Enoch Pratt Free Library – Central Library

great collection, variety of resources and beautiful architecture. Yet there are a lot of noise due to open structure, and lack of power cords. WIFI speed is quite slow & too crowded & less space.
I might go to coffee shop to work, but at least I tried here: p

I visited this branch for the first time to sign up for the Read to Reef summer reading program, which rewards with 4 free tickets per family to the Baltimore Aquarium.
The librarians were a pleasure – very customer service oriented. The application process was quick (I’d downloaded and filled out the form before hand), and I obtained the materials for the program easily.
My experience inspired me to research true library online and now I’m looking forward to planning a field trip with my children to the Central library, even though we live outside of Baltimore.

I need to spend more time actually exploring than working, but tis true what they said about the decorations of the building — ornate. Definitely evokes nostalgia of times past. I wish libraries live forever!

Saw a few pieces from the Edgar Allen Poe items in the special collections. Made an appointment weeks in advance via email. They were very accommodating. The woman who showed us the pieces couldn’t have been more charming or engaging. She gave us a history on Poe then even showed us some other parts of the library on a little mini-​tour. I highly recommend it!

Gorgeous historic building chock full of books? Hellz yeah!!! Had to see it despite the post riot aftermath. Nothing to fear but fear itself right? The ceiling is a masterpiece and I’ve always liked the perimeter lofts with brass railings that a high ceilinged rooms can support. It’s like having a tree house inside.
Didn’t stay long since I’d stayed too long at a museum and I wanted to see the Basilica across the street and make it back to the Harbor before the demonstrations were to start. I’m glad I made the effort. Wish I could’ve spent more time wandering among the stacks.

How can you not love this location of Enoch Pratt? It’s a huge historical building, smack dab in the middle of downtown. There are historical pieces displayed through out the building.
The best thing about this place is the librarians! My son and I frequent the Central library because the librarians always recognize my son and make suggestions for books based upon the books he is currently reading (which changes constantly because he is a teen and who knows what they are into), plus he is always welcomed by the chess players who love having a kid to encourage. There are cool lectures or authors constantly scheduled at this location. If you have smaller kids, make sure you check out the pond downstairs and story hour!
No matter your age, I encourage you to participate in their summer reading program (broken up by age groups). They always have awesome prizes for the kids and even awesome prizes that adults can win.

I love this library. Customer service is great. I will come back.

Big, historic, and located in downtown Baltimore. The surrounding area can be a bit sketchy as it’s across the street from a homeless shelter too. The librarians are friendly and willing to assist you however they can. There are multiple levels and different rooms for different means. Check it out if the smaller Enoch libraries lack things you need for your reading pleasures or research ventures. Most of the other reviews explain this library well.

This library is big and beautiful! So spacious and wonderful and many nooks and crannies to explore. This library houses a lot of community events, movie screenings, book signings, and is a general hub for a lot of other activates in Baltimore. The librarians themselves are wonderful people willing to assist you with any of your needs. Its a great place to do research, check out a good book, or grab a cup of coffee.

I have this weird thing I do where in every city I visit, I have to see their main public library. My Baltimore-​born friend was pretty against the idea, but he dutifully followed me inside for a quick tour around the building.
I didn’t use the facilities or check anything out, but I can tell this library is a real community center. The entrance is spacious and welcoming, and just about every room, every computer, every table was in use. It was obvious that everyone is welcome here, and the library is very accessible and not so stuffy or overwhelming (I’m looking at you, NYPL!).

Beautiful library with tons of architectural charm. Don’t forget to check out the books for sale near the front, they have some great titles there!

«My library,» said philanthropist Enoch Pratt, «shall be for all, rich and poor without distinction of race or color, who, when properly accredited, can take out the books if they will handle them carefully and return them.» In a world where education is too often viewed as an advantage of wealth, places like the Enoch Pratt Free Library are a necessity. This library offers outstanding customer service, nearly ever book you could ever desire, over 800 laptops that can be checked out and used in the library, a career information center, the Edgar Allen Poe Room, and more. With an entrance located on the ground level, all are welcome.

I always love libraries! But I hope there’s more seats in it… or maybe it’s just that I didn’t find them…

This is a great library, but really I just want to mention that there’s a giant chess set in one of the back rooms. Not just large, like this piece is really big in my hand. Large like I can stand on a square and be a chess piece too. Super fun!

EPFL has been my mainstay for literary adventures since I was a small child, when my mother used to take me for story hour at the Children’s Department downstairs. My most vivid memory of that time is a huge inside koi pond where I’d sit and stare at the fish swimming in the water for hours, dreaming as children often do of the future.
That koi pond, nearly 30 years later, is still there. Ahh, the memories!
The main branch of the library has upgraded considerably in the last ten years; they have gone «electronic», with many free-​access computers and Wifi available throughout the building. They’ve also added a small café with Seattle’s Best coffee available to sip while you work, always a plus. There are also laptops to use if you need it, DVD rentals, everything you could possibly imagine.
The best part about EPFL, however, is the massive used book sales that go on — I think it’s twice a year or so. You should see all of the people crammed into the hallways with boxes, picking over tables full of paperbacks, hardbacks, even records and tapes. You run the risk of being suffocated while reaching for that Dan Brown novel you want so much, but oh-​em-​effin-​gee, it’s worth it.
A downside to the main branch is that it’s located in an «iffy» part of town — the neighborhood can get sketch late at night, so I try not to come here after dark if I can. There are a lot of panhandlers outside, especially at the bus stop, so be aware of your surroundings. (One star off for this — I think the library does need better security.)
Great place to get lost in a reading adventure. Or a film adventure. Or guest lectures. Oh, hell — just to get lost in general. :D

The biggest and best in the city; at least for me it is. Its been around for as long as I can remember and I have a ton of memories from when I was a child. The funny thing is that it still seems big to me. It also is ongoing in expanding its wealth of knowledge in literary as well as other media. Best thing is its all free of course but that goes with out saying. So many different events are held for so many different interest; you can say they have something for everyone even if you don’t like to read. Customer service is great, user friendl check out system, and once you get the catalog learning curve out the way finding books is a breeze too. If you feel in the mood for a good book and need to research don’t overlook this experience, I believe its worth the trip.

Whenever I move, one of the first things I do is to see how close the nearest library is. When I moved to Canton the answer was perfect — there were two within eight blocks! I love libraries and love love love the Canton branch of Enoch Pratt. It’s a beautiful old building with so much history. Central is also an amazing building and it’s so big it would take multiple visits and hours and hours to get through it all. I love the website, which allows me to place books on hold and alerts me as to when they’re available. If you read as much as I do, this free service is amazing. What’s even more amazing is how fast new books are available after I’ve placed them on hold. The small staff at Canton knows me by name and probably dread seeing me every few days but I look forward to each visit.

I love Pratt sooooooooooooo much. There aren’t enough good things to say about it. They’ve got some great speakers on their calendar on a variety of topics, all for free (this month I was lucky enough to see Novella Carpenter but unfortunately missed Pam Grier). I’ve gone to movie screenings at the main branch on rainy afternoons where they charmingly provide mediocre coffee and popcorn. The main library is a gorgeous space worth seeing for the building alone. Their selection of materials is great and if you can’t make it to the branch that has the item you want, just put it on hold and they’ll deliver it to any branch you choose within a couple of days. They’ll even call or e-​mail to tell you it’s there. I’ve just touched on the tip of the iceberg, there are so many resources that I haven’t uncovered yet and I can’t wait ’til I do.

I love libraries and bookstores! I was an English Literature and Philosophy major in college so I really love to read. Perhaps I am just a country rube who is too used to the county libraries, but the Pratt really blew me away by it’s sheer size and breadth. I mean they have librarians in the different sections and if the book you are looking for isn’t on the shelf the librarian will just pop off to the basement to get it for you! I love the humanities department on the fourth floor because they have a great collection up there and it’s generally less populated. The on line renewal and reservation system is quite convenient as well. The only compliant I have is that parking can sometimes be a pain and that the crowd outside the library is not always the most savory on the weekends.