Thanks to the generosity of Sam and Shirley Zemsky and Carol Pforzheimer and the Carl H. Pforzheimer Foundation, Temple Beit HaYam offers to its members access to the only Judaic library in the area. The Sam and Shirley Zemsky Library is open for circulation to Temple Beit HaYam's members. At present, the library is staffed and open Wednesdays from 10 - 11:30 and 1 - 2:30 and by appointment. Children are welcome, but a parental permission form must be signed before the child's account can be activated. The Pforzheimer collection includes a large Reference section plus circulating fiction, non-fiction and biographies for children and adults, all Judaica. There are also CDs, cassette tapes and videos.
The Library collection has been developed using recommendations from URJ, the Association of Jewish Libraries bibliographies and book reviews (for current materials). Recommendations for purchases can be sent by e-mail.
Book Selection Policy
Materials will reflect primarily the Reform movement
All materials will be selected by the librarian(s) based on authority, timeliness, historical value, literary value
Materials will represent diverse point of view, when appropriate
Gift materials will be judged by the same criteria as those purchased. All books not accepted remain the property of the donor.
Acknowledgment letters (when requested) will state the number and condition of books received, without any evaluation of dollar value.
Circulation Policy
The Temple Board of Trustees has adopted the following circulation policy:
Circulation shall be limited to Temple Beit HaYam members in good standing. Non-members may have access to materials on site only.*
The library will be opened for circulation only when a properly trained volunteer is available.
No food or drink shall be allowed in the Library.
Reference books shall not circulate but are to be used on site only.
Books will circulate for a 2 week-period, with renewals available.
Every member family will have a unique identification number (bar code). Each child will have his or her own identification number (bar code). Bar codes placed on Rolodex cards will be scanned for circulation purposes, together with the bar code for the borrowed material.
The borrower is responsible for the cost of any damaged or lost material. If not paid for directly, the item will be added to the family's bill. If any family or member wishes exclusions from borrowing privileges, notification should be made in writing to the library staff.
No material is to leave the library without a proper transaction being recorded in the circulation program.
To activate their borrowing privileges, children will be required to have a permission slip signed by a parent or guardian, which assumes full responsibility for borrowed materials.
*By special permission of the Rabbi (and with the filing of an assumption of responsibility form), non-members may borrow circulating materials.
Catalog
The library staff of Temple Beit HaYam has selected the Follett Software Company's award-winning software to automate the Zemsky Library. This library automation software allows patrons and staff to circulate and search for resources electronically. Follett's Circulation Plus/Catalog Plus Library System automates such tasks as checkin/checkout, fine calculations, overdue notices, holds and renewals, and inventory. The staff can also select, sort and generate a wide variety of reports, and gather statistics quickly with consolidated setup and report functions.
The computerized catalog (the OPAC) gives every patron better access to library materials by offering a variety of ways to search quickly for information and record those results. Patrons may search by title, author, subject, call number, series, keyword, category and more. The software supports the Boolean terms AND, OR and NOT, as well as wildcards, and patrons may view related sources instantly with SEE and SEE ALSO cross references. Patrons can check availability of titles right from the OPAC, and use the Bookbag button to create custom bibliographies. In addition, there are notebooks containing the library holdings, arranged by subject and also by title.
Every member of Temple Beit HaYam is automatically a patron and has been assigned a patron barcode number. No other registration or card is necessary.
