Generous Donation

I am happy to report that the 2008 Convention is the recipient of a very generous donation. We have received $6,000 from Andrew and Judy Green of the Henry & Eugenia Green Family Foundation. This gift is the second installment of a three-part gift to support AJL conventions. Thank you to Mr. and Mrs. Green, and thank you also to Jean Lettofsky, who facilitated this gift in her role as AJL Fundraising Chair.

Donations

In addition to the generous donation from an anonymous donor (see post of September 18, 2007), we have received other noteworthy contributions, and we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and thank the following:

• The Capital Area Chapter of the AJL
• Sarajane Dolinsky
• Marcia Posner

Your generosity will go a long way toward making the 2008 Convention a success!

Convention Corps

The 2008 Convention Planning Committee in a board room at the Marriott

Standing Left to Right: Wendy Wasman, Andi Davidson; Seated Left to Right: Jean Lettofsky, Linda Silver, Bonnie Shapiro

National Convention Chair visits Cleveland

From left to right: Fred Isaac, Wendy Wasman, Andi Davidson, Jean Lettofsky, Linda Silver, in the lobby of the Marriott

On October 10, Fred Isaac, AJL's National Convention Chair, came to Cleveland to meet with members of the Convention Corps. We discussed the plans underway for the 2008 Convention. Here are some updates:

• Programming: Linda Silver reported that we have many confirmed programs on topics such as: Hebrew storytime; using puppets to teach tolerance; graphic novels that feature Israel; book clubs; copyright issues; Jewish music; and humor in Israeli and American picture books. We have several programs that are tentative and will be confirmed once proposals have been received. The deadline for submitting proposals for programs has been extended to December 1st. Please note Linda's new email address: silverlr@roadrunner.com
  
• Contempo Cuisine will provide all of the meals and coffee breaks during the Convention; the food looks mouthwatering on the menus!


• We have two very exciting tours planned: Sunday, June 22, 2008 - convention attendees will have the opportunity to take a tour of Jewish Cleveland on Lolly the Trolley. The tour will be from 1:00-3:00 PM and will feature new Jewish sites on the East side of Cleveland, as well as the Jewish Archives at the Western Reserve Historical Society and The Temple - Tifereth Israel's historic building in University Circle; on Monday, June 23, 2008, convention attendees can enjoy a light supper at The Temple - Tifereth Israel in Beachwood, followed by a docent-led tour of the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, which is located just steps away from The Temple. Transportation will be provided from the Marriott to The Temple and from the Maltz Museum back to the hotel.


• We have developed a list of local exhibitors and will be working with AJL to attract national exhibitors to our convention.

A special post-convention celebration of the 4oth anniversary of the Sydney Taylor Book Awards will be held on Wednesday, June 25, 2008. Watch this site for further details.

Todah Rabah!

We are excited to announce that we have received an anonymous donation of $3000 from an AJL-GCC member. These funds will help to offset the many convention expenses. Many thanks to this generous member! Please contact our fundraising chair, Jean Lettofsky, at jlettofky@siegalcollege.edu if you are interested in learning more about how you can help.

Call for Papers

The following is the official Conference Announcement and Call for Papers. If you are interested in presenting a paper at the 2008 Convention, please follow the instructions below.

DEADLINE EXTENDED TO DECEMBER 1, 2007

The Association of Jewish Libraries, Inc. will hold its 43rd annual convention at the Cleveland
Marriott East in suburban Cleveland on June 22-25, 2008. Librarians, archivists, and scholars from numerous disciplines will meet to share their interest in Judaica librarianship and related areas.

AJL is soliciting papers dealing with any aspect of Judaica librarianship or scholarship as it pertains to libraries, archives, museums, schools, synagogues, and related institutions. Typically, this has included workshops, panel discussions, and presentations about literature and other resources, programming, reader advisory services, special collections, technical services, library administration, materials selection, collection development, cataloging and classification of Judaic materials, digital and electronic resources, and local Jewish history. Papers should be both educational and interesting.

Those wishing to participate in poster sessions are also invited to submit proposals.

Prospective presenters should submit an abstract by December 1, 2007. The abstract should include the title of the presentation, a one-paragraph summary, the presenter’s name, address, phone number, email address, institution, and a 25 word bio. If the presentation requires audio-visual equipment, please indicate the type of equipment that will be needed.

Send abstracts to Linda Silver:
3729 Meadowbrook Blvd.
University Heights, OH 44118
Please note new email address: silverlr@roadrunner.com

AJL Website has 2008 Info!

The AJL website has posted the latest information about the 2008 Convention in Cleveland. Go to www.jewishlibraries.org/ajlweb/home.htm, click on Convention and follow the link to the 2008 Convention page.