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Location Closure The Forest Park, Washington Village, Herring Run, Brooklyn, & Northwood branches are closed for renovations. Learn more here.

Holiday Closing All Pratt Library locations will be closed Monday, October 14 in observance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

Read to Reef - Aquarium youth education helper showing kids a horseshoe crab
The National Aquarium in Baltimore

How to Participate

During the month of October 2024, Baltimore City children in fifth grade and younger can visit any Pratt location and show their library card to get a Read to Reef bookmark, while supplies last.

Borrow, read, or listen to someone read any five aquatic- or conservation-themed books and record them on your Read to Reef bookmark. You can also register and track your progress online with Beanstack.

Need ideas to get started? Check out a PDF list of recommended Read to Reef books. You can pick up library books in person, or browse eBooks in our Digital Library.

Reserve Your Tickets

Once you have read and logged five books, you can reserve up to four admission tickets to the National Aquarium.

Reserve your tickets at aqua.org/read-tickets, or learn more about Read to Reef and other community programs at aqua.org/read. All guests must reserve their visit date and entry time in advance online using the reservation portal.

To reserve your timed entry slot, use the code printed on the bottom of your Read to Reef bookmark. This code can only be used once to redeem four tickets of admission. Children four years old and younger do not require tickets, and if you do not use all four tickets in your transaction they are forfeited and cannot be used on a separate day.

Bookmarks are subject to availability while supplies last and expire on January 20, 2025.
Blackout dates for the spring/summer season are November 28 and December 25, 2024.

For more specifics and details, see the Aquarium website.


Read to Reef Events

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Browse the Catalog


Browse available materials in the Pratt Library catalog.

Young Children
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Young Children


Find library books, early learning activities, and learning resources just for for children up to age five.

Kids
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Kids


Make crafts, get homework help, and find materials just for kids ages 6 through 12.