Library
Main Reading Room
Albright Library On-line Catalogue (does not support Firefox browser)
W. F. Albright Institute
of Archaeological Research
The library is one of the main focal points of the Albright. It contains more than 30,000 volumes, including 650 journal titles relating to all aspects of ancient Near Eastern studies, with a concentration on Syro-Palestinian archaeology and Semitic languages and literature. There are also extensive map, microfiche, offprint and slide collections, as well as a cross-indexed catalogue for the 6,720 items in the Institute’s artifact collection. The Library card catalogue has been computerized and can be accessed through terminals in the main reading room, and in the journal room, as well as through computer ports in the hostel. The main reading room of the library has sixteen carrels and the lower library, two. The library is open to residents twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week; and to non-resident students and scholars, as well as to the general public, six days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. by prior appointment.
Other bibliographic resources available for Albright Fellows
Bibliographic resources available for Albright Fellows in the immediate area of the Institute include over 314,000 titles covering all aspects of ancient Near Eastern studies. The Albright's collection of 28,000 titles focuses on Syro-Palestinian archaeology and ancient Semitic languages, literature and history. The École Biblique, within five minutes' walking distance of the Albright, has 120,000 volumes which concentrate on Bible and ancient Near Eastern languages, literature and history. The Rockefeller Museum, within 15 minutes' walking distance from the Albright, has 91,000 volumes which are primarily devoted to ancient Near Eastern archaeology, history and ancient Semitic literature. The Hebrew University, within a 10-minute bus ride, has 65,000 volumes, which deal mainly with the archaeology of the ancient Near East, including significant holdings in prehistory, the Bronze and Iron Ages, Classical studies, as well as an important collection in Assyriology. The British School of Archaeology, within 15 minutes walking distance, has 10,000 volumes, with an emphasis on the archaeology of the Levant and Islamic and Crusader studies. All other aspects of Near Eastern studies, including anthropology, are available at the National Library on the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University (a 30-minute, two-bus ride from the Albright). Library privileges for Albright Fellows are available at all of these institutions. Lending privileges are only available at the National Library on the Hebrew University Givat Ram campus.
In order to facilitate the research of its Fellows, at the beginning of each academic year the Albright requests that Fellows submit a list of books and journals necessary for their own research which are currently not available in the Albright library. Wherever possible, these books are incorporated into the Albright's annual library acquisitions program. While the Albright Institute continues its concerted effort to expand its holdings to accommodate the ever-wider range of its fellowship program, its Fellows may still need to avail themselves of other library facilities at sister institutions.
Updated September 2012