Sights and Sounds Department

The Sights and Sounds Department is located in on the first floor of the Central Library/State Library Resource Center.

Introduction

The Sights & Sounds Department houses a collection of audio-visual materials (16mm films, videos, DVDs, music cassettes and CDs, audiobooks on cassette and CD, and phonograph records) reflecting the general scope of all Pratt subject areas. Collection strengths include foreign, documentary and educational films (many with public performance rights); 16mm films; popular, jazz and world music; and unabridged fiction audiobooks. see more

Awards: Baltimore’s City Paper recognized us as Best Place To Rent Movies For Free (2008 Best of Baltimore) and Best Cinema Verite Secret for our Frederick Wiseman documentary film collection (2005 Best of Baltimore).

Violin Stock Photo

Our Classical Music and Opera CDs have moved: Please note that our classical music and opera CD collection has moved to the Fine Arts and Music Department on the second floor of the Central Library. In addition, our children's music CD collection has moved to the Children's Department located downstairs from the main entrance.

2010 Academy Award Winners

Have you seen the 2010 Oscar-Nominated Movies?

Local film series, Spring 2010

*** Please note: ***
All Non-Fiction audiobooks are located in the respective Central Library department reflecting the audiobook's subject area and call number.

Call numbers starting with A, C, D, E, F, G-GT, H, J, K, L and TX907-TX910 are located in the Social Science and History Department.
Call numbers starting starting with AC, B-BD, BJ-BX, P-PT, Z1-39 and Z300-Z3001 are located in the Humanities Department.
Call numbers starting with AM, GV, M and N are located in the Fine Arts and Music Department.
Call numbers starting with BF, HA-HJ, Q, R, S, T, U, V and Z40-Z289 are located in the Business, Science, Technology and Sports Department.

Instant Message Us or Text Us Your Questions about our A/V Collection!

Type your question in the instant message box on the left (video tutorial). A staff member in the Sights & Sounds Department will help you in real time. During busy times it may take longer to answer your IM question. This IM/SMS service will be used for A/V questions only.

IM service hours
Monday - Wednesday Thursday - Saturday
Mobile Phone and Text Messaging 10 am-7 pm 10 am - 5 pm

Text us through mobile phone
During the same IM service hours, you can send us text messages. Start your question with epflsas11: and send to 265010.

Note: the question cannot be longer than 140 characters. Some phone service plans may impose a charge on text messages.

After service hours
Send your question through our Ask-A-Librarian service

Finding Audio-Visual Materials

Magnifying Glass Looking for good, reliable information on the Internet? Check out our Delicious links to discover more Web sites about movies, music, audiobooks, and lots of other audiovisual subjects! What's Delicious?

Finding Audiobooks in the Pratt Catalog
Audiobooks are redefining the notion of reading. Look at this tutorial on how to search for them.

Finding Audio-Visual Materials in the Pratt Catalog
Library catalogs are no longer just for books. Learn how to look up CDs, movies, and audiobooks.

Finding Popular Music Information Online

Finding Rare Movies

see more

Screenings

Film Reel Sprockets The Sights & Sounds Department presents free film screenings at the Central Library on a regular basis. These are our upcoming films:

Gun Crazy
(Joseph H. Lewis, USA, 1950, 86 min.)
Saturday, February 13, 2010, 2 p.m.

The Hangover
(Todd Phillips, USA, 2009, 99 min.)
Saturday, March 20, 2010, 2 p.m.

Star Trek
(J. J. Abrams, USA, 2009, 126 minutes)
Saturday, April 24, 2010, 2 p.m.

See more like this

Reviews, Ratings & Release Dates

Ratings2 Find Film Ratings
Not sure if a film is appropriate for your family or students? See what it's rated by the Motion Picture Association of America.

16mm Films

16mm Projector Did you know that the Sights & Sounds Department has over 2,100 16mm films available for loan? If you have a projector, you can explore our "reel" world.

see more

Special Media Resources

Audiobook Resources

Downloadible Audiobooks and eBooks

Film, Video & DVD Resources

Jinni.com
A viewer's advisory resource for movies and TV based on title, genre, plot, mood, structure and other factors.

Maryland Film Resources

Maryland Music Resources

Pratt Recommends

Listening or viewing for pleasure or information? See our audio-visual lists for suggestions:

British TV Mystery Series

Audiobook Mystery Writers

Teaching Aids on Video & DVD

Soul Jazz Records Compilations

Local Music CDs

see more

Film Series Around Town

Popcorn
"Free Family Flicks" Series at the Enoch Pratt Central Library
Beat the recession and keep the youngsters busy with our free family film series.

Hexagon Free Wednesday Night 16mm Film Series/Magic Eye Cinema Events
Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. at The Hexagon gallery/performance space, 1825, N. Charles Street. Most titles screened by curator Miguel Sabogal are from Pratt's 16mm film collection. The sporadic Magic Eye Film Series experimental film/video won City Paper's 2009 "Best New Film Series".

Nineteen23: A Non-Theatrical Film Series in Baltimore
3rd Friday each month at 9 p.m. at the 14K Cabaret, 218 W. Saratoga Street, (410) 962-8565.
A monthly series highlighting obscure and experimental non-theatrical film shorts. As profiled in Urbanite 's "Small Wonders" review, curator Martin Johnson almost exclusively screens films from Pratt's 16mm film collection.

Local Film Series, Spring 2010

In the News

New Audiobook, CD and DVD Releases in Sights & Sounds

Pratt Library's Sights & Sounds Dept. Takes Text, IM Questions

Click the link above to watch WBAL-TV's report about a new service that enables you to text and instant message us your A/V questions and get real-time responses.

Enoch Pratt Free Library