(21S4) Promoting Jewish Literacy In Academia And In The Community: The Association of Jewish Libraries

May 26th, 2021, 7:00 pm - 8:15 pm

A recording of this class is at https://youtu.be/igD5aaUGuag .

The Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL): The Leading Authority on Judaic Librarianship is a vibrant volunteer-run, international, non-profit organization.  Our membership includes libraries in synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, day schools, yeshivot, universities, Holocaust and other museums, archives, national libraries, and public libraries.  Not all of our members are librarians.  We welcome authors, publishers and any individuals interested in Jewish books and Jewish libraries.  AJL gives out awards each year for the best Jewish books in Fiction, Academic Works, and Children’s Literature.  This class introduces you to AJL and its many initiatives.

The speakers included:                                                               DONATE NOW       

Kathy Bloomfield, AJL President

Kathy Bloomfield is the President of the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL).  Currently “retired,” she uses her time for a variety of activities like book editing, book reviewing and managing her personal library of over 2000 books.

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Michelle Chesner, AJL Vice President/ President Elect

Michelle Margolis Chesner is the Norman E. Alexander Librarian for Jewish Studies at Columbia University and the Vice President/President-Elect at the Association of Jewish Libraries.  She also co-directs Footprints: Jewish Books Through Time and Place. 

Sean Boyle, AJL SSCPL Division President

Sean Patrick Boyle was the Librarian at the Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley, in Allentown PA, and received his MLIS from the University of Pittsburgh. He is the President of the AJL SSCPL division. He is a retired U.S. Naval Officer with over 23 years of service. He has a certificate of completion from the Turkish Naval War College, an MA in Teaching and Learning with Technology, and a BS in Political Science from the United States Naval Academy.

Rachel Kamin, AJL Member on ALA’s Sophie Brody Award Committee and Conference Planning Committee

Rachel Kamin is the Director of the Joseph and Mae Gray Cultural & Learning Center at North Suburban Synagogue Beth El in Highland Park, IL. As a synagogue librarian for over twenty years, she contributes articles and book reviews to BookLinks, School Library Journal, the Jewish Book Council, Judaica Librarianship, Library Journal and AJL Reviews. She facilitates book discussions at five area synagogues and organizations across the Chicago area. Rachel served on the AJL Fiction Award Committee from 2017-2021 and is currently a member of the AJL Conference Planning Committee and represents AJL on the American Library Association’s Sophie Brody Award Committee.