I disagree with Aviva and agree with Paul and Yaakov.
As a former Rabbinics cataloger at Bar-Ilan University there were
several reasons that the authors name didn't appear.
1. Modesty
2. If it was a Haredi children's book and the author was a women for
modesty reasons (and so that the book would sell ) often only
initials were used
3. If it was a Hasidic text and written by the Admor, the head of a
particular Hasisidic sect, the holiness of the author would preclude
mentioning his name and he would appear as : Adonenu Morenu, Hadmor
hakadosh etc. . We would then investigate who the present or past
ADMOR was of a particular dynasty and thereby identify the author.
4. For tax purposes -- Maas Hachnasa -- authors did not want to be
subjected to pay tax on the proceeds of the sale of their books. Many
of these books were published by the author and only 200-500 copies
were printed. "Those in the know" i.e. from the
same: Yeshiva, Haredi neighborhood, or Hasidic dynasty knew who
the author was.
5. Rabbi Meir Wunder of Jerusalem, has fascinating stories of how he
would tract down the authors of these books. Rabbi Wunder was
responsible for the National and University Library in Jerusalem
receiving two copies of every book published in Israel.
Gita
______________________________________
Gita J. Hoffman, Head Reader Services
WURZWEILER CENTRAL LIBRARY
Bar-Ilan University Ramat Gan 52900 ISRAEL
phone: 972 3 5317803 972 3 5318496
cell phone: 050 4134678 fax: 972 3 5349233
email: [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
