About Us
The Jewish Library of Baltimore is a dynamic community hub where everyone can learn and grow together. With access to a wide collection of Jewish books, as well as thoughtful programming, the Jewish Library of Baltimore allows community members to expand their connection to Jewish literature, life, and learning.
Judith Pachino speaks at recent Book Talk presentation.
Resource Collections
Resource Collections are a way to share curated resource lists with patrons. The collections are thematically related and include physical books, ebooks, web pages, images, documents, and lesson plans.
Programming
Mitzvah Mutts
Join us on the first Tuesday of every month where reluctant readers can build their confidence by reading to dogs.
Author Program
The finest Jewish authors share about the books they wrote and the stories behind them. Patrons are invited to join in on discussion.
Tzipor Sipur: Traveling School Librarian and Storytime
Our Community Librarian visits schools that do not have a library or librarian on staff. The librarian brings stories, research materials, and books for the children to check-out.
Classroom Fieldtrips
We invite your class to visit our library for a field trip. The visit can include learning, research, stories, crafts and checking out books.
Summer Reading Program
Our annual Summer Reading Program runs each year from June to September. The program features quality Jewish-themed books, fun prizes and tasty treats.
Curated Collections
Our Librarians will work in partnership with you to curate collections of books to check out based on what you are looking to learn more about, from sensitive subjects to light reading. We also have e-books available.
Book Club
Are you looking for books for your Book Club? We can provide a consultation and help you with getting books. Stay tuned for more information on our very own Book Club coming soon.
Highlights of Our Collection
Educators Collection
Our Library grew to serve early childhood educators, day school educators, educational leadership (such as principals), and informal educators who work in our sister agencies. To date, our Library has more than 12,500 educational resources. These resources include: lesson plans, curricula, picture books, non-fiction books, maps, posters, films, primary sources and Judaica. Our Library continues to thrive by providing personalized consultation with expert librarians, professional development and support to schools.
Grief Collection
Our Grief Collection was founded in 2019 in partnership with Sol Levinson Funeral Home. The children’s portion of the collection is housed in our Library. The adult collection is housed in The Marjorie Levinson Bereavement Library at the Sol Levinson Funeral Home.
We are grateful for the support that allows us to reach out to families, educators, practitioners and others who are in need of these resources.
To date, the collection comprises 300 volumes and is reviewed regularly by JCS (Jewish Community Services) professionals.
Hebrew Collection
As a specialty collection that serves the needs of the Jewish community, we house a unique Hebrew language collection. It includes adult fiction and children’s picture books, which are used and appreciated by our Israeli community and Hebrew language learners. The collection also includes Hebrew curricular materials that support the teaching of Hebrew for adults and children. The library itself is full of Hebrew signage and resources which reinforce the message of Hebrew language as integral to the foundational identity of Jewish community members in Baltimore. We strive to serve as a resource that enables access to this critical component of our heritage. To date, the Hebrew language collection includes nearly 2,000 volumes.
Our Library continues to serve our specialized patrons by providing personalized consultation with expert librarians, circulating books to Hebrew language book clubs, supporting Hebrew language instruction for ulpan programs and classrooms, and onsite events such as alef bet yoga.
Plans for Our Future
The library is about to begin the process of being redesigned and expanded. Our library will continue to maintain a diverse collection catering to children and adults, including educators and other professionals. New programming and initiatives will be created to support early childhood programs, day and congregational schools’ curricula as well as create a community hub for engagement and learning.
Our Partnership with AJL
Our Library has and will continue to work closely with AJL during the transition. Remaining accredited from the AJL is very important to the library. The benefits and connections through AJL have been instrumental in the past and still now as we are looking to the future!
Our Librarians
After spending half of her childhood in sunny San Diego and the other half in equally-sunny South Florida, Jessica began her career as an educator at the University of Florida, where she received her degree in Elementary Education (and became a devoted Gator fan). She continued her education at the University of Pennsylvania, earning a Master’s in Elementary Education. She taught pre-kindergarten in Philadelphia until she moved to New York City to complete a Master’s in Library Science at The Pratt Institute, while also teaching at the Abraham Joshua Heschel School. Her tour of the northeast finally ended in Baltimore in 2012, where Jessica began teaching at the Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community Day School and led programming at the local libraries for the JCC Parent, Infant and Toddler Program. She was previously a Community Connector for the CJE and has been happily serving the community as the CJE librarian for the past few years. Jessica resides in Pikesville with her husband, daughter, and son.
A native Baltimorian, Sonia graduated from UMBC and the Baltimore Hebrew College with degrees in both History and Jewish History. She began her professional career as a librarian at the Baltimore Hebrew College, and subsequently wrote a chapter about its history in the book, Jewish American Voluntary Organizations, edited by Michael N. Dubkowski. For the past 37 years, she has been the librarian at Krieger Schechter Day School. In addition, she is the Community Librarian for the Center for Jewish Education in Baltimore. Sonia enjoys reading, gardening, hiking, cooking and spending time with her family.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.
Contact Us
Library Hours
The Jewish Library of Baltimore
5708 Park Heights Ave. Baltimore, MD 21215
Jewish Community Center, 2nd floor
Phone: 410-735-5017
Website: https://associated.org/jewishlibrary/
Jessica Fink
Executive Director
jfink@jewishlibrarybaltimore.org
Sonia Kozlovsky
Community Librarian
skozlovsky@jewishlibrarybaltimore.org
Phone (410) 735-5017
Stacey Weinberg
Judaic Curriculum Specialist
sweinberg@jewishlibrarybaltimore.org
HOURS OF OPERATION:
Monday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Tuesday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Thursday: 11: a.m. – 4 p.m.
Friday: 11: a.m. – 2 p.m.
Saturday: CLOSED
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
