The Contemporary Jewry Database: Coordination and Flexibility in Bibliographical Registration and Retrieval

The Bibliographical Center in Contemporary Jewry was designed some five years ago to compile a computerized database of bibliographical information relating to various aspects of 20th century world Jewry. A digital minicomputer (VAX-750) was purchased and the ALEPH Information Retrieval program developed at the Hebrew University was adapted for this purpose. In the fall of 1985 we began registering indexed and annotated descriptions of books, articles, films, taped interviews and oUier archival material at or available to the Institute of Contemporary Jewry. The records are accessible both for publication as separate catalogues by the cooperating bodies and for on-line global searching via the ALEPH network of the Hebrew University and other Israeli academic institutions.