Insider questions impact of overseas trips by Enoch Pratt Free Library’s top officials

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — Seven months after top officials at the Enoch Pratt Free Library traveled overseas to study libraries in other countries, some library insiders say they have seen little evidence the trip has benefited the system.

In three months last summer, CEO Chad Helton and three other library officials spent 120 hours flying to Egypt, China and Japan to explore how other libraries operate. More than $45,000 in donated funds was used to pay for the travel.

ALSO READ | Top Baltimore library leaders logged 120 hours on planes while library programs got cut

An insider at the Enoch Pratt Free Library said there has been no meaningful follow-up shared with staff since the trip.

“There wasn’t a lot of debriefing to show this is what we’ve done, this is what we can do to make it better,” the insider said.

I challenge them to show anything they’ve done to incorporate anything they’ve learned while overseas….I don’t think they learned a thing.”

The travel came after the Enoch Pratt Free Library made deep cuts to library programs.

It also emerged that three months before the group traveled to China, a delegation of Chinese librarians visited Baltimore. The insider questioned why the overseas travel was necessary given that visit.

“So, anything they wanted to learned they could’ve learned from here,” the insider said.

Some donors said they weren’t aware their contributions would be used for executive travel.

“That money to me seemed like when you donate it…it’s for the library not the CEO,” longtime supporter Frances Muldrow said.

ALSO READ | Library insider blasts CEO for cutting programs and then traveling around the globe

Taxpayer advocate David Williams believes the spending could damage trust with supporters.

“When you’re a donor, you are giving your money on faith into the people you’re donating to and that faith is gone,” Williams said.

He also warned the controversy could have long-term consequences for fundraising.

“All you need is one donor, a big donor to ask for their donation back…and that can leave a huge hole in the library’s budget,” he said. “It’s going to be very tough to go to a donor and ask for a donation after they’ve seen what the travel has cost and where it has gone.”