Contemporary Jewry Database
Academic Chairman: Haim Avni
Director: Mira Levine

Background and Objectives:
     The Contemporary Jewry Database, a computerized database of
bibliographical information relating to various aspects of 20th
century world Jewry, has been developed at the Bibliographical Center
of the Institute of Contemporary Jewry. Indexed and annotated
descriptions of books, articles, films, taped interviews and other
archival materials are registered and made available for publication
as catalogs as well as for online searching via the Hebrew University
and ALEPH communications network, thus creating a significant
reference tool for the study of contemporary Jewry.

Current Status:
     At the Bibliographical Center, the staff of the Contemporary
Jewry Database designs and supervises the computerized registration of
annotated catalogs of the various special collections and projects
associated with the Institute of Contemporary Jewry. These include:
        - Bibliography in Antisemitism of the Sassoon International
          Center for the study of Antisemitism
        - Oral History Division
        - Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archives
        - Jewish Filmography
        - Institute of Contemporary Jewry's publications
        - Studies in Contemporary Jewry/Yahadut Zemanenu
        - Bibliography of Contemporary Jewry
Their accessibility is further facilitated by coordinated indexing.
For further details see descriptions of individual projects.
     In addition to computerized preparation of catalogs for
publication, the Contemporary Jewry Database provides the following
services and products:
        - Development and maintenance of an online and/or printed
          thesaurus for the indexing of Contemporary Jewry
          materials
        - Coordination and cooperation in registration of
          participating projects
        - Online searching in the Contemporary Jewry Database as well
          as in other Hebrew University and Aleph repositories
          including libraries in Tel-Aviv, Beersheba etc.
        - Online communications with other Israeli databases via
          Isranet
        - Assistance to researchers in computerizing their research
        - Advising other institutions/projects relevant to
          Contemporary Jewry in bibliographical computerization and
          coordination
        - Contact with other academic institutions via electronic
          mail
Future Plans:
     The following divisions and projects are slated for
computerization as funding and staffing allows:
        - Demography: subject bibliographies; catalog of Demography
          library holdings; index to statistical data
        - America-Holyland Studies
        - Other relevant bibliographical/research projects
        - Online communications with foreign databases such as DIALOG
          or BRS, via ISRANET
        - Personal profiles and current publications lists for
          departments/researchers
        - Further expansion of searching services for researchers and
          assistance in computerizing their research.