Collection Development Policy
Judaica

PROGRAMS AND CLIENTELE SUPPORTED:

While there is no formal academic program in Judaica here, systematic purchases in the area of Judaica at the University Libraries of Notre Dame dates from the introduction of the Abrams endowed fund in 1977. The bulk of the expenditures from the Abrams fund, as well as another, smaller endowment, the Gilbert fund, has been spent in the areas of religion -- ancient rabbinical commentaries on the law (halachah), ancient rabbinical compilations of scriptural tradition (Midrash, gemara, aggadah), mysticism (cabala), medieval exegesis, and liturgy -- and philosophy, both medieval (e.g. Maimonides) and modern (e.g. Spinoza and Buber). Indeed, the Abrams chairholder is a member of the Theology Department. These acquisitions have been supplemented by receipts on the Blackwell North America, Harrassowitz, and Jerusalem Books approval plans, the latter funded through Abrams monies. Detailed collecting levels for these categories of materials may be found in the Theology and Philosophy collection development statements.

Smaller portions of these funds have also been spent on the history of various Jewish communities, principally in the United States and Europe; again, the three above approval plans have contributed to the building of this part of the collection.

SUBJECT LIBRARIAN:

Alan D. Krieger
Collection Development Department
210 Hesburgh Library
University of Notre Dame
(574) 631-6663
Krieger.1@nd.edu
FAX:  (574) 631-6772

 

GENERAL COLLECTING GUIDELINES:

Languages:  Texts and scholarly works secondary works are collected in English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, and Spanish.

Chronological:  From the earliest recorded texts to the present, although current publications are generally given priority.

Geographical:  Primarily the U.S., Europe, and Israel.

Treatment of subject:  Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of primary sources, reference works, and secondary works of a scholarly nature. The collection of works dealing with modern Israeli political history has not been a part of collecting-building in Judaica per se, although such titles, acquired principally through the Government Department, form an important complement to the core collection.

COORDINATION INFORMATION:

As the "Programs and Clientele Supported" section implies, our Judaica collections principally support research in the Theology, Philosophy, and History Departments.

 

COLLECTING LEVELS:

Subject	Collecting Level
Ancient rabbinical commentaries on the law (halachah), including the Talmud and Mishnah	3
Post-biblical Jewish exegesis of Scripture, including Midrash and medieval exegesis	3
Jewish Liturgy	3
Jewish Mysticism	2
Modern Jewish Religions Thought	3
Jewish Philosophy	3
Jewish History
U.S.	3
Europe	2
Other	1
Jewish Art	1
Jewish Literature	1

 

See also: Israeli Approval Plan document.

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