Albright Institute Library (AIL)

• W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research

• American School of Oriental Studies

The library was first established as part of the American School of Oriental Studies in 1900. It is considered the first American research library in the Middle East. It was moved to its current location in 1926 and expanded later to include two basements (originally water cisterns) and a gallery. In 1996 the library was partially damaged as a result of flooding in one of the basements. The library contains important archaeological collections, the personal archives of archaeologists such as Edmund I. Gordon in 1979, Douglas E. Esse in 1993, and others.

The main collection consists of about 15,000 monographs, 700 journal titles, 170 maps (many from the 17Pth, 18Pth and 19Pth centuries). Another 2,000 off-prints, 150 microfiches, 5,000 slides, 43 sound recordings, and many archival collections. There are about 960 archival boxes, many cardboard boxes and also metal cabinets filled with archival collections, mainly excavation material, consisting of plans, photographs, glass and celluloid negatives, scholars' papers. Some of the unique items include a Samaritan scroll and a collection of 19th century photos taken in the Ultraorthodox neighbourhoods.

The catalogue is available online: http://www.aiar.org:81/opac.htm

Sunday – Thursday, 10:00 - 15:00

Entry prepared on November 2018.

http://www.aiar.org/
Jerusalem historical libraries and archives revisited, Revised report prepared for Open Jerusalem, October 2014, Merav Mack

Author : Open Jerusalem http://www.openjerusalem.org/