Ted Cotler Memorial Library
Our library is the largest circulating Jewish library in the East Bay, with over 7,000 individual items of all types, including:
- Books for all ages
- Video tapes & DVDs
- Audio cassettes
- CDs
Mission Statement
The Library at Temple Isaiah supports the ongoing pursuit of Jewish learning for all members of our community and the surrounding Jewish community in a welcoming atmosphere with a broad range of Judaic books, media and educational materials.
Library Hours and Information
Located in the Temple House building, our 7,000 volume circulating Judaica library, the largest in the East Bay, is open for browsing, reading, reference, and book borrowing for Temple members of all ages. Access to the collection is computerized for better information retrieval. A professional librarian, on hand during hours of opening, will be happy to assist you. Gan Ilan children are invited to regular pre-school storytimes with the Librarian; and Religious School teachers may schedule storytime with the Librarian for Primary School age children. Volunteers may open the Library at additional times for your convenience.
2009-2010 Library Hours (Through May 2010):
- Tuesdays: 1:00 - 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesdays: 1:00 - 8:30 p.m.
- Thursdays: 8:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
- Sundays: 8:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
If you plan to come specifically to visit the Library, please telephone ahead to verify hours: (925) 283-8575, ext. 322
Our library includes
- A Computerized Library Catalog
- Online Catalog Features Book Covers, Reviews & Contents Notes
- Wi-Fi & Internet Access
- Library Book Club Support
- Audiobooks & Audiobook CD’s
- Podcast Stories with the Librarian
- Jewish Videos & DVD’s
- Jewish Parents’ Collection
- Children’s Books & Student Support
- Holiday Materials & Cookbooks
- Periodicals & Newspapers
- Reference Collection
- Jewish Music CD’s & Scores
- Sunday & Evening Hours
- Judaica Non-Fiction
- Jewish Fiction & Mysteries.
- Online & Print Bibliographies
- Storytime with the Librarian
- Email newsletters: Library News & Book Links Isaiah
Getting Ready For the High Holy Days
Starting with Rosh Hashanah and ending with Yom Kippur, the Days of Awe are a time for contemplation, introspection, and consideration of one’s sins, in order to repent before Yom Kippur. Successful travel of this “way” should result in being “inscribed and sealed” in the “book” for the New Year. Indeed, the words “contemplate” and “consider”, suggest that physical books themselves, with their powerful metaphors, inherently provide an avenue into a fresh state of mind, and an examination one’s life, intellect, and spirit.
Hear a Storytime Anytime
Enjoy a story read aloud via Your Jewish Neighborhood, Temple Isaiah’s podcast. Librarian Val Morehouse is the storyteller, hosted by Michele Holtz for YJN.
Another Banner Year: Records Broken!
Last August our Ruach article was titled : “What a year: let’s do it again!” Not only did this year’s library circulation equal the last, but it surpassed it, beating the previous all-time high set in 2004-05.
Isaiah’s “people-of-the-book” bounded ahead by 177 books, for a new high of 2,258 Judaica items loaned in 2008-09. At year-end the total collection contained 7,732 copies. Volunteers and teaching assistants helped keep the library running during rushes. In the Library’s book-lined space, meetings rose to 272, topped only by the Adult Lounge and Beit Knesset. In addition, the library hosted a record 95 classes and story times. New in-library this year were tutoring sessions.