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AJL
Synagogue, School & Center Division
The Synagogue, School & Center Division of the Association of Jewish
Libraries is a professional organization with an energetic membership
of librarians from institutions of varied sizes and missions who are
eager to share information. You are invited to become active in our
organization and to take advantage of all the services offered.
Our organization offers many opportunities to interact with others
interested in Judaic literature and materials. We network through local
chapters all over the United States as well
as worldwide; through our active Internet discussion list, Hasafran;
via e-mail, fax, and telephone; and, through an annual international
conference as well as local and regional
workshops. The AJL membership directory, available to members on the AJL website,
helps us to keep connected.
There are many means through which AJL in general, and the SSC division,
specifically, promote the profession of Judaica librarianship:
- We publish a quarterly newsletter
that contains news about Jewish book publishing; reviews of books
and other materials; and, local, and international Judaica librarianship
information.
- We also publish a scholarly journal, Judaica
Librarianship, as well as the Proceedings
of our annual conference. Other materials
of interest to school, synagogue, and center librarians include "How
to Organize a Jewish Library," “Excellence in Judaic Children’s
Literature: A Guide for Book Selectors, Award Judges, and Reviewers,”
“Notable Children’s Books of Jewish Content,” “Creating a Collection:
A Resource Booklist for a Beginning Judaic Library,” “Developing a
Judaic Children’s Collection: Recommended Books and Videos,” "Library
of Congress Subject Headings in Jewish Studies," and publications
about the Elazar and the Weine classification systems.
- AJL’s new Internet publication, The Jewish Valuesfinder, is a free source of information and guidance about recommended Jewish children’s books and the values contained in them.
- We hold an annual convention that
affords the membership opportunities to attend formal presentations
such as lectures, workshops, and courses and also to communicate informally
with librarians in the field who come from all over the country and
the world.
- The SSC division has a number of very important committees, among
them the Sydney Taylor Book Award
and the Manuscript Award, the Library
Accreditation Committee, the Outreach Committee, the Mentoring
Committee and the Cataloging Committee. Members’ participation in these committees is urged!
- The organization presents scholarships, honors, and awards for special
contributions to the profession and to AJL.
- Bibliographies are available for the membership from the Bibliography
Bank.
In spite of the many achievements of our all volunteer organization, there are always
areas that require improvement. SSC endeavors to meet the specific needs of school librarians, synagogue librarians,
and center librarians. Your input and interest will be most important
in determining how well we succeed.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or inquiries you
may have. I hope we will meet in person at our next convention in Scottsdale,
Arizona, in June 2007.
With best wishes,
Etta D. Gold
President, SSC Division
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