After 30 years at the helm of the Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library, Executive Director, Barbara Raznick is retiring; effective May 8, 2015. This position has been a labor of love and devotion to Jewish Federation of St. Louis and the community for Ms. Raznick all of these years. A skilled librarian, Ms. Raznick has helped the Brodsky Library become a valued resource to countless adults and children, with over 22,000 Jewish Books, DVD’s, CD’s and periodicals, the source of many entertaining and educational programs for adults and children. She was instrumental in the development of the St. Louis Jewish Community Archives, a reference facility that has become known throughout the country. Her role at the library has evolved into her work as a storyteller throughout the St. Louis area to audiences of children and adults from ages 1 to 101. This talent has led Ms. Raznick to do storytelling presentations and lead workshops in Nebraska, Iowa, Texas, Illinois, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Along with her many talents, Ms. Raznick has co-edited three anthologies, First Harvest: Jewish Writing in St. Louis, 1991-1997; New Harvest: Jewish Writing in St. Louis, 1998-2005 and Winter Harvest: Jewish Writing in St. Louis, 2006-2011, all published by the Brodsky Library Press.
“Barbara has developed a generational interest within the community for our Jewish heritage with her work at the Brodsky Jewish Community Library,” said Andrew Rehfeld, Ph.D., president and CEO of Jewish Federation of St. Louis. “With her guidance, the library has become one of the most successful and widely used Jewish community libraries in the country.”
“Barbara has led the Brodsky Library to become one of the largest independent libraries of Judaica in the US. More than the face of the Brodsky Library, Barb has been the heart and soul of this beloved community institution. I speak for the entire Brodsky Library staff, Commission and Friends of the Library in saying we will greatly miss Barb,” said Paul Kravitz, Chairman of the Brodsky Library Commission. “I want to personally thank Barb for her many years of loyal service. The St. Louis Jewish community is a better place because of Barbara Raznick and the Brodsky Library.”
“It has been a privilege and an honor to serve as Executive Director of the Saul Brodsky Jewish Community Library,” said Ms. Raznick. “Although I look forward to retirement and more traveling, I am most looking forward to my continuing with storytelling and to volunteering in the community.”
Raznick is a past recipient of Jewish Federation of St. Louis, Fred A. Goldstein Professional Leadership Award, given annually for outstanding innovative achievement in the field of Jewish communal service. She is also a past president of the St. Louis Regional Library Network.