How to Participate

Marylanders read together with One Maryland One Book

It only takes 3 steps to participate in One Maryland One Book!

1. Grab your copy

Find the One Maryland One Book at your local library or bookstore and get reading!

2. Reach out

Each year, more than 10,000 Marylanders read the One Maryland One Book. How many of those people are your friends or family members? How many are perfect strangers you sit next to on the train or stand in line with at the grocery store? Use the book to jump-start a meaningful conversation with an old friend or make a new one.

3. Pull up a chair

Join thousands of other Marylanders at one of the many book discussions and related programs happening around the state this fall. Keep an eye on our Event Calendar for updates. All One Maryland One Book events listed are open to the public and FREE!

Want To Host Your Own Discussion or Program?
Maryland Humanities invites organizations across the state to participate by planning free public programs related to the theme and topics of ``There There.`` We welcome schools, libraries, colleges and universities, book clubs, and other organizations to join us! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!
Do You Teach at a High School?
Maryland high schools are encouraged to participate! Public high school teachers and librarians are eligible to receive a free set of 30 copies of ``There There`` while supplies last. ALL participating teachers and librarians receive free teaching materials! CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Want to learn more about programs?

Throughout the summer, we will hold virtual Zoom sessions for our partners and affiliates to meet, connect, generate, and collaborate over ideas for how to use There There in their communities. Registration is required.

Join the one that suits you:

Program Funding Application Application Review
May 25, 12 PM – 1 PM
Maryland Humanities invites libraries, schools, and community non-profits and organizations to apply for funding programs and events around One Maryland One Book this fall. We will review guidelines, including criteria, procedures, and potential programming ideas! Register here.

Librarian Jam
June 15, 12 PM to 1 PM
Come meet and connect with other librarians across the state to brainstorm, develop, and collaborate on program ideas and events. Register here.

Book Club Hub
July 13, 12 PM to 1 PM
Interested in having There There as your book club’s a fall choice? We invite anyone interested in hosting book clubs or discussions with their friends, communities, work colleagues, and all to learn more about topics, activities, and resources to make your discussion a success! Register here.

Teacher Connections
August 17, 12 PM to 1 PM
We’re inviting all teachers interested in using There There in their classrooms to meet and connect with other educators across the state to brainstorm, develop, and collaborate lesson plans and class activities around the book and its themes. Register here.

 

Want to funding for your programs?

Maryland Humanities is making funds up to $500 available to foster creative programming for OMOB around the state. Maryland libraries, nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, and secondary and postsecondary schools are eligible to apply.

These funds are for creation of any free, public event that brings together an audience in your community in an interactive, participatory space, with focus on the themes, subject matter, and contexts of There There.

In keeping with our strategic plan, we seek to support programs and events that:

  • Prioritize equity, access, and inclusion.
  • Connect with diverse audiences.
  • Use innovative strategies, digital technologies, and experiential learning.
  • Foster community engagement.

These funds are not intended to expand or start up additional, traditional book clubs. Although funding can only be awarded to one applicant per application, applicants are encouraged to partner with other organizations.

Applications for funding are accepted through June 16, 2023 by 5:00 PM.

Funding notifications will be sent by July 14, 2023.

PROGRAM FUNDING APPLICATION

Guides & Materials

Every year we work with educators and partners to bring you relevant information to enhance your reading of the One Maryland One Book.

Please find our Programming Partners Toolkit for program ideas, funding opportunities, and resources to make the most of your OMOB.

Our 2023 Reader’s and Teacher’s Guides will be available later this summer.

 

Keep the conversation going with a book club

We love to hear about great conversations and stories of all the interesting book-related programs you attended. It’s not unusual for One Maryland One Book conversations to inspire participants to start a new book club. If you are interested in starting a book club, we recommend that you take a peek at the I love libraries website.

Want discussion questions or other materials to help get the conversation rolling? Contact Aditya Desai.

 

  • “I had two students participate who told me they’ve never finished a book before and they finished this one and want to read more!”

    ​One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “I completed the book club with 22 students, all of them on the JV football team – so not your stereotypical group of book club attendees. On the last day of our book club experience I asked students for some feedback and also asked if they would be interested in participating in another book club. Nearly all of them said that this was the first time they had ever participated in a book club, and a few said it was the first time they had actually read an entire book. I keep hearing back from them, too, [asking] ‘When is the next book club starting up?’. The discussions we had were powerful and meaningful–this was truly one of the most moving experiences I have had as an educator.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher

  • “[One Maryland One Book] taught me how much we need to talk and listen to one another.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “Left on my own, I would choose the same kind of books over and over again. Now, [participating in One Maryland One Book,] my reading experience is broader and richer and all the more enjoyable.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “For most of my 10th grade students, this was the first book they have read from cover to cover.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher

  • “The discussion of the [2015 One Maryland One] book could not have been better. Everyone had a particular part of the story that touched them. One of the newcomers was an experienced rower and gave us wonderful insight into the physical and spiritual aspects of the sport. It is the first time in my ten years with this group that everyone loved the book.”

    One Maryland One Book 2015 participant

  • “[One Maryland One Book] is wonderful; enlightening, explorative, innovative, [and] educational.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “A sophomore on our school’s state-champ runner-up varsity football team was so taken by Joe’s story of the sophomore year on the boat that he got his dad (the coach) and several members of his team to read the book even though they weren’t assigned it in class. Another student described a discussion she got into with her math teacher after school about the relevance of the English curriculum and used her experience with Brown’s work and the field trip to convince her teacher that humanities are just as important as STEM. Great stuff!”

    ​One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “My students have been removed from their home schools. Right away, they made comments about the diction of the text, how it seemed realistic to them and they pointed out words they would have changed. We talked about word choice, slang, etc. I had 2 instances where students were excited to see me because they had events similar to the book happen to them and they needed to tell someone. They want to know how to change things. […] These kids typically failed English class or were chronic non-attenders or were removed before they came here. They are excited about reading a book! Teacher librarian win!”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher

  • “What a discussion! That what’s needed in every town, city, and every age group.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “[One Maryland One Book] brings cross curricular teachers together to the library to read, discuss topics and social issues in the book. It’s a way for students to read good books without the pressure of an assignment.”

    One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “The book selections offer an opportunity to read a book that is informative and engaging. It enhances our view of the world and the individuals within it. We sincerely look forward to the OMOB selections and materials each year. It is a topic of excitement and discussion among students and staff. Truly and wonderfully.”

    ​One Maryland One Book teacher

  • “[One Maryland One Book is] excellent! I come to as many of the One Maryland One Book events and will continue to do so—always pleased!”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “We had our best attendance, ever, for a book discussion, in the seven years I’ve been here.”

    One Maryland One Book 2015 participant

  • “One student in my book club who is in a wheelchair and has a lot of other persona/home issues, was the first to finish the book, and wheeled herself into the library more than once to ask me if I had finished the book because she wanted to talk about it. She was a huge contributor to the discussion.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher
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About Us
Maryland Humanities is a statewide, educational nonprofit organization that creates and supports bold experiences that explore and elevate our shared stories to connect people, enhance lives, and enrich communities.
Maryland Humanities
108 West Centre Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-4565
(410) 685-0095
(410) 685-0795 fax
info@mdhumanities.org
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