Category: General

#TakeoverTuesday: Pennsylvania Avenue Branch

Posted on by Meghan McCorkell

It’s #TakeoverTuesday.  Today we’re going inside the Pennsylvania Avenue branch.

The Pennsylvania Avenue Branch is located at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and North Avenue in West Baltimore. The branch opened its doors in 1953, when it was known as Branch 17.  It replaced the original Easterwood Park location that operated from 1914 to 1953.  The branch was remodeled in 1983 and housed the system’s first computer center.  In that first year, more than 500 adults completed computer education courses.

Today, as visitors approach the outside the branch they are greeted by Penny, a mural of a girl reading.

Just recently, Pennsylvania Avenue was designated the anchor library of West Baltimore, with expanded hours to serve the community. 

Pennsylvania Avenue is one of four Pratt locations that offer Social Worker in the Library.   Social Work graduate students from the University of Maryland School of Social Work offer customers help in areas like SNAP benefits, shelter, addiction, immigration, learning differences, health concerns and safety.

The Pratt and Maryland Legal Aid also offer Lawyer in the Library.  The program has helped thousands of people resolve legal issues, such as expungements, child custody, bankruptcy, wills and more.

This spring, the branch is also offering Yoga for Everyone  and Zumba classes, computer courses in the lab, story times for children,  painting and pastry, and so much more.

So pop on over to Pennsylvania Avenue and check out all we have to offer.

 

Virtual Reference Library from the Comfort of Home

Posted on by Meghan McCorkell

The Gale Virtual Reference Library is available to all Pratt cardholders.

Your Pratt Library card can connect you to a host of reference materials, and you don’t even have to leave your own couch!

Say, you’re looking to start your own business.  Check out the resources you can find:

 

Just click on the cover to access your copy with your Library Card now.

Create in the Library: Teen Tech Week 2018

Posted on by Tracy Dimond

by Lucie Ferguson, Young Adult Librarian

This week, Pratt teen librarians are gearing up with displays, events and digital resources to celebrate Teen Tech Week, March 4-March 10.

Teen Tech Week is an annual initiative from the Young Adult Library Services Association, focused on connecting teens with libraries and technology. Every year during the first week of March, libraries around the country host creative programming for teens to encourage building tech skills and experiences. This could mean using traditional tools, like a sewing machine, trying out new skills like programming, or learning how to be safe on the internet. Why? It’s important for teens to explore technology in a fun and experiential way as they prepare for college and 21st century careers. It’s also a good chance to show teens that the library is about more than books. It’s a place to build, learn and use tech resources that are right there in the community – including librarians.

In past years, teens at Pratt have explored low-tech activities like building circuits with conductive dough and making steampunk art, as well as more complex projects such as digital scavenger hunts and 3D printing. These activities encourage engagement with all the ways that technology is part of our lives: for navigation, for education and for creation. It’s also just a blast: last year, teens at the Reisterstown Road branch found themselves directing laser beams through a maze against the clock!

Six Pratt branches are partnering with Code in the Schools this year to offer basic coding workshops for teens. These workshops will help students learn the building blocks of programming, an important skill in today’s computer heavy world. And there are plenty of other great activities planned: designing binary code necklaces, trying out retro gaming systems and learning to fly drones. Check out our calendar to find a Teen Tech Week program near you and follow along with #ttw18.

Free Streaming with Hoopla Digital

Posted on by Meghan McCorkell

600,000 Titles— Books, Movies, TV Shows & More instantly available! No Waiting!

 

The Pratt Library is proud to introduce Hoopla Digital.

This new, streaming service is fun, fast and reliable, offering IMMEDIATE access to:

  • MOVIES
  • FULL MUSIC ALBUMS
  • eBOOKS
  • eAUDIOBOOKS
  • TV EPISODES
    COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS

All of this— FREE with your Pratt Library Card.  Just log-in to Hoopla Digital and create your account.

Each Pratt Library card allows six checkouts per month.

Pop in to any of our 22 locations to get your Pratt Library Card today.

 

 

The Great Backyard Bird Count in Roland Park

Posted on by Tracy Dimond

On Saturday February 17, six teens came to the Roland Park Branch to look for birds. They were participating in the Great Backyard Bird Count—an annual event coordinated by the Audubon Society and Cornell University that invites people from around the world to report which birds are in their immediate area on a single weekend. Professional scientists then use those reports to track things like migration patterns and changes in bird populations.

Roland Park’s teen ‘Citizen Scientists’ saw thirty-nine birds over the course of ninety minutes. They also used field guides and an app on the Branch’s iPad to identify six different bird species. Afterwards, Teen Librarian Alex Lawson submitted those observations to Cornell’s online database so that they’ll be available for use by birders and scientists.

The teens enjoyed bird-watching—they were always competing to see who could spot a bird first. They were also excited to know that the work they were doing was part of a larger project run by professional scientists. That, plus some hot chocolate, made the time fly by on a cold morning.

Check out more teen programming #atthepratt and sign up for our email list to find out about programming for all ages.