One of the most common questions we get in the N.E.A. Library is “where is the library located?” The answer is…complicated.  Just like Jews live all over the world, and are incredibly diverse in their experiences, activities, and practices, books and other library resources about Jews can be found in all libraries on campus.  So the answer to the question is that the Alexander Library is a kind of a virtual library: a way to bring together all of the collections about the Jewish experience into an intellectual framework (and, of course, it is curated by a librarian who can also provide reference and research assistance in all areas of the field). 

But practically, you ask: where are the books?  This new blog series will take us through some of Columbia’s libraries to find the Judaica therein.  We’ll start with the Wiener Music Library and Avery Art and Architecture Library.

Per the Music Library’s website, “The Gabe M. Wiener Music & Arts Library’s collection includes print monographs and serials on western and non-western music, music scores, sound and video recordings in multiple formats, electronic and multimedia resources, and microforms of scholarly interest. Particular strengths include early printed works on music theory, scholarly score editions, and vocal scores of 18th- and 19th-century operas. Also collected are scores and recordings by over 350 contemporary composers.”

Above you can see a photo of some of the scholarly books on Jewish music; but there is much more to be found, including many scores by Jewish composers or of Jewish music, recordings of Jewish music, historic and contemporary, and even databases like the Naxos Music Library, where searches for terms like “Jewish” or “Hebrew” yield hundreds of results.

The Avery Library for Architecture and Fine Arts contains a comprehensive collection of books relating to the visual arts and architecture. Avery is considered a “Library of Record” for architecture, which means that they try to collect every single book in the field. The library thus contains a wonderful collection of, for example, synagogue architecture from around the world (see below), as well as an extensive collection of material relating to Israeli architecture. Due to space limitations, many of the books are housed offsite, so don’t forget to check CLIO first before going!

Jewish art is also well-represented in Avery Library, from medieval illuminations to contemporary art. Avery’s Special Collections Departments, Drawings and Archives and Avery Classics, also contain notable material of Jewish interest, like a detailed elevation drawing of Temple Emanu-El by the Guastavino Fireproofing Company (below).

Finally, Columbia Art Properties is also based in Avery, although its holdings (which includes statues, framed art, and more) can be found all over campus. A notable portrait of Gershom Seixas, Columbia Trustee from 1787-1818, is a wonderful example of some of the gems in that collection.

What’s your favorite Columbia library?