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Centers librarian. She does not recall
rhe procedure for purchasing new
books.
For the past year, die library has
been staffed entirely by volunteers.
According to Howard Gelberd, the
executive director of the Agency for
Jewish Education, of which
Midrasha is a part, the library still
makes acquisitions, but he would
not disclose the library's budget.
"Some things are being kept up
that are useful. Others are not. There
is an ongoing budget and we do pur-
chase. The librarians make decisions
abou t acquisitions," said Gelberd.
others dispute this. One for-
mer AJE staff member estimated
an $300 was spent on the
ear, with purchasing
e entirely at the
c omptrol ler.
h a dbeen

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A

y

A

But what would I be willing to cut
in order to provide this? I don't
know. I hope it will be placed on the
agenda in the next few years."
Gelberd says the state of the
library is temporary and that the
stacks of books are the result of an
inventory proce,ss. He concedes that
the library has not received as much
attention as other AjE, programs but
says that its needs will be addressed
in the next two years.
Before any changes are imple-
mented, Gelberd hopes to form a
task force to investigate the commu•
nity's research needs and how exist-
ing resources throughout metropoli-
tan Detroit — including synagogue
libraries and the U-M library —
can best be utilized.
"We need a comprehensive corn-
munity
look at what we have [at the
Midrasha] would be too limiting,"
said Geiherd. "If we want to maxi-
ewish books, we
value

iklthough many people in the
community are concerned that the
library is not being maintained, pro-
tected or adequately used, no one
questions the wealth of the
Midrasha's collection, which, accord-
ing to Gelberd, has never been offi-
cially appraised.
Ofra Fisher, who preceded
Gelberd as executive director of the
AjE, describes the books as "price-
less."
"Some are rare, some are out of
print. There are wonderful encyclo-
pedias and wonderful, wonderful
books," she said.
Former librarian Solomon said
the collection includes several copies
the Babylonian and
em 'Talmud, along with
nain b us Jewish biographies.
s of books are stacked on

•,

and need to pay attention to issues

like geography technology and out-
reach. This is a much more complex
issUe than
o
:-.
How do we integrate and
4te - •
.use ofbooks at all ages?"

'..OSSNOMMASENNK

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10/31
1997

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