The Duke University Libraries are committed to providing top-tier support for Jewish Studies at Duke University. In 2006 the Libraries hired Duke’s first subject librarian dedicated to building the Judaica and Hebraica collection and providing research consultations and instructional services for its users. Through her leadership, the Libraries have been developing significant collections in modern and contemporary Jewish Studies, including areas such as Jewish history, art and culture; The Holocaust; Israel studies; Hebrew literature; and cinema. Meanwhile the Libraries have continued to build the historical collection on topics such as the Bible, the Talmud, Rabbinic literature, Medieval Jewish history, and Archeology of the Holy Land. In addition, the Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library recently made a significant addition to its Jewish Studies collection with the personal archives of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Rabbi Marshall Meyer.
The Libraries will continue to develop the Jewish Studies collection and facilitate the scholarly work and teaching of the faculty of the Center for Jewish Studies. Additional funding from individuals and foundations will enable the Libraries to be more ambitious in building the collection and supporting its use by faculty, students, and visiting scholars.
Collection Endowment (named collection, $300,000)
A collection endowment will enable the continuous development of a distinctive Jewish Studies collection across a broad range of specific subject areas, genres, and formats. Some areas that will benefit from the expanded resources of a named collection include contemporary Israeli or Jewish art, Jewish and Israeli films, Israeli photography, Jewish-American history, history of Zionism, and Modern Israel. Materials purchased could include electronic resources, audiovisual materials, and primary sources as well as print books.
A named, endowed collection will support both the teaching and the research missions of the university. It will also enhance Duke’s reputation as a major site for conducting research in Jewish Studies.
