Baltimore Closes Branches

As of September 1, the doors will close for good at five branches of the Enoch Pratt Free Library: Dundalk, Fells Point, Gardenville, Hollins-Payson, and Pimlico. While no jobs will be lost, Carla D. Hayden, the library director, said financial cutbacks forced her decision. With a waning population—651,154, down from a peak of 900,000—and a reduction in other city services, Pratt's financial woes have emerged as one of Baltimore's hottest political topics. Residents and city officials alike have protested the closings loudly. According to the Baltimore Sun, Lester Johnson, a community activist, told the Pratt board of directors, "You're cutting poor children out of what they need."

Hayden says she had no choice in the closings because her system has been operating with about $5.1 million less than requested from the city over a five-year period. The city's contribution to the library's $27-million annual budget is about $18 million this year. Hayden said the branches identified for closing ranked in the bottom half of circulation figures for the library system. Library staff will be reassigned to other, busier branches among the 21 that will remain open. The fallout from the decision has been felt by Hayden, the Sun reported. "I'm a career librarian," she said. "It hurts."