Archives & Reference Library

The Archives

Watch for our new upgraded Digital Archives* and Reference Library Catalog, featuring new user friendly, exciting options and expanded archival holdings.

*In appreciation to the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany (Claims Conference) for supporting this archival project.

For more information and questions, please contact us at library@wiesenthal.com or 310-772-7605.

The Archives is a repository for primary source material, including over 14,000 photographs, thousands of documents, diaries, correspondence, artifacts and memorabilia, and artwork.

The Reference Library

The Reference Library has material for all ages and educational levels, in many languages.  In addition to books and periodicals, we also hold many other formats, including videorecordings, audiorecordings, educational kits, visual materials (posters, slides, etc.), and microfilm.

Our resources include:

• A model library of Juvenile and Young Adult literature on themes supporting the mission of the Museum
• Genealogy resources
• Yizkor books (Holocaust memorial books)
• “Special Collections”: antisemitic and hate literature, Holocaust denial literature
• Reference assistance from professional staff, in person, by phone or via email

• Educate, enlighten, and engage students, educators, librarians, scholars, media and the public about the Holocaust and its aftermath; other twentieth century genocides; and, related human rights issues (e.g. racism, antisemitism, multiculturalism, tolerance, et.al.).
• Function as a multi-media resource and documentation center for the outreach and educational programs of the SWC and MOT, and SWC offices around the world.
• Act as a primary research repository to preserve, digitize, and disseminate documents, photographs, diaries, correspondence, artifacts, memorabilia, artwork and rare books.
• Prepare and distribute learning materials.
• Respond to world-wide information requests via e-mail, the Internet and the SWC-MOT web sites, as well as telephone, fax, and walk-in users.
• Lend educational support to all institutional projects.
• Collaborate on programs and projects with other libraries, museums, professional organizations, et.al.
• Outreach to the survivor and the educational communities.
• Development of a model library of juvenile and young adult tolerance literature.
• Sponsorship of the annual Write to Tolerance Institute and the Once Upon A World Children's Book Award.
• Continuing education and Arts & Lectures Programs at the Library for staff, volunteers and public.

Ask a Survivor

• Ask a Survivor program whereby students, researchers, and others are able to ask a survivor a question and receive an answer.

On-Line Catalog

• Search the holdings of the Simon Wiesenthal Center Library through its on-line catalog, including books and multimedia materials.

Circulation

Who may check out materials?

• SWC staff and volunteers
• MOT staff, survivors and volunteers
• Members of SWC or MOT, with a minimum annual donation of $100.00
• Others may check out material by leaving a deposit (Deposit schedule available upon request.)

How long is the check-out period?

• 3 weeks for circulating books
• 1 week for media items (audio and video cassettes) CD-ROMs, DVDs, educational kits, etc.)
• 2 hours or overnight for Reserve books and other selected materials

How many items may be checked out?

• No more than 3 items may be checked out to any one borrower

All overdue, lost or damaged materials are subject to fines.

Reference and Information Services

Reference & Information Services provide:

• Information for the public as well as the SWC/MOT staff, both local Los Angeles and all branches worldwide.
• Responses to the global community, which submits on the average of 570 requests for information per week (these are by all venues of communication - phone, fax, email, mail and walk-ins).
• The Ask-a-Survivor program.
• Resources and bibliographic materials for institutional programs, projects, exhibitions (both temporary and permanent), and the SWC web sites.
• Photocopying assistance to the public.
• Interlibrary Loan service to the public.
• Assistance in Internet training and searching to the public and staff.

Archives

The Archives is open to the public by appointment only, providing original archival materials for research, reproduction, and exhibitions to bona-fide researchers and institutions.

Copy Availability

• Requests for photographic reprints should be made in writing with accompanying explanation and description of project and/or use of photograph to maintain the integrity of the images. All reproduction costs must be prepaid.

Permission to Publish

• Permission to publish images from the Library and Archives' holdings must be requested in writing.

Programs and Events

• A model library of Juvenile and Young Adult Literature, primarily for students and educators.
• A monthly Arts and Lectures program.
• Basic Internet training, by appointment, using the Library/Archives computer station, funded by an InfoPeople project grant, under the provisions of the U.S. Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
• The Once Upon A World Children's Book Award, annually honoring the children's book (ages six to ten) , which best represents the values of tolerance, diversity, human understanding and social justice.
• The Write to Tolerance Institute is an all-day institute of professional development for librarians, educators, and authors, illustrators and editors.

Location

Simon Wiesenthal Center Library and Archives
1399 South Roxbury Drive (third floor)
Los Angeles, CA 90035-4709

Contact

Tel: 310-772-7605
Fax: 310-772-7628
E-mail: library@wiesenthal.com

Hours

Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Friday: Closed
Closed on Jewish and legal holidays