the wall for quite a while so perhaps it's time - or way past time - for Jewish librarians to get political and for AJL to take action.
Linda Linda R. Silver AJL Newsletter AJL Valuesfinder c/o 3729 Meadowbrook Blvd. University Heights, OH 44118 [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
