Yiddish Book Center Introduces Beta Version of Advanced Search Function on Website

Amherst, MA (May 30, 2023) — The Yiddish Book Center has released the beta launch of its advanced search feature on its website, yiddishbookcenter.org. Made possible by a Humanities Collections and Reference Resources grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities' Division of Preservation and Access, this new search functionality increases the effectiveness of exploring the extensive digital collection of over 20,000 objects on the Yiddish Book Center's website.

The expanded set of filters is now available directly from the search page, offering users the ability to narrow their searches to specific collections, languages, keywords, people, or places. The search function supports both English and Yiddish languages, and users can utilize the Yiddish keyboard, conveniently linked below the search box, to search in Yiddish.

"The Yiddish Book Center recognized the need for a more robust advanced search function that enables users to explore specific fields such as interviewee, location of interview, interview date, interviewee birth year, or subject keyword," said Amber Clooney, director of web development and the digital library at the Yiddish Book Center. "With these new search features, users can create searches, filtering by names, places, time periods, and more, to surface all the content and archival collections available on our website across various topics and subject areas."

This innovative search functionality enhances the research experience for scholars and the general public. By unlocking the full potential of the Yiddish Book Center's digital collections, users can now easily discover diverse and valuable materials that were previously challenging to access.

Susan Bronson, executive director of the Yiddish Book Center, emphasized the impact of this new feature, stating, "The advanced search function enables users to delve deeper into our collections, uncovering rich materials and cultural treasures that were previously difficult to access. We are grateful to the NEH for their recognition and ongoing support of this important initiative."

In 2021, the Yiddish Book Center received a three-year NEH grant aimed to enhance access and discoverability of their Wexler Oral History Project, a growing collection of in-depth interviews focusing on Yiddish language and culture and its other digital collections. The Yiddish Book Center has already made significant progress towards achieving their project goals.

Christa Whitney, the director of the Wexler Oral History Project, expressed enthusiasm about the project's advancements, stating, "The advanced search mapping features provide a visually captivating way to explore and connect all of our digital collections. It's thrilling to anticipate the eventual discoverability of our holdings on major scholarly search platforms, as it will open up new research possibilities."

The Yiddish Book Center, now in its 43rd year, has evolved from its origins to save Yiddish books from dumpsters and trash heaps to an institution that actively promotes access to Yiddish resources and culture through digital initiatives, educational programs, publications, translation, curation, and public programs. The Center remains committed to fostering innovation and providing access to the vibrant world of Yiddish language and culture.