Welcome to the Reference Library
The Cofeld Museum collects books, journals, exhibit catalogs, and professional pamphlets, brochures and reprints. These are for consultation reference only, and there are restrictions on use where accessioned.
Book collections
This series includes books that span from siddurim [prayer books], to religious holiday texts, biographies, books about diaspora Jewish communities, and literature published under the Third Reich, as well as books about Nazi Germany and antisemitism more generally. We have a small number of books written by American Jewish authors (some of which have Buffalo connections), and books about Israel’s history and Israeli life. Historically some of these have been included in our museum displays. These books are for reference only and include rare items.
Exhibit Guides
The former curators collected exhibition guides about American Jewish, Diaspora Jewish life, Judaica objects, and Jewish Art exhibitions. They provide significant resource materials. Historically some of these have been included in our museum as display items. These are for reference use only.
Temple Beth Zion Related Publications
These include siddurim created or printed materials published by Temple Beth Zion, publications of Temple Beth Zion, and books or edited works about Temple Beth Zion, some of which have historically been included in museum holdings for display in our museum cases. A separate series containing some of these titles is identified as a teaching collection. A distinct archival series containing some of these titles is identified as a archives collection. While there may be overlap, each has a separate function, archival, reference and teaching. Within the library holdings, these items are for reference only and include rare items.
Professional Museum and collections guide publications
From AASLH publications to numismatic guides, these reference materials are for staff use. Some are catalogued, and some of have historically been included in the museum collection. These are for internal reference only.
