Albright Institute Library (AIL)

Identity area

Identifier

JM-AIL

Authorized form of name

Albright Institute Library (AIL)

Parallel form(s) of name

    Other form(s) of name

    • W. F. Albright Institute of Archaeological Research
    • American School of Oriental Studies

    Type

      Contact area

      Type

      Address

      Street address

      26 Salah El-Din Street P.O. Box 19096

      Locality

      Jerusalem

      Region

      Country name

      Postal code

      91190

      Telephone

      + 972 (0)2-6261058

      Fax

      Email

      Note

      Description area

      History

      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.

      Geographical and cultural context

      Mandates/Sources of authority

      Administrative structure

      Records management and collecting policies

      Buildings

      Holdings

      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.

      Finding aids, guides and publications

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

      Access area

      Opening times

      Sunday – Thursday, 10:00 - 15:00

      Access conditions and requirements

      Accessibility

      Services area

      Research services

      Reproduction services

      Public areas

      Control area

      Description identifier

      Institution identifier

      Rules and/or conventions used

      Status

      Level of detail

      Dates of creation, revision and deletion

      Entry prepared on November 2018.

      Language(s)

        Script(s)

          Sources

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

          Maintenance notes

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

          Access points

          Access Points