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Subject Guide: Jewish Life Cycle

Highlights of archival and library materials found at the Center that relate to the Jewish life cycle, including its origins, practices, and traditions.

What To Expect When You Arrive at the Center

When you arrive at the Center:

  1. When you first arrive, you are required to pass through a metal detector and security scan
  2. After passing through security, please head to the Front Desk and tell staff you're here to research in the Reading Room
  3. They will check identification and give you a visitors badge to wear
  4. Please use the elevator to the left of the Great Hall entrance to get to the Reading Room on the 3rd floor
  5. On the 3rd floor, take a right to place your items in a locker. You can take a clear plastic bag for essential personal items (see box below)

When you arrive at the Reading Room:

  1. Stop by the reference desk so librarians can sign you in
  2. Do you have an appointment with request and schedule to use materials ahead of your visit through search.cjh.org? If you did, your material should be on hold at the reference desk!
  3. If you didn't make an appointment, please follow these easy steps, using one of the public computers in the Genealogy Institute:
    • Log into your Aeon account at libraryservices.cjh.org/aeon. If you don't have an account, our staff can help you create one!
    • Visit search.cjh.org to find and request materials
      • Click "Save for Later" at the bottom of the request form then proceed to the Reading Room to let a librarian know you have made new requests
      • It will take 15-30 minutes for materials to be paged

A Note on Personal Items

In the Reading Room we need to make sure that our materials are safe and secure. To that end, we provide lockers to store your personal belongings. We also provide clear plastic bags so that you still have quick access to essential items you would like to keep with you.

Items that are welcomed:

  • Paper
  • Pencils
  • Laptops without the cases
  • Cell phones (on vibrate or silent)
  • Digital cameras and tablets

Items that should be left at home, in a locker, or with coat check:

  • Coats
  • Food or beverages
  • Pens
  • Bags, including purses
  • Folders, binders, laptop cases
  • Strollers

PLEASE NOTE:
Young children must be supervised at all times by a parent/adult and must be able to understand and obey all rules of the Reading Room.

Middle and High School students are encouraged to use the materials at the Center for their research needs. We request a school photo ID on the day of their visit to comply with the rules for issuance of a Reading Room pass. Students without a photo ID for admittance must be accompanied by an adult with appropriate identification.

Good Archives Etiquette

  • Please be courteous to your fellow researchers and the Reading Room staff
  • Materials need to be handled with care. If you're unsure of how to handle an item, please ask! We are happy to show you how best to hold and read materials
  • The Reading Room is a place of research, learning, and discovery. Please respect each other's concentration and focus:
    • Talking is allowed, but please keep conversation brief and volume low
    • Longer, louder conversations can be conducted in our adjoining Genealogy Institute or in the gallery area near the elevator
    • Keep phones on silent
  • Feel free to step away from your table to use the restroom, get a drink of water, answer your phone, or just stretch for a few minutes. 
    • Please be aware we are not responsible for your personal belongings. If you are leaving the building for an extended time, please return materials to librarians and let us know you will be returning and that you'd like to put your items on hold.