Literacy
As a community learning hub, the Library fosters literacy by providing access to resources within a safe learning space.
Summer Break Baltimore provided thousands of children and families with free books for their home libraries
One Book Baltimore provides opportunities for Baltimore City students to connect through literature
Improve literacy levels in Baltimore by continuing and strengthening focus on early childhood literacy education. Re-examine current partnerships and build new collaboration with literacy organizations serving this age.
Build upon the current partnership with Baltimore City Public Schools, education focused partners, and non-public schools, to ensure support of the literacy needs of Baltimore’s students.
Partner with organizations that focus on adult literacy to provide needed tutoring and other assistance.
Provide other forms of literacy programming – digital literacy, language, numeracy, health and financial literacy – in library locations as well as further embed these programs out into communities.
Ensure collections are developed to support all age levels.
Fiscal Year 2021 Progress Report
In FY21, the Library has strengthened its focus on literacy, recognizing the need in Baltimore City, through programs like One Book Baltimore, Community Youth Corps, Virtual Storytime, Read to Reef, Tech Talk, Senior Tech Classes, and Career Online High School
Initiatives
In alignment with the goal of bolstering a focus on literacy, the Pratt has championed a new program model to improve school reading and support pre-reading skills for children from birth to age five. Summer Break Baltimore, a newly-envisioned summer reading program for all ages, focused on creating home libraries. Outreach and Mobile Services supported this initiative by connecting services to seniors, providing resources to Baltimore City Recreation and Parks Summer camps, and community partners including faith based organizations.
As Baltimore City Public Schools transitioned to virtual learning, the Library supported their efforts and students by adding electronic resources to support the grade-level curriculum.
Initiatives in adult literacy focused on the expansion of the Career Online High School program by modestly increasing the number of scholarships for applicants by 20% for enrollment into the accredited, virtual high school diploma and certificate program.
The grant-funded Books for Me program provides books, digital media, and guidance to participating families
Career Online High School offers scholarships to qualifying adults, enabling them to earn their degree
Successes
- The Library has seen a 143% increase in eBook usage
- Books for Me distrubuted over 2,000 books and 100 mobile devices pre-loaded with Pratt resources to 100 families
- Summer Break Baltimore distributed over 20,000 books to more than 13,300 participants
- Librarians and authors virtually visited 300 schools and over 130 classrooms with 2,107 students
Progress
The Library is midway through the completion of this goal.
In FY 2022/2023, the Library will focus on expanding Summer Break Baltimore with more in-person experiences while strengthening our successful partnership experiences. Additional, the Pratt will hire digital navigators to advance community digital literacy and pilot new ways of engaging teens in digital literacy.
Q4 FY2022 Snapshot
Snapshot of Literacy progress as of June 30, 2022
School Resources
With a Pratt Library card, students can read, listen, and watch a wide variety of educational material to enrich virtual learning, homeschooling, and more.