Association of Jewish Libraries N E W S L E T T E R September/October 2008 Volume XXVIII, No. 1 The Cleveland Convention through a Veteran’s Eyes RITA FR ISCHE R I’ve been to Cleveland twice, both times for AJL conventions. The that we all decided a box of tissues would have to be included first time was memorable in that I arrived safely but my luggage at any such future meeting. Sid Fleishman as keynoter was, as never did. Never. It contained all the materials for my scheduled always, a delight, and should be termed a national treasure. workshop along with my clothes. I stayed up much of the night But the best thing about revisiting Cleveland happened the making new charts and on Sunday morning Ralph Simon found first day as I walked the hall from the exhibits area toward the me an open department store. After pulling together a conven- elevators. A young woman walked toward me and I thought I tion wardrobe in a record 50 minutes, I got back to the hotel in was seeing things. But I wasn’t. Rachel had been my front desk time for my presentation, vowing to stick to carry-on luggage assistant at Sinai Temple Library for a couple of years before go- in future. ing over to work for Rick Burke at the University of Judaism. I This year’s convention was memorable too. By now, I’ve been to heard she met someone and married; then I lost track. But here almost every AJL convention since my first one in San Francisco she was, married, with three children, working on building a Ju- in 1978. Over the years, it’s become harder to pinpoint what stands daic library in the town where the family now lives, and happily out from each experience. So, before starting to write this article, attending her first AJL convention. When she thanked me for all I made the mistake of going back to some of my old presidential she had learned and told me how happy she was working in her convention reports in Library Light, the AJLSC newsletter, to jump- library, I flashed back to San Francisco and my first convention. I start myself. I almost panicked. Obviously, I had gone to every thought of Anne Kirshenbaum and Nettie Frishman, of Barbara session, written up every meeting, taken notes ad infinitum and Leff, Hazel Karp, and the countless other mentors, examples, passed all of them on as infinitely valuable. Facts were mostly influences, and friends I’ve been blessed with through AJL since what I absorbed and transmitted back then. But not now. then. For them, for young Rachel, for this yearly assembly, for This time, it’s the wonderful sense of continuity in AJL, the being able to be still part of it, for all of you, I am grateful. people, the electricity, and the sense of purpose and belonging, which seem most important. Since I revisited Cleveland one week after we finished moving from our California home of A First-Time Attendee’s Perspective many years to Seattle, Washington, I was particularly vulner- DEBBIE COLO D NY able, perhaps, to events and people that tied past to present. This convention offered several such triggers. What a wonderful four days! This was my first AJL conven- The first was seeing Ellen Frankel again. Her work at JPS had tion and I commend Wendy Wasman, Andrea Davidson, and long been important to me, especially her effort to promote more the entire Cleveland chapter and national board for doing an children’s books, an uphill battle but a noble one. Next was see- outstanding job. Before I became a librarian, I was a synagogue ing and spending time again with Marcia Posner, a very special education director for over 20 years. I attended the National As- friend and colleague whose work on children’s literature had sociation of Temple Educators’ conventions and I must tell you inspired me as it did so many others. Our long distance friend- that in my 20+ conventions I never learned quite as much, never ship grew directly from my involvement in AJL. met so many knowledgeable individuals, and never felt quite so Serving on a panel with Adaire Klein and Dr. June Cummins welcome as I did at AJL. about Sydney Taylor’s literary legacy was both an honor and a I felt so proud to be a brand new member of the Sydney Taylor trip into the past for me. I was chair of the AJL Children’s Book Book Award committee because the caliber of presentations of- Award Committee in 1978 when, at my first convention, we fered by STBA members past and present was so outstanding. proposed renaming it the Sydney Taylor Award after the author I had no idea that Wednesday’s offerings were experimental who had died in February of that year. And I was deeply moved because the program was flawless—kudos to Rachel Kamin and the next year by having Ralph Taylor at the awards table when I the STBA Committee. I was absolutely star-struck meeting all presented the first Sydney Taylor Award to Doris Orgel, forThe the authors! It was also great to be able to put faces with names Devil in Vienna. that I see on Hasafran and especially in our STBA emails. I’ve Cleveland’s special and innovative day-long Celebration of been telling everyone what a worthwhile, fun convention it was Jewish Children’s Literature, which marked the award’s 40th an- and I’m looking forward to helping with next year’s convention niversary, was extraordinary. Never have I seen three YA authors as part of the Chicago chapter. (Sonia Levitin, Carol Matas and Margo Rabb) more effortlessly and honestly connect with an audience of librarians, to the extent Convention coverage continues on p. 27. Association of Jewish Libraries Doris Orenstein P.O. Box 1118 President’s Message Teaneck, NJ 07666 SUSAN DUBIN Memorial Fund 212-725-5359, [email protected] YELENA LUCKE R T Shalom aleichem! The outstanding Cleveland convention is The AJL Newsletter (Irene Levin- now a pleasant memory, but on behalf of the whole organization The Doris Orenstein Memo- Wixman z”l, founding editor) is published quarterly by the I want to thank the hardworking Cleveland group led by Wendy rial Fund helps our members Association of Jewish Libraries Wasman, Andrea Davidson, Linda Silver, Marcia Klein, and so attend their first AJL conven- to inform members about associa- tion activities and issues related many others! You all made us feel especially welcome. Everything tion. Recent donations were to Judaica libraries. Receipt of the was so well organized with exceptional programs. received from: newsletter is one of the benefits of We are grateful to the 2006-2008 board and council members membership. Annual dues are $50 Ronda and Fred Rose, in for individuals or institutions. for their dedication and unstinting effort on behalf of AJL. Past memory of Noreen Wachs’s president Laurel Wolfson has led the way in pushing AJL to beloved husband Joel Please send requests for member- grow and thrive. I consider it both an honor and a privilege to Libby White, in memory of ship and dues information to: have been elected AJL president, and I will strive to follow along Joel Wachs, husband of Nor- Laurie Haas P.O. Box 3816 the leadership path that has been set by so many. I look forward een Wachs; and in honor of Columbus, OH 43210 to working with all of you, our members, AJL’s most valuable Cheryl Banks’s retirement Phone: (614) 864-0299 X133 resource. The organizational chart on the website has an email [email protected] AJL Greater Cleveland Chap- link to each officer and chair. Please let us know how the board ter, in memory of William Send adult books for review to: and council can best serve you. Herman, father of Aimee Daniel Scheide S.E. Wimberly Library This July, I started an AJL blog, People of the Books, at www. Lurie Florida Atlantic University jewishlibraries.org/blog, as a means of communicating with our Rachel Glasser, in memory 777 Glades Road Boca Raton , FL 33431-6424 membership more often. Please check it out for news and views of Joel Wachs, husband of 561-297-0519 and post your comments. I would love to share some of your AJL Noreen Wachs [email protected] experiences, too. Send me information and I will post it. AJL Capital Area Chapter, Adult Review Editor One of the mandates given to this board and council at last in memory of Sally R. Ko- Merrily F. Hart year’s midwinter meeting was to form a committee to re-evaluate robkin, beloved mother of Siegal College of Judaic Studies 26500 Shaker Blvd. our mission and goals and make sure our organization is truly Gail Shirazi; in memory of Beachwood, OH 44122 meeting the needs of the membership. Etta Gold and Rachel our past chapter member [email protected] Leket-Mor are chairing this committee. In conjunction with the Dr. Edith Zober; and in Children and YA Review Editors Public Relations Committee, led by Heidi Estrin, they are using memory of Sarah Brown- Linda Silver & Anne Dublin some of the excellent resources provided in the Valuing Libraries [email protected] stein, mother of Rita Kopin, [email protected] Continuing Education class at the convention to come up with a AJL CAC member “value proposition” that defines who we are, and highlights how Sally and Robert Brown, in General Editor Libby White we meet the needs of our members.