Association of Jewish Libraries 
of Southern California


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  WELCOME TO AJLSC...

  


AJLSC Chapter members to enjoy a social event on July 20 - to view
Return (a musical) based on The Return, by AJLSC member and award-winning author, Sonia Levitin  See details on Calendar page for group rate tickets.


The 2008 AJL Convention is over, but you can still enjoy some of it on the convention blog.  Also, note Steve Bergson's presentation (commentary and photos of comics) - "From Tintin to Waltz with Bashir: Israel and Israelis in Comic Books, Comic Strips, and Graphic Novels."


  2008 Sydney Taylor Book Awards for younger readers, older readers, and teens, announced by AJL.  See press release for winners - titles with annotations.  See Sydney Taylor page on AJL website for list of winners, honor winners, and notable books.  Click here for a special video announcement of the awards.

  NEW!  This extraordinary and valuable online AJL resource is now available in a convenient print edition: The Jewish Values Finder: A Guide to Values in Jewish Children's Literature by Linda R. Silver, Neal Schuman, publisher. Pbk. 2008. 6 x 9, 290pp, $55.00. 
See description.  AJL members may use a special order form to purchase it at a 10% discount from the publisherAll others may order it directly from the publisher - Neal Schuman Publishers


NEW WEBSITE FEATURE -- Check Calendar -- Previous AJLSC Events for summary of past AJLSC programs, including links to resources and photos.


Jewish Library Blogs (websites on which an individual or group of users produces an ongoing narrative - definition source: Wikipedia).   Two AJL members have compiled lists of Jewish Library Blogs from AJL members.  Check them for lots of current information about books, resources, awards, reviews, opinions, news, etc.

Check out our Education page for online classes - besides onsite classes. 


Library and/or School Conferences -- see presentations and/or handouts on our Resources & Links page - Also see AJL Chapters - Workshops for print materials, Power Point presentations, and audio presentations.
   
Standards and Guidelines for Strong School Libraries, with bookmarks and active hyperlinks, is now available for free from the California School Library Association.

Worth reading!  New research study regarding the importance of school libraries -- to share with your decision-makers -- your administrators, teachers, boards.

NEW book/media lists from AJL's Greater Cleveland Chapter recommended books and DVDs for children and adults - on the AJL Website.

New from AJL:  Google videos of the 2006 AJL Freshman Seminars on Beginning Judaica Librarianship - appropriate for synagogue and day school libraries - presented at the AJL Conventions.  See Association of Jewish Libraries Resources on our Resources and Links page.

          
  Check our Education page for current online library courses.  You can learn much from the comfort of your home and computer.

NEWS!  In 2006, AJLSC was incorporated as a California public benefit, nonprofit corporation.  Our governing body is composed of nine Directors, serving two-year terms, who elect our Officers and Advisory Committee members in accordance with our Bylaws.  In 2007, AJLSC was granted tax exempt status by the Internal Revenue Service and the California Franchise Tax Board.


A Group of us at the Autry Museum


AWARDS FOR JUDAICA BOOKS

2008 Sami Rohr Prize for Jewish Literature - administered by Jewish Book Council.
    Winner:  Lucette Lagnado, The Man in the White Sharkskin Suit: My Family's Exodus from Old Cairo to the New World ($100,000 prize)
    Choice Awards ($7500 prize):
             Ilana M. Blumberg, Houses of Study: A Jewish Woman Among Books
             Eric L. Goldstein, The Price of Whiteness: Jews, Race and American Identity

AJL 2007 Reference and Bibliography Award winners 

AJL 2008 Sydney Taylor Book Award winners - for children's Judaica books. 

2007 National Jewish Book Awards - list of winners (authors and titles) presented by Jewish Book Council.  MyJewishBooks.com publishes an annotated list of the 2007 winners.


Notable Books, 2008, of the American Library Association --
     Fiction:  Amy Bloom, Away; Michael Chabon, The Yiddish Policeman's Union; Nathan Englander, The Ministry of Special CasesNonfiction:  Diane Ackerman, The Zookeeper's Wife: A War Story; Walter Isaacson, Einstein: His Life & Universe.

2007 Sophie Brody Award.  "U.S. author of the most distinguished contribution to Jewish literature for adults" by American Library Association, Arthur Brody, and Brodart Foundation.

2007 Reference & User Services Award of the American Library Association:  Encyclopaedia Judaica, 22 vol.

Best Work of American Fiction in Last 25 Years - by New York Times (May 2006) -- One of the Runner-Ups was American Pastoral by Philip Roth.  Other Philip Roth books received multiple votes:  The Counterlife, Operation Shylock, The Human Stain, and The Plot Against America.


Please send questions, comments, or suggestions about this website to
Barbara Y. Leff, Chair, AJLSC Website Committee
[Special Thanks to Debbie Dubb for her help in redesigning our website and serving as adviser.]


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