The Barrows-Loebelson Family Reading Room at The American Jewish Archives.

Introduction to the Reading Room
IntroductionHours of OperationRules & PoliciesPhotocopying PolicyReproduction Price ListPublication and Use PolicyPublication and Use Price ListWireless & Computer PoliciesVisually Impaired AccessBenefactors The renovated Barrows-Loebelson Reading Room at the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives (AJA) opened in the spring of 2004. Located in the Bernheim Library, the first home of the Hebrew Union College Library on its Clifton campus, the Barrows-Loebelson Reading Room is designed to combine the charm and intimacy of the original 1912 reading room with the conveniences of modern electronic information technology.

The Barrows-Loebelson Reading Room is the public gateway to the vast resources of the American Jewish Archives. When coming to the Barrows-Loebelson reading room, researchers are assisted by The Marcus Center’s professional archival staff and have access to the amenities of this wonderful facility.

The faculty, staff, and students of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion - as well as researchers, genealogists, and laypersons from around the country and the world come to the Barrows-Loebelson reading room study the holdings of the American Jewish Archives.

Hours of Operation
The Barrows-Loebelson Reading Room is open from 9 am until 5 pm Monday through Friday. Materials from the Marcus Repository can be requested until 4 pm Monday through Friday.

Holiday Hours and Closures for the 2009-2010 Calendar Year

Reading Room Rules and Policies
Upon arriving at the American Jewish Archives researchers should check in with the staff member at the entryway to the Barrows-Loebelson reading room.

• First time visitors will be asked to fill out an Application for Research (you can download this application and fill it out prior to coming to the AJA).
• Visitors are asked to sign in everyday in the reading room log.
• All belongings must be put into lockers located in the hallway near the reading room. Except for the following items:
  • Paper
  • Pencils
  • Laptops without cases
  • Books needed for research
• Food, drinks, book bags, purses etc. are not permitted in the reading room.
• Talking on cell phones is not permitted in the reading room.
• Research materials MUST remain in the reading room at all times.
• Researchers will only have access to 3 boxes of material at a time.
• Please note that some collections are restricted at the request of the donor and can not be given out to researchers.
• Photocopies may be obtained by filling out a photocopy request form at the front of the Barrows-Loebelson reading room.
• Requests for permission to publish materials must be obtained from the Archival staff.
• Researchers are asked to handle all items with care as many items are fragile and can be easily damaged.
• Researchers wishing to utilize digital cameras to capture images must fill out a form located at the reference desk and receive permission from the Archival staff.

Reading Room Photocopying Policy and Procedures
The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives is a not-for-profit research center. We are pleased to provide to the public free access to our vast collection of materials on the American Jewish experience. Fees are charged for reproduction services only. These funds are used to defray direct costs and to ensure the highest stands of service to the public. The American Jewish Archives accepts payment in cash or checks made out to the American Jewish Archives or payments can be made securely online.

Price List for Reproduction Services:

Photographs

Publication and Use Policy: Copying of Photographs, Film, and Other Materials for Publication or Exhibit
Researchers wishing to publish, exhibit, or redistribute (hereafter “publish” or “publication”) photographs, audio/visual materials, and other materials from collections in The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives for which the AJA owns the property rights and/or copyright must have the written approval of the AJA to do so. All usage of reproduced, copied, or quoted material must credit: 1) the specific collection; 2) The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives and 3) the photographer (if applicable) or record creator (if applicable). All requests to publish must be submitted in writing to the Senior Archivist for Research and Collections. Requests to publish should include:

• information about the forthcoming publication (including format [for example, print, microform media, or electronic], title, expected date of publication, name of author),
• name of publisher
• clear information about the item(s) to be published (name of author or creator, name of collection, date of creation, page or item numbers, where available).

In addition, it is the responsibility of the user to obtain permission to publish from the owner of the copyright (the institution, the creator of the record, the author or his/her transferees, heirs, legatees, or executors). The AJA reserves the right to extend or withhold permission for publication of its intellectual property when copyright for the selected images has been retained by the AJA. In many cases, the AJA can give permission only as holders of physical objects. When copyright is not retained by the AJA, it will refer users requesting permissions for publication to potential image copyright owners whenever possible. The owner of the copyright may charge fees in addition to those charged by the AJA.

Permission to publish materials from the collections of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, when approved, is granted for one-time, nonexclusive use to publish a single edition in a single format or to display a reproduction for a limited time in a specified location. The person making the request (publisher, editor, or author) shall furnish the AJA, without charge, one copy of the publication (book, article, periodical, or TV production, etc.) in which the copied material appears.

Price List for Publication and Use

Reading Room Wireless Connection and Computer Policies
Wireless and hardwire internet connectivity is provided for all researchers. Please feel free to ask for assistance in connecting. The Barrows-Loebelson reading room has one public access computer connected to the internet. Please limit use of this computer to browsing the AJA's online catalogue and website or to quick internet searches related to research.

Access for the Visually Impaired
Through the generous donation of the Rockwern Charitable Foundation, the Barrows-Loebelson reading room is equipped with software and equipment to provide greater accessibility to our materials for persons with visual impairments

Benefactors of the Barrows-Loebelson Reading Room
Dr. Emil Barrows (1913-1994), a noted Cincinnati physician, was a beloved friend of Jacob Rader Marcus and a long time supporter of the American Jewish Archives. To honor his memory, his wife, Winnie Barrows and their family provided a magnificent gift for the renovation and refurbishment of the Bernheim Library’s Reading Room. Renamed as The Barrows-Loebelson Family Reading Room, this area has been transformed into a beautiful and technologically advanced research center for study and learning.