BALTIMORE — The Enoch Pratt Free Library is proud to announce an historic increase in service hours at library branches across the city. The extended hours are thanks to funding approved by both the Maryland General Assembly and the Baltimore City Council.
“We are very grateful to state and city leaders for helping the Pratt expand services across the city,” said Pratt Library President & CEO Heidi Daniel. “We believe this more than 30 percent increase in hours will be a game changer for Baltimore.”
Starting January 8, 2018, all neighborhood branches will move to a universal schedule opening at 10 a.m. six days a week, rather than the staggered schedule currently in place.
The Southeast Anchor and Pennsylvania Avenue libraries will serve as community anchors on the East and West sides of the city, with added evening hours. The Central Library, open seven days a week, will also increase evening hours. The Pratt Bookmobile, Book Buggy and Mobile Job Center will spend more time on the roads serving the community.
“From now on, you’ll never have to wonder when your library is open,” said Daniel. “This means more free school readiness classes for children, free job training, free computer classes and so much more.”
The state has committed $3 million each year for five years to increase library, operating hours. The city has pledged $750,000 annually over that time period to help the library hire additional staff.