I'm glad to see all the comments regarding this issue. My comments
may seem random but they address the different comments and letters
both posted on Ha-Safran and sent to me personally. Eli Wise's
comment as well as comments by Susie Dubin and others do an
outstanding job of stating that AJL needs to address the issue of
library closings. Ironically, my 30 hour position was cut back and
taken over by last year's library volunteer, a retired Judaica
bookseller who has a PhD from Gratz College. (I did tell my
volunteer to apply for the position when I turned down an
unacceptable offer.) .
* As Eli Wise points out, the perception is that librarianship
has moved to the Internet. My former headmaster indicated that there
was no more need for a library because the students are using the
Internet. (He will deny everything I
say.)
* Yes, publicizing the library is very important and I got the
library certified by AJL this past year. But the bottom line was the
headmaster had his eye on my salary. I have worked with over seven
principals/headmasters over the course of my Judaic school library
career and have found most of them loved books,loved having a school
library, but had very little knowledge of all the work that went into
collection development and getting each book on the shelf. Almost
all of them put library funding at the bottom of the priority list.
* Yes, we are the People of the Book and, especially on Shabbat
and Yom Tov, the printed book still matters. One of my library "aha"
moments came when I was teaching a group of students about the use of
our Netlibrary collection and one of the students found a title he
wanted to read and said "But where's the book?"
* I think one of the issues of Federations not funding libraries
is that the leadership is often wealthy and if they want a book, they
buy it. They don't understand the importance of a library.
AJL needs to start advocating for Jewish libraries and Judaic
librarians. While a PhD in Judaics will make YA's new librarian
knowledgeable about many aspects of Jewish research, there is a lot
more to Judaic librarianship. AJL needs to address the idea that
having an MLS makes a difference: that something is taught in library
schools that makes one more prepared to run a library in a
professional manner; that attending AJL conventions and local chapter
meetings is meant to provide the professional with additional
knowledge to better serve their community; that Judaic librarians
take our profession seriously because it makes a difference in Jewish
education.
I thank everyone who has written to me with their letters of
support. The faculty returned last week and students return this
week in Atlanta and I'm very happy to have moved on. The school I am
working at now would have loved to offer me a library position but
they don't have the money. They do have a retired librarian who
catalogs the collection as a volunteer. She has done a wonderful job
so the school has an organized collection. I'm pleased to continue
to have a Judaic library available to me for my own personal learning.
I'm sorry to hear how many others in our profession find themselves
without a job or being cut back. I strongly urge AJL leadership to
place an emphasis on promoting the importance of professional Jewish
librarianship and I will be happy to serve on the committee. As part
of advocacy, AJL should officially write to every Board of Directors
and Headmaster/Rabbi/Organization Director as soon as word of a
possible closing occurs. Articles advocating the importance of
Jewish libraries should also be sent to the local Jewish press.
Best wishes to all for a happy and health New Year.
Evi Reznick
Instructor of Technology
Temima High School
Atlanta, GA
<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]>[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)
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