THIS DOCUMENT IS A STUDY OF THE READING POTENTIAL OF BALTIMORE'S CULTURALLY AND EDUCATIONALLY DEPRIVED AND THE ENOCH PRATT FREE LIBRARY'S ROLE IN SERVING THE DISADVANTAGED. AFTER DESCRIBING THE PRESENT CONDITIONS OF THE INNER CITY AND ITS INHABITANTS AND AFTER A BRIEF HISTORY OF PRATT'S SERVICE IN CITY AREAS, THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES CHARACTERISTICS OF READERS AND NONREADERS AND PROPOSES A PROGRAM OF LIBRARY SERVICE FOR THE DISADVANTAGED. ESTIMATING THE COST AT $500,000 FOR TWO YEARS AND ADVOCATING INTENSIVE EFFORT IN TWO DEMONSTRATION NEIGHBORHOODS, THE AUTHOR SUGGESTS THAT THE LIBRARY--(1) COMPILE A PRELIMINARY BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR AN "OPPORTUNITY LIBRARY" OF READING MATERIALS FOR THE DISADVANTAGED, (2) CREATE NEW PUBLICITY MATERIALS FOR DISTRIBUTION DIRECTLY TO SLUM AREAS, (3) CONTINUE AN INFORMATION CAMPAIGN FOR THE LIBRARY AIMED AT PERSONS OF LIMITED MEANS, (4) BEGIN SPECIAL PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE, (5) EXPERIMENT WITH NEIGHBORHOOD EXTENSION, AND (6) HIRE A FIELD WORKER TO DEVOTE FULL TIME TO CONTACTS IN THE TWO NEIGHBORHOODS. THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR $2.00 ($1.60 EACH FOR 10 OR MORE) FROM PUBLICATIONS ASSISTANT, ENOCH PRATT FREE LIBRARY, 400 CATHEDRAL STREET, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21201. (CC)