For researchers with print disabilities, the Library has resources and services available upon request. The following services are available:
Researchers who are homebound or have a print disability or visual impairment can explore many of our research collections online and request digitization of specific items of interest. To request the digitization service, email accessibility@nypl.org. Please note that you must be a patron of the Andrew Heiskell Library. This digitization service only includes material belonging to the research collections and does not apply to branch/circulating collections.
Every public PC at all New York Public Library locations is equipped with JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion softwares.
The Andrew Heiskell Library offers popular reading materials in accessible audio and braille formats, as well as free membership to the Bookshare database of over one million accessible texts. It also offers individual coaching and a large variety of group workshops on topics related to accessible technology. Check the listings on our website, call 212-206-5400, or email talkingbooks@nypl.org
For more information, see the Accessibility at NYPL page.
This research guide provides an introduction to select resources on Jewish history and life in New York City.
New York City has long been a global center for Jewish communities. The city's Jewish population dates to 1654, and rose substantially through increased immigration by the time of the The New York Public Library's founding (1895), and by the Dorot Jewish Division's founding (1897). By 1920, the Jewish population reached a high point of 1,643,000, which was 29% of the city's entire population.
Jewish New Yorkers have contributed much to the city, from the character and flavor of its neighborhoods to its arts and culture scene to work and activism. Jewish life reached new heights in the city with the founding of numerous community organizations and synagogues and the growth of educational opportunities.
Therefore, the New York Public Library's collection, and the Library's Dorot Jewish Division in particular, contain a wealth of sources for research on all things Jewish in New York City.
We encourage you to use this guide as a general starting point. Given the magnitude and complexity of the city's Jewish population and activities, the information here is not exhaustive. Please contact the Dorot Jewish Division at dorotjewish@nypl.org for additional assistance.
Contact: Dorot Jewish Division Reference Librarians
476 Fifth Avenue (42nd St and Fifth Ave)
First Floor , Room 111
New York, NY 10018
(212) 930-0601
dorotjewish@nypl.org
Subjects: Dorot Jewish Division, Jewish Studies