The Stanford Hillel library is about to undergo some major changes.
“We will be working out a long-range plan for the agency over the summer on how to best serve the student community,” said Rabbi Yoel Kahn, Stanford Hillel executive director.
In its 20-year existence, the Jewish library has grown from 600 to nearly 6,000 books under the direction of part-time librarian Sally Wieder and former Hillel executive director Rabbi Ari Cartun. At the same time, resources on campus for Jewish students and those in Stanford’s Jewish studies program have expanded significantly.
“What’s different from years ago is that there is a strong Jewish studies program on campus,” said Kahn.
Stanford University already has a high-tech, extensive Jewish library. Kahn and the Hillel board of directors want to complement that library, rather than shadow its efforts. “One of our goals is to be in conversation with the university library so that the two collections don’t overlap.
“Our vision is more of a homey library, rather than digging hard and deep for information,” he said. Whereas Stanford’s library takes “the scholarly approach,” Kahn said, “we take the popular. Our library is where the campus Jewish community hangs out, studies and reads.
“Low threshold is the key phrase for us. When someone wants to know something about Passover, we don’t want to send them on a scholarly search. We want to provide accessible answers on the shelf right there.”
The library operated on an annual budget of $3,500, plus Wieder’s two-day-per-week salary. However, two years ago the Hillel board decided to discontinue funding the library. Since then, private donors have pitched in to help it continue operating.
A group of volunteers, cultivated by Wieder, helped staff the library, which was open 40 hours per week at the same Hillel office location in the Old Union Clubhouse.
Because Hillel is restructuring, Wieder’s last day is Wednesday, June 10.
“Sally helped start the library and with love and devotion has nurtured and grown it,” said Kahn. “We have a well-maintained and well-rounded core Jewish collection,” said Kahn.
He insisted that the library is in no danger of closing and said it will be staffed in time for the fall semester. “It is unclear how the library will be staffed,” he added. “We’re looking at available funding. The board hasn’t made any decisions yet.”
One initial goal is to finish the retrospective reconversion, a project Weider started, which catalogues the collection on computer. Also on the wish-list is to purchase the Encyclopedia Judaica on CD-ROM.
While the library is adding higher-tech elements to improve efficiency, the warm community atmosphere will continue to be cultivated, said Kahn. For instance, the successful honor book check-out system will remain.
The overall purpose of Hillel will not change either, according to Kahn.
“Hillel is the place where Jews connect with other Jews doing Jewish things. The library helps us be the one-stop place for Jewish resources on campus.”
Fund-raising is an immediate priority for Kahn and the other four Stanford Hillel staff members.
“We will expand the fund-raising and we will be able to support the library,” he said.