Identity area
Identifier
Authorized form of name
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
Locality
Region
Country name
Postal code
Telephone
Fax
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/