During one of four public meetings scheduled this week at various Enoch Pratt Free Library branches, Ronald Dubberly asked library users for their thoughts on how the city library system could be improved.

About 40 people, including library staff, attended the meeting Monday at the Herring Run library branch in the Belair-Edison neighborhood in Northeast Baltimore. During the meeting, Dubberly noted suggestions for warmer colors on the walls, cozy reading chairs, group study rooms designed for conversation, a place to drink coffee and better shelving.

Dubberly, a private consultant who headed library systems in Atlanta and Seattle, has been hired by the library system to conduct a study of its facilities and services. An expert on urban libraries, Dubberly says the goal of such a study is to close "the gap between where you are and where we think you ought to go."

The key, he said, is to make a library not only an outstanding resource center but also relevant to community needs. And since those needs change constantly, he said, libraries have to keep pace.

Details of study

The study will include discussions with library staff as well as public comments at the forums. Pratt officials said the study will cost about $65,000 and is being financed with private funds. Dubberly will issue a report that is expected to be completed by the end of April. The report will be used to guide the library system as it builds on the strategic plan that it formulated in 1997.

Since that year, seven library branches have been closed. Carla D. Hayden, director of the Pratt, said the current round of meetings were not a prelude to shuttering more libraries. In fact, the 21-branch Pratt system is planning its first new library since 1971, a large "anchor" library for Southeast Baltimore.

"It's crucial to plan where there's not a crisis," said Hayden, who is attending the public forums. "Things change, technology changes, so you do a timely revisiting of plans.

"We did not want to close branches when we had to, and we don't expect to close any provided the fiscal situation stays stable."

The Pratt's annual budget is about $28 million, divided fairly evenly between city and state funding, since the central library on Cathedral Street is also the state library resource center.

Fear of closings

Some who attended Monday's meeting were worried that Dubberly's study could signal more branch closings.

"I'm concerned about this assessment," said Nina Harper, a community leader, as she left the meeting. "We certainly don't want to lose any services. That would be detrimental to the neighborhood."

"My fear is that they're going to close libraries. I hope they hold another public forum [in the spring] to discuss the recommendations."

Harper asked Dubberly about possible branch closings.

"I anticipate that all [branches] will be needed," Dubberly said.

A public meeting is scheduled for 6 o'clock tonight at the Northwood library branch, 4420 Loch Raven Blvd. Another public meeting will be held 6 p.m. tomorrow at the Light Street branch, 1251 Light St.