Stolz-Levi Walter Jacobs Memorial Library
- Our Building
The Stolz-Levi Walter Jacobs Memorial Library aims to provide books and resources that further Jewish study, learning and identity and to provide a space conducive to reading and study.
The Library holds approximately 4,500 books, primarily in English in a variety of topics.
- Jewish sacred texts, commentaries, liturgy, ritual and interpretation
- Jews in history, in Israel and biographies of Jews
- Interfaith relations between Jews, Christians and Muslims
- Fiction by Jewish authors
- Jewish culture and cooking
- Dictionaries and grammars on Hebrew, Yiddish and Aramaic
- Children's and Young Adult's books on Jewish topics
Online Library Catalog
The KAMII Library has joined the twenty-first century. No, we are not ready to abandon printed books for e-books, but we have created the first-ever electronic catalog for the collection. This database can be accessed remotely through the KAMII Web site. It is word searchable to enable the user to find a specific title, author or subject. The catalog is a work-in-process but so far over 500 titles have been added to the database. These represent all books acquired in the past three years and those older books that been re-cataloged. All the listed books will be found either in the Library of Congress section on the west wall of the library or in fiction or biography.
- View the Library Catalog
The Library is a privilege of membership.
Books may be checked out for three weeks by members of the congregation. Complete the checkout card in the back of the book and leave the card at the checkout desk. The library works on the honor system; taking a book without checking it out deprives others of Jewish learning.
Hours
The Library is open all hours that the building is open, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The Library is funded by your donations!
Please consider donating a book to the Library in honor of your simcha, in memory of a loved one, or just because. Our wish list is available at 57th Street Books, or simply send in a donation designated to the Library fund. A book plaque is placed inside each donated book to acknowledge your gift.
Friends of the Library
Work to help keep the library clean, attractive and useful to members. It's fun, not a lot of work, and a mitzvah too! Please contact the KAMII office to learn more about joining the Friends of the Library.
Links to other Jewish Library resources
NextBook: Created in 2003 as a locus for Jewish literature, culture, and ideas, Nextbook is a non-profit organization which commissions books on Jewish themes, sponsors public lectures, readings, and performances in cities around the country, and publishes an online magazine. The website, Nextbook.org, contains information on all of these projects and also maintains an annotated list of recommended books.
Spertus Institute Asher Library: The Asher Library is open to all, Jews and non-Jews, students and scholars, local Chicagoans and out-of-town guests, and offers everyone the opportunity to experience the range and richness of Jewish religion and culture. Borrowing privileges and online access are available to Spertus College students and Spertus members.