YIVO Library
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Frequently Asked Questions

Jump to: General | Archives and Library | Events | Courses | Membership | Volunteering | Publications

General

Can I visit YIVO?

YIVO, located in the Center for Jewish History in New York City, welcomes visitors for programs, exhibitions, and research. See our visitor information to learn about hours and access.

Is your facility ADA-compliant?

The Center for Jewish History is ADA-compliant. All spaces open to the public are wheelchair accessible. For the Leo and Julia Forchheimer Auditorium, a limited number of assistive listening devices are available for deaf and hard of hearing individuals upon request at the Center’s box office.

I don’t live in New York. Are there ways to engage with YIVO online?

The majority of our programs take place online and are available to watch on our YouTube channel or at our Video & Audio Archive.

YIVO offers self-paced online classes with YIVO’s Shine Online Educational Series, free of charge. We also offer live, online educational programming year-round. Find out more.

YIVO also offers remote research services including complimentary reference photographs and a paid research assistance program. Please contact reference@yivo.org with questions.

Do you provide Yiddish-English translation services?

We don’t provide this service. But see a list of translators who may be able to help you with your project.

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Archives and Library

Do you have [x] book or periodical in your library?

Search for the title of the book or periodical in the online public access catalog of the Center for Jewish History, which includes the catalog of the YIVO Library. If you can’t find it there, please feel free to contact us at reference@yivo.org to inquire.

Do I need an appointment to do research in the archives and library?

No, appointments to conduct research in the YIVO Archives (manuscripts, photographs, and other special collections) and Library (books and periodicals only) are not necessary.

However, if you are travelling from outside of New York City, or should you wish to ensure a spot in the Lillian Goldman Reading Room on a specific date and time, you are encouraged to make an appointment. More information is available on the Lillian Goldman Reading Room webpage. Please note that YIVO does not administer the system used to make Reading Room appointments. Please contact inquiries@cjh.org should you need help making an appointment in the Lillian Goldman Reading Room.

I donated documents to YIVO. Can I come see them?

Certainly! You can view these materials in the Lillian Goldman Reading Room. Contact the YIVO Archives at reference@yivo.org for more information.

I don’t live in New York and can’t come in personally to do research. Can I hire someone to do research for me at YIVO?

Can’t come to YIVO to do research? No problem! YIVO now offers remote research services including complimentary reference photographs and a paid research assistance program. Please contact reference@yivo.org with questions.

We will also welcome your designated researcher in our library and archives. If you do not have a researcher in New York, we may be able to recommend someone. Please contact reference@yivo.org.

How do I obtain permission to publish a reproduction of an item from your collections or publications? How do I obtain a reproduction of an item from your archives/page from a book?

Read about procedures and see our price list at Permissions & Reproductions.

Is there one place online to see everything that you’ve digitized? When will you have everything digitized?

We hope to eventually have a unified portal to all of our digital images, but that day is not yet here. In the meantime, you can search YIVO’s archival collections (including both digitized and non-digitized materials) here. You can access a full list of and direct links to YIVO’s digitized collections at the bottom of this page.

You can also visit our family of websites, featuring selections of digital images from our collections.

We are also working on various projects to digitize books and periodicals from our 400,000-volume library and documents, photos, and other artifacts from our 24 million-item archives.

How do I go about researching my family history?

Visit our family history research page for more information on how we can assist you in your research.

I need to verify a bibliographical citation. Whom do I contact?

Please contact reference@yivo.org with your question.

How can I donate a book or document to YIVO? What happens to the book or document after I donate it?

Read more about donating books or documents to YIVO on the Donate Materials page. If you’d like to donate books to the YIVO Library, please contact reference@yivo.org. If you’re donating family papers or other historical and cultural materials, please contact:

Leo Greenbaum
Accessions Archivist / Bund Archivist
(212) 294-6145

I need to arrange an interlibrary loan. Whom do I contact?

At this time, YIVO does not participate in interlibrary loan. If you need help accessing a book from our Library, please contact reference@yivo.org.

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Events

I’m having a problem registering for an event.

Please call the YIVO Box Office at (917) 606-8290 or email info@yivo.org.

I have a problem/question about a program at the Center for Jewish History.

YIVO is one of five partner organizations at the Center for Jewish History. Each organization runs its own programs.

Here is a list of the general information numbers of the other organizations that host programs at the Center:

I don’t live in New York. Are there programs I can watch online?

The majority of our programs take place online and are available to watch on our YouTube channel or at our Video & Audio Archive.

How early should I arrive to an in-person YIVO program?

We recommend arriving fifteen minutes prior to the start of an event. This will allow enough time for our security, box office, and registration procedures. Please note that purchasing advance tickets or registering for an event in advance will minimize your wait time.

Will YIVO consider my performance/book/project for a program?

YIVO is happy to review your project for a possible public program. Email info@yivo.org with a description of your project, the speakers or artists involved, and any other considerations.

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Courses

I have a question about a course you’re giving.

Read more about courses in our Education pages or contact info@yivo.org.

I don’t live in New York. Are there classes I can take online?

YIVO offers self-paced online classes with YIVO’s Shine Online Educational Series, free of charge.

We also offer live, online educational programming year-round:

I want private lessons in Yiddish. Can YIVO help me find a teacher?

While YIVO does not officially endorse language programs or teachers outside of YIVO’s own educational programming, we are available to make general recommendations appropriate to a patron’s level or region. Please contact us at info@yivo.org.

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Membership

Am I a member of YIVO? What is the status of my membership?

If you have a question about the status of your YIVO membership, please contact:

Membership Team
membership@yivo.org
(212) 294-6131

What are my membership benefits?

See a list of membership benefits here. If you still have questions, contact:

Membership Team
membership@yivo.org
(212) 294-6131

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Volunteering

How can I volunteer at YIVO?

We are grateful for the assistance our volunteers provide to our programs and projects. See Volunteer at YIVO for more information about current opportunities.

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Publications

Can YIVO publish my book?

YIVO is not a publisher and does not generally accept unsolicited projects for publication. If your book relies on research in our archives and library collections, we welcome hearing about your project. Please send an email to info@yivo.org to let us know what you’re working on.

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