Where do the interviews take place?
At the Yiddish Book Center, in the Karmazin Recording Studio, in Amherst, MA.

Could you come to my house?
At this time, we can only conduct interviews on-site.

Can you do phone interviews?
Sorry, we’re not equipped to conduct phone interviews at this time.

What does the interview cost?
There is no cost to you to record the interview.  The project is made possible by the support of our generous donors. 

Can I have a copy of the interview?
Of course!  You will receive one free DVD copy of your interview to take home with you.  We encourage you to share your stories with your family and friends!  You can also  order additional DVD copies for $25 each, which we will send to you after the interview.

How long does the interview take?
A typical interview is a minimum of 60 minutes.  Please plan to arrive ten minutes before your interview is scheduled.

Is the interview recorded in video or in audio?
Our standard recording mode is video.  If you prefer to be recorded in audio only, please let us know ahead of time.

Do you have advice about what I should wear for the interview?
Simply dress in clothing you feel comfortable wearing.  For video interviews, it’s a good idea to avoid clothes with bold stripes or patterns. 

Who can be interviewed?
You!  We welcome narrators of all ages and backgrounds.  We are looking for stories that relate to Jewish life in America (and around the world!), but you need not be Jewish to be interviewed.

Can you interview me together with another person?
We only interview one person at a time.

How will the interview be used?
Excerpts may be featured on the Yiddish Book Center’s website and used in our exhibits or publications. The full interview will also be accessible on the Internet Archive, an online library where content of all types is available for researchers, scholars, and the general public.  Interviews will be available for viewing and download, though they will be protected by a Creative Commons license, which requires users to provide a full citation, and prohibits commercial use and/or the preparation of any derivative works (excerpting or editing) without explicit permission from the Yiddish Book Center.

Can I limit use of the interview?
Yes. After the interview, we’ll ask you to sign a release form allowing the Yiddish Book Center to use your interview and to make it available on the Internet Archive. The release form offers an option to impose restrictions on how your interview is used.  Please be assured that no interview without a signed release will be used for any purpose.

I prefer to do the interview in a language other than English.  Is this possible?
We prefer to conduct interviews in English, but if you’d rather use another language, please contact us ahead of time and we will try to accommodate you.
 
Why do I have to fill out a Pre-Interview Questionnaire?
The information you provide in your Pre-Interview Questionnaire helps our oral historians tailor the interview to your unique life experience and allows us to do research in preparation for the interview. The more detailed you are in your responses, the better prepared we will be to do the best interview possible.

What will you ask me?
Each interview is unique and is based on your own Pre-Interview Questionnaire.  We generally ask about your background and family history, as well as your specific experiences as a Jew or in relation to the Jewish community.  If you have a great story, we’d love to hear it!

What if I don’t want to answer a question?
You don’t have to answer any question you’re not comfortable with during the interview.

Who will interview me?
You’ll be interviewed by specially trained Oral Historians who are drawn from our staff, our summer interns, and graduate fellows of the Yiddish Book Center.

Can I bring family photos or other items to my interview?
Yes, please! We ask you to bring no more than three photos or other items.  We will ask you to identify the subject of your items in a short description.  With your permission, we can scan the artifacts you bring while you wait (it will take about 30 minutes); or we can scan them after your visit and mail them back to you. 

Please direct other questions to Project Director Christa Whitney at tellyourstory@bikher.org