There is a new energy in the air at the Pratt Library’s Patterson Park branch thanks to two new grant-funded projects set to begin this spring. A beautiful Habitat Garden will grace the east side of the building facing Linwood Avenue, and the library’s roof will be replaced.

Spring is in the Air at Patterson Park Branch

( continued, page 2 top )

THE HABITAT GARDEN grew from the Pratt Library’s partnership with the Southeast Community Development Corporation (SECDC). “The Pratt Library has been keenly aware of the Southeast Community Development Corporation’s work in Patterson Park and has been

very supportive of phase one of the Library Square revitalization project,” says Pratt CEO Carla Hayden. “As the square began to bloom, it became clear that improving the library’s exterior was vital to the success of revitalization in the area.”

Library Square serves as an anchor for the community and connects William Paca Elementary with the Patterson Park Branch of the library. Phase one of neighborhood revitalization included new ornamental fencing along the perimeter of the park and engineering plans to address the storm water management and mitigation issues around the park. The Baltimore Office of Promotion and the Arts funded the installation of a mural on a building that faces the park, and the Parks and People Foundation, along with Pratt Contemporaries volunteers, planted 55 trees around the library on October 24.

For phase two, SECDC contacted Patterson Park Branch Manager Rebecca Box about the idea of external improvements; Pratt Neighborhood Library Services Chief Eunice Anderson, Operations and Facilities Management Chief John Richardson, and Art Director Jack Young were soon part of the conversation. Young worked closely with SECDC to develop a project that is focused on exterior enhancement, particularly improving the building’s east facade. His design provides outdoor meeting and program space, Wi-Fi access, a certified wildlife habitat for endangered species like the Monarch butterfly, and a community garden; it is also environmentally friendly and ADA accessible.

The Habitat Garden will be an outdoor extension of the library, complete with eight benches and two café tables to provide seating for up to 40 adults. A large fountain will provide additional seating, tranquil sounds and a water source for wildlife. Wi-Fi access and specialty lighting will add to the garden’s use as a space for horticulture and conservation programs, outdoor activities, meetings, and individual reading.

Funding for the Habitat Garden comes through the SECDC from The Baltimore Regional Neighborhoods Initiative (BRNI), a state-funded project aimed at bringing back the vitality and increasing the ability of older neighborhoods to attract new homeowners and businesses. BRNI awards advance the comprehensive revitalization plans and strategic partnerships put in place by local neighborhood leaders and stakeholders.

As the exterior spaces at Patterson Park improve, so will the roof. The Joseph and Harvey Meyerhoff

HABITAT GARDEN  1 Permeable brick pavers.  2 Audubon-designed bird and

butterfly habitat garden.  3 Community teaching

vegetable garden.  4 ADA entrance and exit.  5 ADA hardscape border.  6 Water fountain.  7 Benches and cafe tables

provide seating for up to 40 adults.

  8 Water spigots.  9 Wi-Fi hotspot. Laptop

computers will be available for loan.

 10 Indigenous trees. 

11  Expanded tree pits accomodate plant growth and accessibility.

 12 Sculptural pedestal lighting.

 13 Recessed lighting. 14 Trash/recyclable bins. 15 Inground tree landscape

lighting. 16 CFCI outlets provide electricity

for programming, smart devices, and softscape lighting.

 17 Plaques located throughout the garden educate the public on plant species.

18 Automated sprinkler system ensures conservation through accurate watering.

for donors and friends of the l ibrary

Spring 2016 VOL. 15

CARLA’S COLUMN

This Is Our MomentI received a wonderful email from a librarian at the Pennsylvania Avenue branch recently.

HE TOLD THE STORY of a patron named Michael who was hired at the new Amazon facility in Baltimore with help from the branch’s Career Center. He said, “If it wasn’t for your help I never would have gotten this job.”

Michael is just one of countless success stories. There’s Lutece, who

was hired by the U.S. Postal Service; Kia, who credits the Business, Science and Technology Department for helping her small business; and seven-year-old Nicholas, who says the library’s Summer Reading Program increased his reading efficiency.

Stories like these showcase the power and impact the Enoch Pratt Free Library has on the community. When I am asked, “What will happen to libraries in the digital age?” I tell stories like those of Michael and Nicholas.

Libraries are more than repositories of books and resources; they are community centers. Stories from patrons fuel our passion for this city, and we show our love by opening the doors every day, providing free services and programs and helping Baltimore families. This was evident when all Pratt

Library locations remained open after the events that happened a year ago. We serve a resilient community and together we are bouncing back with strength.

In the past year alone, the Pratt Library has launched several new initiatives and partnerships to meet the needs of our patrons. Programs like the Read to Reef Book Club that provides city children an opportunity to visit the National Aquarium for free and “Books and Bread,” a partnership with ShopRite that delivers healthy groceries to food desert communities, are making a real difference for Baltimore families right now.

This is our time! Libraries are thriving. For the first time in ten years, after construction and renovations, all 22 locations of the Pratt Library system are open to the public. From Patterson Park to Forest Park, and from Cherry Hill to Druid Hill, we will continue to explore new ways to engage and help our patrons. That is our promise to you.

CARLA D. HAYDEN, Chief Executive Officer

CARLA D. HAYDEN Chief Executive Officer

S

IN THIS ISSUE

2 Regarding Central: Central Library Renovation

Funding the Campaign: Thank You

3 Giving: Get a Matching Grant from the Government!

Our Story: The Sabundayo Family

4 Coming to the Pratt Pratt Potpourri

PRATT CAMPAIGN FOR CENTRAL LIBRARY RENOVATIONSDONOR LIST as of 3.1.16

$3 MILLIONThe Harry and Jeanette Weinberg

Foundation

$2 MILLIONMoser Family Philanthropic Fund

$1 MILLIONEddie C. & C. Sylvia BrownJames & Sylvia EarlExelon/BGESidney & Jean Silber

$500,000 – $999,999France-Merrick Foundation, Inc.The Hackerman FamilyJames & Mary Miller

$250,000 – $499,999The Jacob & Hilda Blaustein

Foundation, Inc.Mary Catherine BuntingMs. Nancy L. Dorman &

Mr. Stanley Mazaroff

Earl & Darielle LinehanJoseph & Harvey Meyerhoff Family

Charitable FundsThe Middendorf FoundationPratt ContemporariesGeorge RocheT. Rowe Price Foundation

$100,000 – $249,000The Abell FoundationVirginia K. Adams &

Neal M. Friedlander, M.D.The Herbert Bearman FoundationBrown AdvisoryThe Bunting Family FoundationClayton Baker TrustSuzanne F. CohenThe Charles Crane

Family Foundation, Inc.Mr. Edward S. Delaplaine II &

Mr. Todd M. Wilson D.F. Dent and CompanyGohn Family Philanthropic FundThe Halle FamilyPatricia Lasher & Richard JacobsLockhart Vaughan Foundation, Inc.Lois & Philip Macht Family

Philanthropic Fund

Sayra & Neil MeyerhoffPNC FoundationMr. & Mrs. Vernon A. ReidMr. & Mrs. David M. Schwaber

$50,000 – $99,999AnonymousMr. Herman C. Bainder*The Ben and Zelda Cohen FoundationMr. Thomas J. Cole*Cecil & Sheryl FlamerMs. Suzanne O’Connell & the Laurlene

Straughn Pratt Foundation, Inc. The Thomas B. and Elizabeth M.

Sheridan Foundation, Inc. Blondell V. & Graylin E. Smith

$25,000 – $49,999Emile A. Bendit & Diane L. Abeloff Barbara & Tom BozzutoStephanie M. BeranThe Harry L. Gladding FoundationDr. Nancy S. Grasmick Ben GreenwaldAnnie Grossberg & Jacob HodesWendy JachmanClaire & Allan Jensen

Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Killebrew Jr.The John J. Leidy FoundationKate & David PowellAlison & Arnold RichmanBen & Esther Rosenbloom

Foundation, Inc.Jeffrey H. ScherrSolomon & Elaine Snyder Anne & Christopher R. West

$10,000 – $24,999Mark, Marjorie &

Ellison Rodgers CheshireMark & Lisa KaufmanThe Herman & Seena Lubcher

Charitable FoundationBen & Dee RosenbergSenator Paul S. SarbanesHarry Shapiro Foundation

$5,000 – $9,999AnonymousElizabeth & Kenneth S. AnecksteinMr. & Mrs. Robert S. HillmanMr. and Mrs. James A. Ulmer IIIRobert & Susan Waldman

$2,500 – $4,999Mr. & Mrs. Edward J. BrodyThe Honorable Susan K. Gauvey &

Dr. David E. KernMs. Toni KeaneNan K. RohrerClair Z. SegalMs. Valerie S. Williams &

Mr. Marc B. SteinerMr. Garland O. Williamson

$1,000 – $2,499Mary Hundley DeKuyperMr. & Mrs. Peter EspenshadeDr. Mychelle Y. Farmer and

Mr. James H. DeGraffenreidtMs. Ava Lias-BookerMr. & Mrs. James Piper IIIThe Honorable &

Mrs. George L. Russell IIISandra & Stephen Vicchio

$500 – $999The Honorable Barbara A. Hoffman &

Mr. Donald HoffmanMs. Tricia C. Roddy &

Mr. Alexander W. Koff*Deceased

FUNDING THE CAMPAIGN

Thank You We are pleased to report that The Pratt Campaign for Central Library Renovations has been completed as the result of a strong public-private partnership, raising more than $15 million to support the renovations of the Central Library / State Library Resource Center.

We would like to recognize the generosity of the following donors who are making this extraordinary effort possible.

Twenty years is a long time to wait — but through fits, starts, frustrations and new beginnings, Pratt Library leaders persevered to make this transformational project a reality.

WHEN DR. CARLA HAYDEN arrived in 1993, it was evident that the building—finished in 1933— was in need of a major update. Safety, energy efficiency, and

functionality had not kept up with late 20th century demand. She almost immediately reached out to Baltimore-based architecture firm Ayers Saint Gross to begin the state funding process to improve the then 60-year-old building. Sandra Parsons Vicchio was chosen to lead the project, beginning a partnership that has lasted for more than 20 years. Vicchio left Ayers Saint Gross in 2012 to start her own firm and still serves as the Library’s Consulting Architect.

For Vicchio, the massive renovation comes down to simple questions. “You think about how you make a culturally significant and important institution like the Pratt work within a city and a state. How does it work for its citizenry? It won’t if the systems are outdated and it’s in a constant state of decline” Vicchio, along with Ayers Saint Gross, Beyer Blinder Belle Architects and Pratt

A Renovation 20 years in the Making … staff, built the case for the renovation of the Central

Library with meticulous detail. It would be the first renovation and historic restoration in the building’s lifetime. Jean Campbell, a Senior Project Manager with Beyer Blinder Belle, noted that the project will “maintain the historic functions of the building while incorporating 21st century library services. It will prioritize an ethos of collaboration in the design of both staff and public spaces.”

As with any project of this size, there have been setbacks and false starts, many of which can now be seen as advantages for Pratt customers. Technology advancements mean that the historic floors of Central Hall will not be torn apart for computer hardwiring—as was specified in an early plan—and the evolving role of the library as a community space has taken on increased significance. The renovated building will include dedicated space for community partners, a Job and Career Center, a special Teen Wing, and much more.

“We recognize that this building is good neutral territory for other support agencies to come in and help those in need; we recognize that we should provide more services for young adults and embrace the legacy of teen literacy that began here in the 1930s; and because of the information revolution and the broadening digital divide we know we need to provide state-of-the-art technology and internet access to those who need it most,” Vicchio says. “The Library is no longer simply a place to

store books. It’s a place to collect and disseminate information. Fundamentally, that mission hasn’t changed. The delivery methods have simply evolved.”

Through 23 years of effort Vicchio remained optimistic about the project. “I guess I’m stubborn … in a good way.” Pratt CEO Dr. Carla Hayden, the Library’s Board, and staff remained committed to the project. The Pratt responded to overwhelming support from the State and City by committing to raise $10 million in private funds. Having reached the $10 million goal, the Library increased it to $15 million and exceeded that in late 2015. “The outpouring of support from the community has been so heartwarming” says Hayden. “And now the renovation is finally underway!”

Walk through the doors of the Central Library today and you’ll notice relocated shelving and collections as work begins on the upper floors, with more construction scheduled to begin late spring. The complete project should take approximately 36 months, and the library will remain open during the entire process. Hayden could not be more pleased. “Mr. Pratt would be thrilled! Once the project is complete we will have a 21st century library that allows us to expand our offerings and services, and best of all, is free and open to all!”

Family Charitable Funds provided significant support toward roof replacement, a pressing need at the Patterson Park library. A sound roof is fundamental to building maintenance and will protect the historic building, books and other materials therein for decades to come.

Erected in 1910, the Patterson Park Branch was a gift from philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie’s endowment of $500,000 in 1905 enabled the Pratt Library to build fifteen branches throughout Baltimore. Patterson Park was the first to be completed. The Patterson Park branch has long been a busy and vital neighborhood hub and popular after-school gathering spot for children. In Fiscal Year 2015, the branch served 76,455 people and was truly a neighborhood anchor. The Habitat Garden and new roof will ensure the branch’s continued service to the community.

(Left to right) The�east facade of the Patterson Park Branch as it appeared in 1910. The�style�of�sculptural�lighting that will enhance the garden.

Giving to the Pratt is easy. Go to WWW.PRATTLIBRARY.ORG/GIVE to make an online credit card donation.

P. 2 Pages from the Pratt

LIBRARY BOARDS OF TRUSTEES AND DIRECTORS 2016

PatriciaJ.LasherCHAIR

VernonA.ReidIMMEDIATEPASTCHAIR

NancyDormanVICECHAIR

BenjaminRosenbergVICECHAIR

GraylinSmithVICECHAIR

JacobHodesTREASURER

KateRawsonPowellSECRETARY

CarlaD.Hayden,PhD.CHIEFEXECUTIVEOFFICER

VirginiaK.AdamsKennethS.AnecksteinStephanieM.BeranEdwardJ.BrodyCalvinG.Butler,Jr.MarkR.CheshireMaryH.DeKuyperEdwardS.Delaplaine,IIChristineM.EspenshadeMychelleFarmerSusanK.GauveySandraP.GohnNancyHackermanRobertS.HillmanAllanD.JensenVernaJones-RodwellEdwardN.Kane,Jr.MarkKaufmanAntoniaKlimaKeaneAlexanderW.KoffAvaLias-BookerDarielleDunnLinehanSayraWellsMeyerhoffJamesDabneyMillerElizabethK.MoserJamesPiperIIIGeorgeL.RussellIIIPaulS.SarbanesJeffreyH.ScherrRobertL.WaldmanAnneWinterWestGarlandO.Williamson

key lesson in responsibility. Beulah also enjoyed time at the library as a child—growing up in rural Virginia, the local library was her go-to hangout while her parents were running errands.

Today, the Sabundayos still love reading, but their commitment to the Pratt Library runs much deeper. They are both active members of the Pratt Contemporaries, and have served on the Contemporaries Board and the Black & White Party Committee, which Beulah has chaired twice. Ultimately, the mission of the library and the friendliness and diversity of the Contemporaries community keep them coming back. Beulah remarked that the library is “not just a place to check out a book. It does so much more … it gives kids a safe place to learn and grow.”

The Sabundayos also cite the importance of the library to Baltimore’s future: “Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) programs and Summer Reading are vital parts of keeping Baltimore alive. We have a lot of work to do in Baltimore, and the library is a big part of that.” Even the Sabundayo children are getting involved—their two daughters, Chloe and Sophie, have worked with Summer Reading and participated in the Contemporaries’ recent service event in partnership with the Parks & People Foundation, planting trees around the Pratt Library’s Patterson Park Branch. For the Sabundayos, it all comes back to a responsibility they feel towards the community—a passion for giving back that they hope to pass along to the next generation.

OUR STORY

A Contemporary Pratt FamilyBeulah and Paul Sabundayo were both library kids growing up, and their work with the Pratt Contemporaries has only increased their passion for libraries. Now, with children of their own, Beulah and Paul are involving their whole family in the Pratt Library community.

YOU HAVE TO FIND A PASSION and give back.” That’s the philosophy by which the Sabundayos live, and also seek to impart upon their children. A library may not be the typical passion of choice for two medical professionals, but Beulah, a public health

researcher at Johns Hopkins, and Paul, a physician at Mercy Medical Center, invest enormous energy in the Pratt Library and its young friends group, the Pratt Contemporaries.

Their interest in libraries started early: Paul’s dad, a doctor at Bon Secours, often dropped his son off at the Central Library while working, offering Paul the chance to roam the stacks. Laughing, Paul recalls that accumulating some significant fines early on became a

"We have a lot of work to do in Baltimore, and the library

is a big part of that."BEULAH AND PAUL SABUNDAYO

P EOPLE SAY THAT THE TAX LAWS are grossly complex, and it’s hard to disagree with that statement. One of the reasons for the complexity, however, is that both we and the government use the Internal Revenue Code to encourage certain positive behaviors in our society.

Charitable giving is one of those behaviors. Congress believes that it’s a good thing for society if people help each other out in an organized way. To encourage us, the government basically gives taxpayers a matching grant for charitable gifts by allowing us to deduct those gifts on our income tax returns. If you are in a 30% tax bracket and you give $1,000 to the Pratt Library, for example, the actual cost to you of this gift is only $700 because you get $300 back through reduced taxes. In effect, the government matches your $700 with $300 of its own. If your bracket is higher, the government’s match is an even better deal.

We can think about this from the opposite direction too. One of the annoying things about paying taxes is that we have no direct control over what the government does with our money. People often say, “I wouldn’t mind paying taxes if I knew that my money went for education or health care—or, best of all, libraries!” Ironically, the same

charitable deduction gives you that ability, at least to some extent. If we think about the example above from the opposite direction, we see that, by giving $1,000 to charity (at a net cost of $700 to ourselves), we have redirected $300 that the government might otherwise use for purposes that are not near and dear to our heart.

In the current political climate, many candidates are eager to attack the government, claiming that it doesn’t really help the citizenry, that it is somehow opposed to the People of America. Much of this is rabble-rousing, but it is a pretty safe bet that,

no matter what your politics, you don’t agree with everything the federal and state governments do. You can address these issues through political advocacy or directly through your votes. But using the charitable deduction to convert tax dollars, otherwise distributable at the government’s discretion, to causes that matter to you is one good way to bend the government to your wishes. Try it today!

GIVING

�SANDRA GOHN

Get a Matching Grant from the Government!

Lots of charitable publications contain short essays extolling the virtues and tax benefits of charitable giving. While that information is certainly helpful, it might be interesting to think about philanthropy in a broader context.

Sandra P. Gohn, Partner DLA Piper

Using the charitable deduction to convert tax dollars,

otherwise distributable at the government’s discretion,

to causes that matter to you is one good way to bend the government to your wishes.

If�you�have�questions�about�giving,�please contact Cindi Monahan, Director of Institutional Advancement, at 410-396-5283, or cmonahan@prattlibrary.org.

Have you included the Pratt Library in your will and estate plan?For information, CALL�THE�OFFICE�OF�INSTITUTIONAL�ADVANCEMENT�AT�(410) 396-5283.

Spring 2016 P. 3

Beulah�and�Paul�Sabundayo with their daughters Sophie, 11,

and Chloe, 15 at Central Library (top) and attending

Pratt Contemporaries Service Day (right).

Non Profit Org.

U.S. Postage

PAIDBaltimore, MD

Permit No. 3925

Pratt Potpourri

Coming to the Pratt*Apr 9 �Mr.�Pratt’s�Party the Library’s Annual Gala to support

the vital programs and services at the Enoch Pratt Free Library. An evening of fun with delicious food, dancing to the Mood Swings, and a rare look at the Pratt’s special collections. Central Library, 7 PM

Apr 6 James�McBride discusses his book Kill ‘Em and Leave: Searching for James Brown and the American Soul. Central Library, 7 PM

Apr 19 �Cokie�Roberts discusses her book Capital Dames: The Civil War and the Women of Washington, 1848-1868. Central Library, 7 PM

Jun 2 Diane�Guerrero, star of Orange is the New Black discusses her book In the Country We Love: My Family Divided. Central Library, 7 PM

*SeethelatestissueofCompassorcheckoutthePratt’swebsiteforacompletelistofupcomingspeakersandprograms

You Could Take Home A Piece of the Pratt! THIS YEAR’S EVENT

will feature a fabulous silent auction to include

old-time card catalogues, original wooden filing

cabinets, bookcases and other memorabilia from the Pratt Library. YOU WON’T WANT TO MISS

this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take home

a piece of the Pratt!

An evening of fun with delicious food, dancing to the Mood Swings, and a rare look at the Pratt’s special collections.-----------------APRIL 9, 2016 . 7 – 11 PMCentral Library . 400 Cathedral Street----------------- Tickets: $250 Black Tie OptionalComplimentary Valet Parking

Purchase tickets online at prattlibrary.org/mrpratt

For more information: (410) 545-3114Proceeds will support the vital programs and services at the Enoch Pratt Free Library.

8

1 Mayor�Stephanie�Rawlings�Blake joins Dr.�Carla�Hayden, Councilman Jim�Kraft, Board Chair Pat�Lasher, Canton Friends President Mary�Jurkiewicz, and “Mr. Pratt,” Vincent�Fitzpatrick at the grand re-opening of the Canton Library

2 �Senator�Cory�Booker with Senator�Paul�Sarbanes and Mayor�Stephanie�Rawlings�Blake at the Pratt Library to discuss his book, United: Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good

3 The Pratt�Contemporaries plant trees around the Patterson Park branch with the Parks & People Foundation

4 – 6 Generous donors and Pratt Board members celebrate the success of the Pratt Library’s Campaign for Central Library Renovations:

4 Rheda�Becker and Bob�Meyerhoff with Carla�Hayden�

5 Liz�Moser with Sylvia�and�Jim�Earl; 6 �Richard�Jacobs, Board Chair Pat�Lasher,

Claire�Jensen and Board member Dr.�Allan�Jensen

7 – 8 Black & White Party highlights: 7 �CEO�Carla�Hayden celebrates

at the Black & White Party with Event Chair Beulah�Sabundayo and Pratt Contemporaries Chair Jacob�Hodes

8 View of the party from the balcony above

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