The Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) is an international organization dedicated to the production, collection, organization and dissemination of Judaic resources as a library, media, and information service. Gold, Leonard Singer. 1990. “A Celebration of the Association of Jewish Libraries, 1965-1990.” Judaica Librarianship 5 (April): 109–209. AJL has members in the United States, Canada, Israel and over 22 other countries.
It was formed through a 1966 merger of two organizations, the Jewish Librarians Association, founded in 1946, which concerned itself with collections of Judaica in academic, archival or research institutions, and the Jewish Library Association, founded in 1962, which concerned itself with collections in the synagogue, school and community, and several other smaller libraries and media centers.
The organization has various professional development opportunities, including library training webinars.Weine, Mae "The Association of Jewish Libraries " In John F Harvey (Ed ), Church and Synagogue Libraries Metuchen, New Jersey and London Scarecrow Press, 1980, pp. 232-240. and workshops, mentoring programs and continuing education opportunities. Scholarships are available to members who wish to pursue studies in Judaica and Hebraica librarianship.Yenish, Joseph "The Association of Jewish Libraries " Special Libraries (December 1967), pp 707-709.
Publications The Association of Jewish Libraries publishes several serials including a scholarly journal Judaica Librarianship and the electronic quarterlies AJL News and AJL Reviews. AJL also has an electronic mailing list called Hasafran, which is Hebrew for "the librarian".
In 2014, Judaica Librarianship became an online journal. Back issues are freely available 12 months after the publication date. The journal seeks to publish research articles and essays related to the development and management of Judaica collections in all types of libraries and archives, the initiation and coordination of digital curation projects, the creation and dissemination of information resources in all formats, and the promotion of Jewish information literacy for diverse audiences through various outreach activities.
Awards The Association of Jewish Libraries awards the Sydney Taylor Book Award annually for books that authentically portray the Jewish experience in children's literature, the Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award for the most promising unpublished Judaic manuscript for children and the AJL Jewish Fiction Award for works of fiction for adult readers with significant Jewish thematic content.
The Association also awards the Judaica Reference and Bibliography Awards for outstanding scholarly reference works and bibliographies.
Conferences The AJL Conference, held annually, is a valuable way for Judaica librarians to share ideas, learn, and network with their peers.
Locations of past conferences
2023 (58th) Online 2022 (57th) Philadelphia 2021 (56th) Online due to Covid-19 2020 (55th) Online due to Covid-19 2019 (54th) Woodland Hills, California 2018 (53rd) Boston 2017 (52nd) New York City 2016 (51st) Charleston, South Carolina 2015 (50th) Washington, D.C. 2014 (49th) Las Vegas 2013 (48th) Houston 2012 (47th) Pasadena, California 2011 (46th) Montreal 2010 (45th) Seattle 2009 (44th) Chicago 2008 (43rd) Cleveland 2007 (42nd) Phoenix, Arizona 2006 (41st) Cambridge, Massachusetts 2005 (40th) Oakland, California 2004 (39th) Brooklyn 2003 (38th) Toronto 2002 (37th) Denver 2001 (36th) La Jolla, California 2000 (35th) Washington, D.C. 1999 (34th) Boca Raton, Florida 1998 (33rd) Philadelphia 1997 (32nd) Cleveland 1996 (31st) Toronto 1995 (30th) Chicago 1994 (29th) Atlanta 1993 (28th) New York City 1992 (27th) Los Angeles 1991 (26th) Miami Beach, Florida 1990 (25th) JerusalemPosner, Marcia. 1990. “The Association of Jewish Libraries: A Chronicle.” Judaica Librarianship 5 (April): 110–40. 1989 (24th) Washington, D.C. 1988 (23rd) Kansas City, Missouri 1987 (22nd) Livingston, New Jersey 1986 (21st) Montreal 1985 (20th) Cleveland 1984 (19th) Atlanta 1983 (18th) Long Beach, California 1982 (17th) Columbus, Ohio 1981 (16th) Liberty, New York 1980 (15th) Philadelphia 1979 (14th) Cincinnati 1978 (13th) San Francisco 1977 (12th) Waltham, Massachusetts 1976 (11th) Montreal 1975 (10th) Miami Beach, Florida 1974 (9th) Chicago 1973 (8th) Los Angeles 1972 (7th) Toronto 1971 (6th) Jerusalem 1970 (5th) New York City 1969 (4th) Atlantic City, New Jersey 1968 (3rd) Cincinnati 1967 (2nd) Boston 1966 (1st) Philadelphia
American Library Association The Association of Jewish Libraries is an affiliate of the American Library Association.
References
External links Official website of the Association of Jewish Libraries Judaica Librarianship Sydney Taylor Book Award Winners Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award Winners Reference and Bibliography Award Winners