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Announcement The Herring Run Branch will reopen with limited hours on Monday, December 23.

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

Holiday Closing All Pratt Library locations will be closed early Tuesday, December 24 at 5 pm, and closed Wednesday, December 25 in observance of Christmas Day.

Home  /  Research

Research

Research your family history, get homework help, read current newspapers, and more with Pratt Library research resources. Browse subject guides, databases, and digital collections or chat with a librarian to get started. A Pratt Library Card is required to access many of our databases.

Featured Databases

Alternative & Independent Publications
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Alt-Press Watch database with sample covers

Alternative & Independent Publications

Alt-PressWatch gives you access to full-text newspapers and magazines from alternative, independent presses.

African American Studies Center (Oxford)
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Oxford African American Studies research database

African American Studies Center (Oxford)

Discover more than 10,000 articles, maps, and multimedia resources from top scholars in the fields of African American and African history and culture.

Gale Business: Entrepreneurship
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Gale Business Entrepreneurship database - logo and Open sign hand photo

Gale Business: Entrepreneurship

Learn how to start, finance, or manage your small business with sample business plans, how-to guides, articles, and more.

Maryland Newspapers
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Maryland Newspapers - Baltimore Sun, Afro-American, and Baltimore Banner mastheads

Maryland Newspapers

Search current and historical Maryland newspapers, including The Baltimore Banner and over 100 years of the Baltimore Sun and Baltimore Afro-American.

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Featured Research Guides

Job Seeker's Toolkit
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Job & Career Center

Job Seeker's Toolkit

Looking for a job in Baltimore? This toolkit is designed to support job-seekers and those who assist job-seekers.

Early Maryland History
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map - early Maryland history

Early Maryland History

Find resources and guidance for researching early Maryland history from the Colonial through the Antebellum periods.

Genealogy & Family History Research
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Genealogy and family history research - old family photographs and leaves

Genealogy & Family History Research

Research your family history and genealogy with extensive resources, both in person and online.

Evaluating Old Books
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old books on a shelf with gold embossed leather spines

Evaluating Old Books

Ever wonder how much your old books are worth? The Humanities Collections has resources to help you find out.

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Got a Question? Ask a Librarian!

During Pratt Library hours you can live chat with a librarian. Prefer to talk on the phone? Call (410) 396-5430 for answers to reference questions.

Chat with a Librarian

Digital Maryland Collections

Providing online access to digital versions of rare and unique materials, including historical maps, photographs, reports, books, manuscripts, artwork, and other media. To view more digital collections from libraries, museums, archives, and other institutions throughout Maryland, visit Digital Maryland.

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Central Library Departments

Find librarian expertise, books, media, microfilm, and more in Central Library Departments. Explore Departments related to subjects from Maryland history and fine arts to job seeking and teen resources.

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“The Pratt librarians are amazingly helpful. I could not do the research that I have been doing without the live chat services.”

Julie D.

“It's a great place for resources and studying when you need a quiet space.”

Celeste H.

“Excellent library, great resources beyond the standard public library selection, particularly academic resources in the arts.”

Christopher P, Central

“I use the free online research from home that Enoch Pratt provides. The broad scope of research databases is even is better then the Library of Congress's resources.”

Warren R.

“I'm a teacher and the Library is a great resource for my students and their families.”

Kitra K.