Wednesday, May 24, 2023
Live on Zoom, Registration Required
Virtual Doors at 12:30pm ET | Program at 1:00pm ET
Free with Suggested $12 Donation 

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Join us for a fascinating conversation on uncovering world-class Jewish collections at public libraries across America. Featuring four leading experts in the field, the program will explore Jewish collections at the New York Public Library, Los Angeles Public Library, and the Free Library of Philadelphia. During the first half of the program, each participant will have a chance to show the audience some of their favorite artifacts from the Jewish collections in their library. The program will end with a roundtable conversation between all of the participants, and an audience Q&A. The program will feature Dr. Lyudmila Sholokhova, Curator of the Dorot Jewish Collection at the New York Public Library; Tina Lernø, Librarian and Jewish American Heritage Month Coordinator for Los Angeles Public Library; Joseph Shemtov, Special Collections Coordinator for the Free Library of Philadelphia; and will be moderated by Michelle Margolis, the Norman E. Alexander for Jewish Studies at Columbia University and President of the Association of Jewish Libraries.

More about the Participants

Michelle Margolis is the Norman E. Alexander Librarian for Jewish Studies at Columbia University.  At present, she serves as the President of the Association of Jewish Libraries, and co-directs Footprints: Jewish Books Through Time and Place. Her research focuses on the history of Jewish books and libraries as well as Jewish Studies and humanities computing.

Tina Lerno is a librarian for the City of Los Angeles and part of the Library’s Digital Content team where she is responsible for web content and design, with a focus on teen user needs and comics advocacy. Before becoming a librarian, Tina worked in the world of television animation doing color design on shows such as Harold and the Purple Crayon, Jackie Chan Adventures, and The Boondocks.

Tina is the past chair of the GGNFTs committee for YALSA, and she is starting her newly elected term on ALA Council. She is currently an active member of the Graphic Novel and Comics Round Table for ALA and a new AJL member.

Tina grew up in the Los Angeles suburbs, the child of Jewish immigrants from Denmark and India.

Dr. Lyudmila Sholokhova is a Curator of the Dorot Jewish Collection at the New York Public Library.  She had previously worked at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research where she held positions of the Director of the YIVO Library and Archives and Associate Director for External Relations in Eastern Europe and Russia. From 1994 to 2001, she was a Research Associate at the Judaica Division of the Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine in Kiev, her native city. Dr. Sholokhova is the author of numerous publications on the history of Jewish music and Jewish bibliography.

Joseph Shemtov has been a librarian in the Rare Book Department at the Free Library of Philadelphia since 2008. He curates exhibitions and assists others with their research. His primary focus is to engage community members with special collections. He leads Traveling Treasures, a hands-on history program, and occasionally moderates Story Search From Special Collections, a podcast featuring stories connected to artifacts.

An Official Program of Jewish American Heritage Month (JAHM). Produced by the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in partnership with the Association of Jewish Libraries, the Free Library of Philadelphia, the New York Public Library and the LA Public Library