Preserving Our Preserving Our Treasures:Treasures:YIVO Library

Digitization Projects

The History of YIVOThe History of YIVO

Founded in Vilna in 1925Founded in Vilna in 1925

Mission to serve as the first academic Mission to serve as the first academic

center for East European Jewrycenter for East European Jewry

Established unique Library and Archives Established unique Library and Archives

as a result of systematic acquisition policy as a result of systematic acquisition policy

and efforts of volunteer zamlers and efforts of volunteer zamlers

(collectors)(collectors)

The YIVO LibraryThe YIVO Library

Over 385,000 volumesOver 385,000 volumes

13,000 titles of periodical editions13,000 titles of periodical editions

Historical YIVO Vilna and Mattityahu Strashun CollectionsHistorical YIVO Vilna and Mattityahu Strashun Collections

The most comprehensive collection of publications in The most comprehensive collection of publications in

Yiddish languageYiddish language

Rare Books CollectionRare Books Collection

Bund CollectionBund Collection

Yizkor Books CollectionYizkor Books Collection

Art Books CollectionArt Books Collection

Milwitzky Collection of Ladino BooksMilwitzky Collection of Ladino Books

YIVO Library Digitization YIVO Library Digitization ProjectsProjects

Yiddish Children’s Books Project in Yiddish Children’s Books Project in cooperation with International Children’s cooperation with International Children’s Digital Library and the Center for Jewish Digital Library and the Center for Jewish History, available at :History, available at :http://en.childrenslibrary.org/http://en.childrenslibrary.org/

www.cjh.orgwww.cjh.org

Online digital copies are linked to the YIVO Online digital copies are linked to the YIVO catalog records.catalog records.

Sample view of the YIVO children’s book on Sample view of the YIVO children’s book on www.childrenslibrary.orgwww.childrenslibrary.org

Sample view of the YIVO children’s books on Sample view of the YIVO children’s books on the Center for Jewish History’s websitethe Center for Jewish History’s website

YIVO academic publicationsYIVO academic publications Entire sets of YIVO major scholarly journals, such as Entire sets of YIVO major scholarly journals, such as

Yidishe shprakh and YIVO Bleter were digitized with the Yidishe shprakh and YIVO Bleter were digitized with the help of Society for Hebrew Books (Chaim Rosenberg, help of Society for Hebrew Books (Chaim Rosenberg, Director) and posted on:Director) and posted on:

www.hebrewbooks.orgwww.hebrewbooks.org

www. Yivolibrarybooks.orgwww. Yivolibrarybooks.org

Total of the YIVO editions published by YIVO in Vilna in Total of the YIVO editions published by YIVO in Vilna in New York and by other YIVO branches around the world New York and by other YIVO branches around the world amounts to over 500 titles. All YIVO publications (before amounts to over 500 titles. All YIVO publications (before 1965) were microfilmed. Our goal is a complete 1965) were microfilmed. Our goal is a complete digitization of existing microfilms with YIVO publications, digitization of existing microfilms with YIVO publications, as well as of all YIVO editions published after 1965.as well as of all YIVO editions published after 1965.

Yidishe shprakh, v. 1, no. 1 , Yidishe shprakh, v. 1, no. 1 , New York, January-February 1941New York, January-February 1941

YIVO Library Rabbinical books from the YIVO Library Rabbinical books from the Strashun CollectionStrashun Collection

The Strashun Library is a major historical The Strashun Library is a major historical collection of Rabbinical literature that collection of Rabbinical literature that previously belonged to Mattityahu previously belonged to Mattityahu Strashun 91817-1885), intellectual, book Strashun 91817-1885), intellectual, book collector and philanthropist based in Vilna collector and philanthropist based in Vilna

Currently includes over 17,000 volumes Currently includes over 17,000 volumes Rabbinical books have been digitized in Rabbinical books have been digitized in

cooperation with cooperation with www.HebrewBooks.comwww.HebrewBooks.com (free of cost), total over 8,000 titles.(free of cost), total over 8,000 titles.

The Strashun Library bookThe Strashun Library bookon www.YIVOLibrarybooks.org on www.YIVOLibrarybooks.org

SampleSample

South American Yiddish South American Yiddish PeriodicalsPeriodicals

Supported by the Claims Conference grantSupported by the Claims Conference grant Collection of over 350 unique titles in Yiddish, Collection of over 350 unique titles in Yiddish,

Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, German and RussianRussian

This project is currently in progress. This project is currently in progress. Stage 1, digitization of microfilms (total: over 200 Stage 1, digitization of microfilms (total: over 200

microfilm reels.) Microfilms are currently being microfilm reels.) Microfilms are currently being digitized by the Society for Hebrew Books in New digitized by the Society for Hebrew Books in New York, the YIVO major partner on digitization York, the YIVO major partner on digitization projects. projects.

However, only 50 percents of this collection exists However, only 50 percents of this collection exists in microfilm form, the rest will require both in microfilm form, the rest will require both microfilming and digitization.microfilming and digitization.

Future projectsFuture projectsStrategyStrategy

Our goal is to contribute to digitization Our goal is to contribute to digitization of all publications in Yiddish language of all publications in Yiddish language (books and periodicals)(books and periodicals)

Extending and further development of Extending and further development of YIVOLibraryBooks website and YIVOLibraryBooks website and separate general YIVO Library websiteseparate general YIVO Library website

We are open to collaborative projectsWe are open to collaborative projects