Pratt Chat is the official blog of the Enoch Pratt Free Library.
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Children's Services Coordinator
Jessica earned her BA in English and writing from Hiram College in Ohio before moving back to her hometown and completing an MLIS at the University of Pittsburgh. Prior to becoming Children's Services Coordinator for Pratt, she worked as a children's librarian at the Govans branch. She lived in London, nannied in New York, and her most favorite things are her husband, Baltimore, libraries, and kids!
Contributor Posts
- National Children's Dental Health Month
By Jessica Hoptay Brown
2/19/2013
Many of us associate words like “root canal,” “cavity,” “crown,” and “extraction” with our teeth and going to the dentist. While none of these things are particularly pleasant, many are preventable. Keeping ...more - 2013 Youth Media Awards Announced
By Jessica Hoptay Brown
1/28/2013
The 2013 Youth Media Awards sponsored by the American Library Association (ALA) were announced this morning in Seattle, Washington. These prestigious awards given to the best books for children and young ...more - 5 Simple Ways to Develop Your Child's Early Literacy Skills
By Jessica Hoptay Brown
12/27/2012
The first five years of a child’s life are crucial to developing skills that will make sure he or she is primed and ready to learn when kindergarten begins. Early literacy skills are especially important, ...more - Free Your Imagination: New Holiday Window Display in Towson Town Center
By Roswell Encina and Jessica Hoptay Brown
12/10/2012
As the song goes: ...more - Growing Imaginations and Sharing Stories: Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the National Association of Black Storytellers
By Jessica Hoptay Brown
11/16/2012
Libraries are known for keeping and providing access to the printed word, whether it’s on the page or the screen. What we’re really keeping, though, is more than words. We’re keeping stories. ...more - Spooky Stories to Read at Home or Share around the Campfire
By Jessica Hoptay Brown
10/31/2012
“And here are the dead man’s eyeballs!” announced the storyteller. Next to me, an equally spooked friend leaned over and offered me a box just big enough to fit my hand. Inside, I felt what I truly thought ...more - It's All About the People at the Govans Fall Celebration
By Jessica Hoptay Brown
10/4/2012
Many years ago when I was a bright-eyed, eager graduate student, my mentor librarian asked, “Why do you want to work in libraries?” I had about forty different reasons in my head, and I quickly scanned ...more - Apps for Kids
By Jessica Hoptay Brown
8/29/2012
Smart phones, tablets, and computers are dominating our lives these days. So, it’s only natural that we turn to these devices to see what they can do for kids. With apps and eBooks galore, it’s hard to ...more - Dry Ice, Graduated Cylinders, Test Tubes, and Science in the Summer at Pratt
By Jessica Hoptay Brown
7/16/2012
It’s no secret that we’ve got literacy covered at the Pratt. Books and media are kind of our thing. What might be a surprise to some is that we’re also doing science in the library! Hands-on, real life ...more - It's a Super Summer at the Library
By Jessica Hoptay Brown
6/14/2012
Any person under the age of 18 can tell you exactly how many school days, week days, total days, minutes, even seconds stand between them and their summer vacation. Even as adults we are always vaguely ...more
