ספרניות וספרנים מארצות הברית והשפעתם על כינון עולם הספריות בישראל

Abstract

From the early 20th century on, American experts in librarianship helped establish the libraries of Israel. One such expert was Sophie Udin, an American Zionist activist who, like other experts, considered herself an agent of American modernization. Her activity in the Yishuv and the State of Israel is central to the history of American influence on Israeli Librarianship and spanned the decades of the 1920s and 1950s. She and her professional colleagues from North America brought with them concepts and methodologies that differed greatly from the traditional German system they encountered upon their arrival. Thus, they challenged the traditions that were in place in the emerging National Library and opened a gradual if obstacle-ridden path to change. The library organizations and collaborations they initiated eventually led to the recognition of librarianship as a profession requiring dedicated training, and of the library as a public rather than a purely academic educational resource. Moreover, since American librarianship is education-oriented, this played a significant role in the feminization of librarianship in Israel.