Pennsylvania Avenue Branch
🏢 Enoch Pratt Free Library — Baltimore, Maryland
Pennsylvania Avenue Branch
The Pennsylvania Avenue Branch is the Enoch Pratt Free Library's anchor for West Baltimore, rooted in the historic African American neighborhoods around Sandtown-Winchester, Upton, and Penn-North near the legendary Pennsylvania Avenue arts district.
🕑 Library Hours
| Monday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Tuesday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Wednesday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Thursday | 10 AM – 8 PM |
| Friday | 10 AM – 5 PM |
| Saturday | 10 AM – 5 PM |
| Sunday | Closed |
Hours may vary on holidays.
📍 Location & Contact
Address: 1531 W North Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217
Phone: (410) 396-0399
Website: prattlibrary.org
📖 About Pennsylvania Avenue Branch
This branch began in 1914 as the Easterwood Branch and moved to its current building at 1531 W. North Avenue in January 1953, where its contemporary architecture and expanses of plate glass drew attention at the time. It anchors library service for West Baltimore neighborhoods including Sandtown-Winchester, Penn-North, Druid Heights, Upton, Reservoir Hill, and Bolton Hill, communities tied to the legacy of nearby Pennsylvania Avenue, the historic heart of Black Baltimore's arts and entertainment scene. A 2023 renovation added refreshed children's and teen areas, updated interior design, new workstations, and an interactive children's play table. The branch offers public computers, printing and copying, and job and career support, along with rotating Social Worker and Lawyer in the Library services. A community meeting room is available for reservation.
⭐ What makes this branch special
- Anchor library for West Baltimore, including the Sandtown-Winchester, Upton, Penn-North, and Druid Heights neighborhoods
- Traces its roots to the 1914 Easterwood Branch and has occupied its glass-walled North Avenue building since 1953
- Renovated in 2023 with refreshed children's and teen spaces, new workstations, and an interactive children's play table
- Provides public computers, printing, job and career support, and rotating Social Worker and Lawyer in the Library programs
📱 Free with an Enoch Pratt Free Library Card
Any Maryland resident can get a Pratt card free and unlock:
📍 More Enoch Pratt Free Library branches
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Was this branch always called the Pennsylvania Avenue Branch?
No. It opened in 1914 as the Easterwood Branch and relocated to its current building at 1531 W. North Avenue in January 1953, taking on its role as the Pennsylvania Avenue Branch serving West Baltimore.
Which neighborhoods does the Pennsylvania Avenue Branch serve?
It is the anchor library for West Baltimore communities including Sandtown-Winchester, Penn-North, Druid Heights, Mondawmin, Upton, Reservoir Hill, and Bolton Hill, near the historic Pennsylvania Avenue arts and entertainment district.
What did the 2023 renovation add to the branch?
The 2023 project refreshed the children's and teen areas, updated the interior design, and added new workstations and an interactive children's play table, modernizing the branch while keeping it in its longtime North Avenue home.