{"id":69606,"date":"2025-12-24T15:51:09","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T15:51:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/69606\/"},"modified":"2025-12-24T15:51:09","modified_gmt":"2025-12-24T15:51:09","slug":"the-city-that-reads-is-reading-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/69606\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u2018city that reads\u2019 is reading \u2014 more"},"content":{"rendered":"

In many ways, it was a tough year for books: Studies showed high school seniors\u2019 reading scores are down<\/a>, kids\u2019 shrinking attention to books<\/a> and drops in the percentage of Americans who read for fun<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In Baltimore, another story is being written.<\/p>\n

Since 2015, borrowing at the Enoch Pratt Free Library has steadily increased, culminating in a recording-smashing 2.4 million volumes loaned out according to the most recent available data. Pratt staffers say more library cards are in use, and more books are being loaned \u2014 from paperbacks and hardcovers to e-books and audiobooks. <\/p>\n

The Pratt\u2019s success story was buried deep in a Baltimore tome: the latest Annual Comprehensive Financial Report<\/a>, a trove of city spending data. But the numbers are no surprise to staff librarians in the aptly nicknamed \u201cCity That Reads,\u201d where libraries often function at the heart of neighborhoods. <\/p>\n

They pointed to a suite of modest changes implemented over the last decade that have helped the Pratt develop a closer relationship with the community \u2014 and readers to books.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of libraries across the country, they are seeing increases in e-books \u2014 which, we are too, through the roof,\u201c said Michael Knowlton Johnson, chief of collections and access services at the Pratt library system. <\/p>\n

But many of those places, Johnson said, are also seeing less use of the physical collections \u2014 the paperbacks and hardcovers \u2014 while the Pratt has witnessed the opposite. \u201cWhich I\u2019m super, super proud of,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no one reason why loans have surged, Johnson said, but like every good librarian, he has a few ideas filed away for reference. He pointed to branch renovations, investment in digital books and the system\u2019s increased use of analytics as keys to the system\u2019s borrowing growth. <\/p>\n

Knowing what people are reading and predicting what they might gravitate toward has helped the Pratt stock up on popular titles, order books in more languages and curate more titles that suit modern tastes.<\/p>\n

One example, Johnson said, is the spike in graphic novels\u2019 popularity, which have become overwhelming favorites among young readers. Pratt branches have started showcasing them loudly and proudly \u2014 sometimes with their own table and wall displays.<\/p>\n

And it\u2019s not just the books, Johnson added: Pratt programming, connections to social services and kid-friendly activities have helped bring more people through the doors.<\/p>\n

\"Views<\/p>\n

Engaging and creative displays help introduce readers to books that might interest them. (Kaitlin Newman\/The Banner)<\/p>\n

\"Stacks<\/p>\n

Graphic novels \u2014 including manga \u2014 have seen a spike in popularity. (Kaitlin Newman\/The Banner)<\/p>\n

The Urban Libraries Council, a research and policy think tank that advocates for public libraries, recognized the Pratt in a December 2025 report<\/a> for engaging young people who are disconnected from school or employment. It credited the system\u2019s Earl Teen Center that serves as many as 40 teens a day with programs including Anime Club, sneaker design, poetry writing and therapeutic art.<\/p>\n

In tough economic times, libraries provide a no-cost outlet \u2014 offering everything from reading materials to social connection, said Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association. <\/p>\n

Through history, libraries have been designed to serve the whole public, Helmick said, regardless of class or social strata. <\/p>\n

\u201cThat social contract allows you to explore the world quite economically and equitably,\u201d said Helmick, a librarian in Iowa City. <\/p>\n

And in a world full of distractions and misinformation, Helmick said the library offers a premium commodity: \u201cContent in context.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Michael<\/p>\n

Michael Knowlton Johnson, chief of collections and access services at the Pratt library system, shows off the newspaper stack archive. (Kaitlin Newman\/The Banner)<\/p>\n

\"Views<\/p>\n

The Pratt library system\u2019s collection has grown from 2.3 million volumes in 2015 to 2.5 million in 2024, the data shows. (Kaitlin Newman\/The Banner)<\/p>\n

In Iowa City, Helmick said, the library has beefed up its in-person event offerings \u2014 lectures and art classes, for example \u2014 and has added more materials to its collection, such as pickleball equipment and ukuleles. <\/p>\n

Helmick, who has visited the Pratt, said the system has expertly marketed the breadth of free services available to card holders \u2014 and it\u2019s paying off.<\/p>\n

Baltimore spent less on its library system during the 2024 tax year compared to the 2023 tax year, the city\u2019s budget audit shows. But Johnson, the collections chief, said the Pratt has made up the difference in other ways, including through private donations. The system\u2019s collection has grown from 2.3 million volumes in 2015 to 2.5 million in 2024, the data shows. <\/p>\n

That\u2019s happened as books and e-books have grown more expensive.<\/p>\n

Pratt librarians said they\u2019re learning to be more creative in how they advertise their services.<\/p>\n

Kelly Burden, a children\u2019s librarian at the Southeast Anchor branch in Highlandtown, grew up regarding the library as a \u201csecond home.\u201d Now, she\u2019s trying to curate that same experience for Baltimore\u2019s littlest card holders. <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Learning bags at the library are popular with children and young adults. This one is about learning Chinese. (Kaitlin Newman\/The Banner)<\/p>\n

Pratt programs, such as Summer Break Baltimore, which gives out free books to take home, have helped engage more young readers, Burden said. She especially likes the \u201cRead to Reef\u201d program, which provides free tickets to the National Aquarium to those who finish five aquatic-themed books. It\u2019s something she\u2019s seen the whole family get behind.<\/p>\n

But Burden said the southeast branch\u2019s most effective tool is its increased sense of inclusivity \u2014 providing more materials in Spanish, participating in community events and offering free meeting space to those who need it. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a space to feel safe,\u201d Burden said about the library. \u201cWe\u2019re a very welcoming community.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In many ways, it was a tough year for books: Studies showed high school seniors\u2019 reading scores are…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":69607,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[36639,36640,128,130,129],"class_list":{"0":"post-69606","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-reading","8":"tag-enoch-pratt-library","9":"tag-featured-extrawide","10":"tag-reading-city","11":"tag-reading-city-headlines","12":"tag-reading-city-news"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69606","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=69606"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/69606\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/69607"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=69606"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=69606"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=69606"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}