By Vianey Beccera, Program and Social Media Associate

This November, we pay tribute to Native American heritage and history. Observed throughout the entire month, Native American Heritage Month commemorates the significant contributions and achievements made by Native Americans. The Pratt Library will have several upcoming programs at the Central Library to honor Native American culture, traditions, and ancestry. 

Revisiting the Reservation: Baltimore’s Lumbee Indian Community
Tuesday, November 5, 6:30pm at the Central Library, France-Merrick Creative Arts Center

Popular narratives of the Great Migration, remembered as a mass movement of southern African Americans to northern cities, do not generally include the multitude of southern American Indians who migrated north as well. Following WWII, thousands of Lumbee Indians moved from rural North Carolina to Baltimore City, seeking employment and a better quality of life. They formed a large satellite community on the east side of town, referred to as “the reservation” in its heyday. Today, only two active American Indian community-owned sites remain in the area, where there were once more than thirty. Many of the sites have been erased beyond recognition. Entire city blocks have disappeared as this area has been continually redeveloped. Knowledge of these historic sites and their significance to Baltimore’s Lumbee people exists now primarily in the memories of the elders and in the archives.

How has the identity of the Baltimore Lumbee community been shaped by the place our people have inhabited for the past 70+ years? How has the presence of our people shaped the place? What will it mean if we no longer inhabit the place?

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Eaglefeather Dance Troop
Wednesday, November 6, 6:00pm at the Central Library, France-Merrick Creative Arts Center

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For more events honoring Native American Heritage Month at Pratt Library branches, please visit here.

Halloween is almost here! Between picking out fun costumes and getting ready for trick-or-treating the little ones in your life might be quite excited. Here’s a few selections of Halloween themed e-materials to help get ready for the holiday.

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Things to Read:

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Celebrate with Crafts:

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Treats to Make:

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Things to Watch:

By Amanda Hughes, Assistant Manager of the Maryland Department

The academic year is in full swing and all across the state hundreds of middle and high school students are beginning work on exciting year-long projects that will culminate in a national competition. National History Day is a historical original research competition that draws students from all 50 states plus many US territories to compete in College Park, and our hometown Maryland students always perform well. The local and statewide competitions are administered by the Maryland Humanities Council, who partner with libraries, archives and historical societies throughout Maryland to bring resources and materials to Maryland students. 

As you or your students begin work on this project, the Enoch Pratt Free Library is here to help. This year’s theme is Breaking Barriers in History and Pratt is here to help students with topics, research, sources, formatting and editing projects.  Many of our librarians serve as judges at the state and national competitions and we are always happy to share our insight.  At the Central Library, there is help and resources to be found in every department  and 1 – on – 1 appointments with librarians are available to both teachers and students.  Our librarians are always available to present our resources to classes and libraries throughout the state and classes are always welcome to come and see our collections in person! Research classes are also available at our neighborhood branches, with more dates to be added.

Visit prattlibrary.org for easy access to reference guides, digital resources, even digitized primary sources. All our resources are free, updated regularly, and vetted by our librarians so you know there is no fake news here!  And remember our Ask Us Now on-line reference service is available 24/7! We look forward to seeing you and all your amazing projects #AtThePratt! 

The Enoch Pratt Free Library was founded on the principle that libraries “shall be for all, rich and poor without distinction of race or color.” Over 100 years later, that statement still stands. We at the Pratt believe in access for all so when that access feels like its being threatened, we feel compelled to let you know.  

One of our most popular materials, eBooks, may soon be harder for libraries to provide. Starting November 1, Macmillan Publishers will allow libraries to purchase only ONE copy of each new eBook title for the first EIGHT weeks after a book’s release.

The Pratt and libraries all across the country have the purpose of providing services, forms of entertainment and of course, spreading knowledge. Limiting the amount of eBooks we can purchase for those in our communities goes directly against that.

What does this mean for you?

It will be harder for the Pratt and other libraries to purchase new books for you to read. We’ll have fewer eBooks in our library so you will have to wait longer to read highly anticipated books. The embargo means that all of our 22 locations will have to share ONE eBook for the first 8 weeks.

What can you do?

Weigh into the conversation. The American Library Association has a petition going on here. Please consider signing it. Also, consider making you voice heard by using social media.

You can learn more about the #eBooksForAll campaign visit here and here.

Trick or Treat, Give me something good to eat read!

The summer heat is finally chilling off and autumn is here. That means something really exciting… Halloween is right around the corner. Celebrate the frighteningly fun day with one of these spooky and thrilling books.