What is the Association of Jewish Libraries?

The Association of Jewish Libraries is the leading authority on Judaic librarianship. AJL promotes Jewish literacy through enhancement of libraries and library resources and through leadership for the profession and practitioners of Judaica librarianship. The Association fosters access to information, learning, teaching and research relating to Jews, Judaism, the Jewish experience and Israel.

AJL membership is open to individuals and libraries, library workers, and library supporters. There are two divisions within AJL: RAS (Research Libraries, Archives, and Special Collections) and SSCPL (Schools, Synagogues, Centers, and Public Libraries). The diverse membership includes libraries in synagogues, JCC's, day schools, yeshivot, universities, Holocaust museums, public libraries, and even the Library of Congress. Members represent North America and beyond, including China, the Czech Republic, Holland, Israel, Italy, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

AJL was established in January 1966 with the merging of the Jewish Librarians Association (founded in 1946 and composed of academic, archival or research institutions) and the Jewish Library Association (founded in 1962 for synagogue, school and community center libraries, as well as other smaller libraries and media centers.)

The Association of Jewish Libraries oversees the Sydney Taylor Book Award and Sydney Taylor Manuscript Award committees, which present annual prizes to the best in published and unpublished Jewish children's literature.