Maryland Center for the Book

10/15/2026

We are thrilled to announce the open call for our 2027 One Maryland One Book! We invite you to submit your choices!

OMOB is turning 20 next year! For two decades, OMOB has brought Marylanders together through the shared experience of reading. In these twenty years, we've strived to innovate the program to meet the needs of our time.

This milestone has gotten us thinking a lot about the ways literature helps us transform, and we want you in on the conversation.

The submission window will close at 11:59 PM on November 6, 2026. You can submit your titles here: https://bit.ly/4in5TWl

10/09/2026

On Tuesday, October 27 at 3:00 p.m., Maryland Humanities and Maryland State Arts Council will hold an information session that will provide teachers and organizers with an overview, tips, and guidance for holding local contests, judging performances, and resources for working with students.

The session will be held virtually on Zoom. Registration is required. You can register here: https://bit.ly/4dzbZQX

You can learn more about Poetry Out Loud here: https://bit.ly/46EKW2L

10/09/2026

10/09/2026

Join PBS Books and the Library of Congress for book inspired adventure through Maryland in American Stories: A Reading Road Trip. Join us on October 8th at 8 p.m. ET for the episode premiere on the PBS Books YouTube channel, or watch on the PBS Books

10/07/2026

On Monday, October 26, join us at Montgomery College's Germantown Campus from 12:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. to see Lawrence Burney in discussion with Professor Stephen Bess, Associate Professor of English, to deliver the Keynote for MC's Humanities Days.

Find more information about the author event here: https://bit.ly/4yjrQLA

Learn more about MC's Humanities Days here: https://bit.ly/3W1slvm

10/05/2026

You can still sign up for Maryland's Poetry Out Loud program for the 2026-2027 school year! You have until Sunday, November 15 at 11:59 p.m. to sign up! You can complete the Intent to Participate Form here: https://bit.ly/4jygBdx

Presented in collaboration between Maryland Humanities and the Maryland State Arts Council, Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry through recitation competitions for high school students across the country.

Poetry Out Loud is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with participating state and jurisdictional arts agencies and managed by Mid Atlantic Arts.

We invite high school teachers, librarians, and any nonprofit organizations that work with teen audiences to host a Local competition. Students can select poems of their choice from the official POL Anthology compiled by the National Endowment for the Arts and perform them for audiences.

Find more information on our website: https://bit.ly/4ibdZC2

Find the Poetry Out Loud Anthology here: https://bit.ly/4A9xK3o

Pictured below is 2025-26 Maryland State Champion Bella Romero courtesy of National Endowment for the Arts. Credit: James Kegley

10/01/2026

This Saturday, October 3, One Maryland One Book author Lawrence Burney, will be in conversation with Alana Yzola-Daly about his book NO SENSE IN WISHING. This will take place at Building African American Minds, Inc (BAAM) in Easton.

The event is free and open to the public. BAAM would appreciate registration on their website. You can register here: https://bit.ly/4hx3R4C

You can learn more about the event at BAAM here: https://bit.ly/3TKy5sO

09/26/2026

Next Saturday, October 3, One Maryland One Book author Lawrence Burney, will be in conversation with Alana Yzola-Daly about his book NO SENSE IN WISHING. This will take place at Building African American Minds, Inc (BAAM) in Easton.

The event is free and open to the public. BAAM would appreciate registration on their website. You can register here: https://bit.ly/4hx3R4C

You can learn more about the event at BAAM here: https://bit.ly/3TKy5sO

09/25/2026

Next Tuesday, September 29 at 3:00 p.m., Maryland Humanities and Maryland State Arts Council will hold an information session that will cover the basics about what Poetry Out Loud is, how to sign up, and hold a local contest. 

Sessions will be held virtually on Zoom. Registration is required. You can register here: https://bit.ly/4rEvxZN

You can learn more about Poetry Out Loud here: https://bit.ly/46EKW2L

09/11/2026

Remember to check our Events Calendar for any One Maryland One Book events happening near you! We hope you are able to make it to at least one event, whether it is to discuss NO SENSE IN WISHING or see Lawrence Burney in person.

Check it out here: https://bit.ly/4yAqv2W