Buckeye Reporter

A settlement has been reached between Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and Hebrew Union College regarding the management of rare books and artifacts at Cincinnati’s Klau Library. The agreement, approved by the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, introduces new oversight measures and transparency requirements for the college.

The Attorney General’s Office will now oversee how the library uses its rare-book collection to ensure it benefits scholars and researchers. “These sacred texts were entrusted to Hebrew Union with the promise that they would be preserved for the benefit of scholars and researchers worldwide,” Yost said. “I commend the college’s leaders for renewing that pledge with this agreement.”

This resolution comes after a lawsuit filed by Yost in June 2024. The suit followed reports that Hebrew Union College was considering selling some valuable texts from its collection to address financial deficits. These items are considered highly valuable, potentially worth millions of dollars. Yost argued that such sales could violate fiduciary responsibilities held by the board.

In July 2024, a judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking any sales while legal proceedings continued.

Under the terms of the settlement, Hebrew Union College must provide a full inventory of special collection items to the Attorney General’s Office, including details about donor restrictions. Before selling or removing any item, the college is required to notify state authorities at least 45 days in advance.

Any funds raised from sales can only be used to acquire new collection items unless two-thirds of the board votes there is an acute financial need. Existing donor restrictions on collection items must remain in place.

The agreement also requires that collection management policies align with recommendations from the American Library Association. Routine movements within the library system and interlibrary loans may continue as before.

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