Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Spring 2009 CATLA Conference



Stay tuned for details about the upcoming CATLA conference in Spring 2009. So far, it looks like it will be in April. More information to come as plans unfold.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Spertus visit

This fall, Spertus Institute hosted our CATLA Conference.
The following is a recap of what was covered at Spertus:

CATLA Business Meeting:
Motion to appoint Kate Ganski as Vice President was approved.
Motion to increase CATLA dues to accomodate ATLA 2012 expenses was approved.
Motion to offer one $1,000 scholarship for CATLA librarian to attend his/her first ATLA conference in 2009 at St. Louis was approved.

Spertus Tour:
Glenn Ferdmann, Kathy Bloch, and Camille Shotwell took groups of CATLA members on a tour of Asher Library, Archives, and the Conservation Lab.

Overviews were given by:
Gail Goldberg (Asher Library)
Joy Kingsolver (Archives/Special Collections)
Karen Lee (Conservation Lab)

Encyclopaedia Judaica Comparison/Contrast:
Camille Shotwell provided a brief history of EJ, including the Jewish Encyclopedia.

The second edition does not replace the first. They should be used together.
The first edition emphasizes: Holocaust, State of Israel, and centrality of the Jewish community in the United States.
The second edition has many new articles, contributors, entries, illustrations, and
bibliographical listings. Much has happened with Israel since 1972!
The second edition has strengths and weaknesses. One of the main strengths is the online searchable PDFs for those institutions that purchase the online version. Weaknesses include items omitted, misinformation, and data not updated.

Jewish Reference Sources:
Aside from EJ, there are a host of other useful resources available on Jewish Studies. A few that were mentioned by Kathy Bloch and Glenn Ferdmann include:

Encyclopedia of Judaism edited by Jacob Neusner, Alan J. Avery-Peck and William Scott Green. New York: Continuum, 1999. 3 volumes.

The Oxford Dictionary of the Jewish Religion, R.J. Zwi Werblowsky, Geoffrey Wigoder, editors in chief. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.

RAMBI
Articles on Jewish people and Eretz Israel

Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, edited by K. Elliger and W. Rudolph. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelstiftung, 1967.

Encyclopedia of Midrash: Biblical Interpretation in Formative Judaism, edited by Jacob Neusner and Alan J. Avery-Peck. Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2005. 2 volumes.

The Mishnah: A New Translation with commentary by Pinhas Kehati. Jerusalem: Eliner Library, Dept. for Torah Education and Culture in the Diaspora of the World Zionist Organization, 1987- 25 volumes.

The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition: A Reference Guide, Adin Steinsaltz. New York: Random House, 1989.

Chicago Jewish History:
Joy Kingsolver provided a tour of the Archives and discussed a pertinent resource on Chicago Jewish History owned by Asher Library.

Bregstone, Philip P. Chicago and Its Jews: A Cultural History. Chicago: privately published, 1933. Introduction by Julian Mack.

Much thanks to Spertus staff for their presentations and hospitality!

Monday, October 20, 2008

Last Call: Fall CATLA Registration

CATLA Members:

Today is the deadline for registration for the Fall 08 CATLA Conference at Spertus Institute. Please email Lugene lugene.schemper@calvin.edu to let him know you plan to attend!

Monday, September 22, 2008

Fall 2008 Conference Schedule - Oct 27th, 2008


Here is the schedule for the upcoming Fall 2008 CATLA Conference on October 27th at Spertus Institute:

9:00 - 9:30 am Registration & Refreshments
9:30 – 10:00 am Business meeting
10:00 – 10:45 am Tour of library, archives, & conservation lab
10:45 - 11:00 am Brief intermission
11:00 – noon Jewish Reference Encyclopedias: comparison and evaluation

Noon – 1:30 pm Lunch (visit local restaurants)
1:30 - 3:00 pm Survey of major Jewish studies reference sources with discussion and questions
3:00 pm Conference wrap-up

Asher Library staff will be leading each session.

For driving directions and map: Spertus Institute

For registration, please contact Lugene Schemper lugene.schemper@calvin.edu, the current CATLA president. Please register by Monday, October 20th!

Looking forward to seeing you there!

Friday, August 15, 2008

CATLA Fall 2008 Conference



Monday, October 27th

Where: Asher Library of the Spertus Institute
610 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago

When: 9 AM-3 PM

Topic: Reference Resources in Jewish Studies

Find out more about Spertus

Conference schedule forthcoming!

Monday, March 17, 2008

CATLA Spring Conference - April 11th, 2008


Conference Schedule
CATLA @ Calvin College
  • 10:00-10:30 Business Meeting
  • 10:45-12:00 Overview of the history of the Internet with special focus on recent developments by Harry Plantiga [about Harry] from Calvin College [Directions to Calvin] and the Christian Classics Ethereal Library
  • 12:00-1:00 Lunch at Calvin (cost $5 per member)
  • 1:00-2:30 Show and tell of Internet services at CATLA schools featuring:
    • Gregory Morrison from Wheaton
    • Terry Robertson from Andrews
    • Chad Pollock from JKM
    • a presenter to be determined from Calvin's Library
  • 2:30-3:00 Concluding discussion looking at the next steps that we are investigating.
REGISTRATION:

Please register with an email to Lugene Schemper, and indicate whether you will take lunch in the faculty lunch room. The cost is $5.00 and includes a salad bar and vegetarian entrees. More information on dining at Calvin.

Lugene would also have you know that "we'll be meeting at the seminary (#41 on the map) in the Covenant Room. There will be parking in the lot to the east of the seminary. We'll be eating in the Alumni Board Room in the Commons Annex of the college (#5 on the map). The seminary (but not the college) will be on spring break, so not very lively. There are a few spots specifically designated for visitors on campus, but actually, one can park in any legal spot and it's ok." View the map he's referencing.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

CATLA Spring Conference @ Calvin College

Happy new year!

We are heading back to Michigan for the 2008 Spring Conference that will take place on April 11. The CATLA Board will meet in early February to work out the program and schedule. An email will go out to members with more details after the board meeting.