Amy - so enjoyed reading about the work you do- as a day school librarian in a school with 900 Kids I know it's all about the human connection you make with your patrons while bringing alive Jewish culture and values thru literature. Kol hakavod to you I also encourage you to include high quality picture books that appear" secular" but are imbued with values that are part of Jewish life I can give you suggestions if yu like. Best, Beth Braunstein Sar academy librarian Bronx, ny
Sent from my iPhone > On Jul 7, 2016, at 1:22 PM, Amy Turim <[email protected]> wrote: > > Toby, this is such a sad assessment. Apparently my own experience as a > Reform synagogue librarian is unique. I am salaried (based on an annual > contract for a particular number of hours per year), have a book and services > purchasing allowance that is part of the Temple budget, work closely with the > temple’s Director of Education to enhance classroom experience, and the > library is a source of pride for the entire temple community. > > I know how fortunate I am, but books and reading are very highly valued by > our Rabbi, and I think his lead has strongly influenced our temple culture. > A senior play-reading group meets in the library; I’m often asked to help > find appropriate readings for holiday or special services; I make sure > teachers and clergy know that the collection has books for children going > through difficult times (deaths of grandparents, for instance) and I’m happy > to provide materials at a moment’s notice. > > As I write this I can see that I’ve tried to make the point that the library > is not separate and apart from the temple – it’s a living breathing part of > the community that has much to offer (as opposed to a dusty, old “room of > books”). A few years ago the Director of Education instituted “Chugim”, > electives, as an occasional adjunct to the weekend religious school. The hope > was to raise the interest level for the students and shake up the curriculum > a bit. I was asked if I wanted to lead a Library “Chug” and agreed on one > condition: I would READ. My reasoning was simple: a student who chose the > Library Chug was choosing reading -- not arts and crafts in the library – and > so it would be about books. All these years later, the library’s is the most > popular Chug, and the one most imbued with Jewish values, and mostly… Chelm > stories. I started with them to get the students’ attention and interest, > and year after year it’s what they love, and frankly, WHERE ELSE are they > learning about shtetl life in a way that’s engaging and will stick with them? > (and by the way… I discourage the use of “stupid” to describe the Chelmites; > I tell my students that they are “curious” and just don’t have a lot of > information). I encourage students to tell their parents the stories (most > young parents have never heard of Chelm or the stories; this is part of our > Judaic legacy!) and then I hear from the parents that their children want > these books. I’ve been able to introduce non-readers to the Rabbi Harvey > books and then I hear from the parents that their children are sending emails > to Steve Sheinkin! > > We also have a Birthday Book Club for the younger (K-3) grades. A month > before each child’s birthday a letter is sent to the family, offering them > the opportunity to make a small contribution ($18) to enroll their child in > the club. The child and parent come to my office and choose one of the > recently-purchased books I have that are catalogued and ready to be shelved. > The chosen book is book-plated and personalized (“from mom and dad {or > grandma/uncle/etc.] in honor of Shlomo Cohen’s 6th birthday”) and becomes a > permanent part of the library collection. This is a big thrill to these new > readers – much less so once they reach 4th grade – and it has served as a > wonderful bond to the library… and the temple. > > This is not about blowing my horn – I have my temple board, my Rabbi and the > congregation to thank for putting their money where their values are. If you > want your children to read, Show Them The Books. > I am happy to share more – contact me via the email below – and I hope to see > some discussion in response to Toby’s and my posts. > > Amy Turim > Temple Emanuel > Kensington, MD > [email protected] > > > > From: Toby Harris [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Wednesday, July 6, 2016 5:50 PM > To: 'Andrea Rapp' <[email protected]>; Heidi Rabinowitz > <[email protected]> > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] supportive library article > > Yes, public libraries are doing great! I hate to be Debbie Downer but that > article just depressed me. Sound effect: wonk, wonk. I suppose I’m just > jealous… > > Synagogues and day schools still seem to be suffering financially, and > while I often feel the nostalgia and even enthusiasm for our synagogue > libraries from members and nonmembers - the financial, time and professional > investment does not necessarily follow. To truly utilize and transform our > beautiful spaces and incredible collections requires that same infusion of > money and innovation that the public libraries are getting. How can we > translate those public library user needs into programs that our 21st century > synagogue members and unaffiliated community need and want, are not getting > elsewhere and are willing to support? How can we generate that kind of > enthusiasm in a private, religious community? Will public libraries > collaborate with us in developing programs of Judaic interest? > > Toby > > Toby Harris, Librarian > Temple De Hirsch Sinai > 206-693-3379 Seattle > 425-559-2578 Bellevue > http://lib.tdhs-nw.org for library hours, programs and CATALOG > > > > > > > From: Hasafran [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Andrea Rapp > Sent: Wednesday, July 06, 2016 12:55 AM > To: Heidi Rabinowitz > Cc: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [ha-Safran] supportive library article > > Amazing article, but it kept referring to "library workers," not librarians. > Is this going to be our new moniker, the way doctors have become "health care > providers?" > Andrea Rapp > > Sent from my iPad > > On Jul 5, 2016, at 1:01 PM, Heidi Rabinowitz <[email protected]> > wrote: > > Here is a wonderfully upbeat article about the power of libraries and the > love people have for them. It’s about public libraries in New York City, and > even though it doesn’t exactly apply to my synagogue library, it’s still very > uplifting, and probably worth sharing with your boss and your library’s > stakeholders. Thanks for Pnina Moed Kass for sharing it with me. – Heidi > Rabinowitz > http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/05/nyregion/resurgent-new-york-city-libraries.html?emc=eta1&_r=0 > > =============================== > Listen to THE BOOK OF LIFE Podcast! > Hosted by Heidi Rabinowitz > www.bookoflifepodcast.com > > __ > 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: > [email protected] > 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: [email protected] > 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 > [email protected] > https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran > > Virus-free. www.avast.com > __ > 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: > [email protected] > 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: [email protected] > 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 > [email protected] > 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: [email protected] 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: [email protected] 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 [email protected] https://lists.osu.edu/mailman/listinfo/hasafran
