Beyachad Library’s about-turn welcomed

ANT KATZ

The SA Zionist Federation’s Isie Maisels Library at Beyachad in Johannesburg has done an about-turn and, not too long after the heritage library was converted from a “lending” library to a “reference” library, the facility has once again started lending out books.

As of August 1, most of the books at the library will be able to be taken off the premises, librarian Maxine Fine told Jewish Report last week.

RIGHT: Maxine Fine and Eric Mathobo PIC – BENJI SHULMAN

There is no change in respect of the policy of their very popular audio-visual material as DVDs were always leant out to the community. These include both documentaries and films and in both English and in Hebrew with subtitles.

Fine took charge of the library in 2014 and has, ever since, been re-cataloguing the entire collection of unique material related to South African Zionism. It is especially well-used by academic researchers.

Fine is ably assisted by Eric Mathobo.

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