Collection Management, 40:27–55, 2015 Published with license by Taylor & Francis ISSN: 0146-2679 print / 1545-2549 online DOI: 10.1080/01462679.2014.965862 Collection Development and Censorship in Torah Studies Libraries in Israel GILA PREBOR and DAVID GORDON Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel A Torah studies library is a type of Jewish library specializing in biblical and rabbinical literature. One of its characteristics is its process of collection development and censorship. This study pri- marily aims to discuss the collection development policies in Torah libraries, particularly censorship implemented as part of a pol- icy, with an emphasis on how prohibited books are rejected. A qualitative-narrative research technique was used, allowing the viewpoints of the “selectors” to be examined. To present a broad picture, various types of Torah studies libraries were chosen for the study. KEYWORDS censorship, collection management, collection devel- opment, special libraries, Jewish libraries INTRODUCTION A Torah 1 studies library is a type of Jewish library specializing in Torah and rabbinical literature. These libraries are typically situated in most synagogues, yeshivahs (institutes for advanced study of Judaism), kolels (yeshivahs for married men), and other traditional religious institutions. In addition, some public Torah libraries exist. One of the characteristics of a Torah studies library is its process of collection development and censorship, a process involving the selection of books for inclusion and, no less significantly, the exclusion of other books. This study primarily aims to research censor- ship in Torah libraries and to probe the ways in which general collection © Gila Prebor and David Gordon This article is based on an MA thesis: “Collection Development in Torah Libraries: Censorship Aspects,” David Gordon, 2012, Ramat Gan, Bar Ilan University. [Hebrew]. Su- pervised by Prof. Shifra Baruchson-Arbib and Dr. Gila Prebor. Address correspondence to Gila Prebor, Department of Information Science, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan 52900, Israel. E-mail: gila.prebor@biu.ac.il 27