The Klau Library

Welcome to The Klau Library

Located at 3101 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio, The Klau Library stands as a beacon of scholarly excellence, boasting one of the most prestigious collections of Hebraica in the United States and ranking among the foremost in the world. Our library is an integral part of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, serving as both a campus library and the primary research library within the HUC-JIR Library system.

Our Collection

The Klau Library's extensive collection includes over 530,000 printed books, 1,200 current periodical subscriptions, 2,500 manuscript codices, and thousands of manuscript pages. Our resources also encompass 19,000 microfiche, 19,000 reels of microfilm, 100,000 digital images from manuscripts and early printed books, 3,300 sound recordings, and 14,000 books in our Rare Book Room. Additionally, we offer numerous non-book collections, including maps, slides, filmstrips, bookplates, stamps, computer programs, games, and kits.

Areas of Strength

Our library's particular strengths lie in Ancient Near East Studies, non-American Archives, Bible studies, Cabala, Calendars, Early Christianity, History, Jewish Americana, Maimonides, Philosophy, Rabbinics, Responsa, Spinozana, Wit and Humor, and Yiddish. We are committed to supporting the teaching and research functions of the College-Institute and documenting Reform (Progressive/Liberal) Judaism.

Access and Services

The Klau Library is open to residents of the Greater Cincinnati area and offers interlibrary loan services, lending thousands of items yearly. Our knowledgeable staff answers hundreds of reference questions annually, and we proudly lend rare and important manuscripts, books, and special collections to institutions worldwide for exhibits and scholarly research. Visitors can explore treasures from our Rare Book Collection and topical exhibits in the Rabbi David Ellenson Rare Book Room and the first-floor exhibit case.

Visiting Hours

- Monday: 1 PM – 5 PM

- Tuesday: 9 AM – 1 PM

- Wednesday: 1 PM – 5 PM

- Thursday: 9 AM – 1 PM

- Friday: Closed

- Saturday: Closed

- Sunday: Closed

Whether you are a student, faculty member, or a resident of the Cincinnati metropolitan area, we invite you to explore the wealth of knowledge housed within The Klau Library. Please fill out our form to get started.

For detailed directions to our library, please refer to the navigation instructions provided on our website.

Discover a world of Jewish thought and experience at The Klau Library, where history and scholarship converge.