Celebrating books, reading, libraries, Maryland writers, and our state’s literary heritage.
The Maryland Center for the Book (MCFB), an affiliate of the national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, develops and supports literary programs and outreach activities that engage citizens across Maryland in literature and reading. As a program of Maryland Humanities, MCFB highlights our region’s literary heritage and calls attention to the importance of books, reading, literacy and libraries.
One of 52 state affiliates of the Library of Congress Center for the Book, MCFB is a program of Maryland Humanities. Visit our satellite locations:
Get involved with Maryland Center for the Book
Maryland Humanities serves as the Library of Congress’ Center for the Book (CFB) affiliate with a mission to celebrate the state’s literary heritage. Engage with us in multiple ways:
Find a good book to read and discuss with others. Join the conversation around One Maryland One Book.
Celebrate books with thousands of other book lovers. Join MCFB at state and national book festivals.
Watch or attend unique literary events, from book festivals to special presentations.
Download our Literature Programs Info Sheet (PDF) to learn more or share with other fans of literature.
For active or retired service members, our Veteran’s Book Groups engage dialogues of war experience through literature. Join one of our sessions across five counties.
Mark your calendars for the National Book Festival on September 6, 2025! We’ll be at the Maryland booth celebrating our two “Great Reads” titles!
Connect with our community on Facebook.
Come see us at other events! We love sharing about our programs at festivals, conferences, or other community events. Please let us know if we can support your event by spreading the love of literature. Invites welcome!
Symposium Webcast
Have you seen the Library of Congress (LOC) and American Library Association’s “Books & Stories to Strengthen Families” symposium? Maryland Center for the Book was a supporting sponsor! Catch up by watching the full webcast.
One Maryland One Book
Our 2026 One Maryland One Book selection is No Sense in Wishing: Essays on Black Music, Belonging, and Baltimore by Lawrence Burney.
Under the annual theme of Revolution, Reaction, and Reform, this book is an essay collection from culture critic Lawrence Burney that is a personal and analytical look at his home city of Baltimore, music from throughout the global Black diaspora, and the traditions that raised him.
Maryland Humanities will collaborate with partners across the state to distribute over FREE copies of the book and produce public programs or events that expand and extend the book’s themes & topics for audiences across Maryland’s communities.
MCAAHC Book Drive
Maryland Humanities is partnering with the Maryland Commission on African American History and Culture’s for their 3rd Annual Statewide Book Drive! Our book drive will run until May 27, 2026.
This year, we are excited to work with several organizations who will supply books to the drive and deliver donated books to their readers in local communities, schools, libraries, and juvenile centers.
Partners:
→ Black Coalition for Excellence in Education
→ Our Kids Read
→ Storybook Maze
→ Urban Reads
This year, we are looking for the following:
→ Content: Books that feature Black and diverse authors, stories, and narratives
→ Ages: Childrens, Kindergarten/First Grade, Middle grade, and YA/teen audiences
→ Genre: Picture books, graphic novels, chapter books, and classic bestsellers
To donate books, please bring in-person donation drop-offs on Wednesdays or by appointment to:
3600 Clipper Mill Rd
Baltimore, MD 21211
Have questions or want more information? Please contact Aditya, Program Officer, Literature, at adesai@mdhumanities.org.