A cool breeze wafts in the air, rustling green leaves that are putting up their final fight. Some have already succumbed into shades of red, brown, and orange, marking the end of Halloween, the scariest time of the year. A night when one can prance around in costume without much fanfare, but you know what never goes out of style at the Maryland Book Bank? Scary stories, free to read for anyone that dares. On a very serious note, I’ve noticed that one of the quickest ways to

Hi readers! My name is Daniel Field, and I have the honor of serving the Maryland Book Bank as a writing intern during the first semester of my junior year in college at Loyola University of Maryland. I'm currently in my second month working for the Maryland Book Bank, and between sorting books in the warehouse, supporting kids during Bookmobile visits at schools, and writing social media packages, I've had a lot of fun. The Maryland Book Bank is an organization engaged with

Hi everyone! I’m Esther, the current Program Coordinator for the Maryland Book Bank, and I hope you’re having a great fall so far. I’ve been a Program Coordinator for about a month, and taking up the role has been both an exciting and daunting process. I remember shaking during my first few weeks at the Book Bank, stumbling through tasks I had no idea about how to complete. But as time goes on, I’ve been doing better, and while I’m nowhere near perfect, the act of practicing

There is a tendency among dedicated readers to look down on reading electronically. Bibliophiles everywhere proudly (and at times, performatively,) announce their love of used books, and not without reason. The tactile experience of physical, printed books is one of life’s most under-appreciated pleasures; used books in particular offer the stories of lifetimes in their wear and tear: an inscription from decades prior immortalizes a grandmother’s love for her grandchild, care

We orient the conversation about literacy around its relationship to success. We can easily quantify this by referencing impressive rates of graduation and upward-trending GPAs – or inversely by examining how illiteracy leads to unemployment. What is frequently excluded in the conversation about literacy is how being able to read means being able to choose. Choice is a beautiful privilege. For as long as humans have walked the earth, choice has helped us develop a sense of au

Wow! It feels like it was a couple of weeks ago that I was writing my very first blog for the Maryland Book Bank, and now I’m drafting my last one. For those who don’t know me - hi! I’m Grace, and I’ve spent the last 9 months working for the Book Bank through a program called MarylandCorps, which allows young people throughout the state to engage in a Service Year. After graduating from Temple University in May 2025, this job seemed like the perfect opportunity to begin my

The first day of spring was March 20th, and the Book Bank has been taking full advantage of the fresh energy! From fostering a literacy ecosystem with our spring break pop-up Bookmobile visits to revamping our Book Bank space to celebrating National Volunteer Month, it’s been a meaningful time full of growth and community. Baltimore City’s spring break allows the Book Bank time to reflect on the school year and set intentions for how we want to close it out. During this tim

Throughout the month of March, our team directed volunteers to put aside any books that they thought would be appropriate for Women’s History Month. What we found truly delighted me, and I wanted to share with our community of blog readers and supporters. The books our volunteers curated ranged from picture books to chapter books, from stories of activists to artists to scientists, but each one carried the same message: women have always been here, doing extraordinary things.

Frederick Douglass once said, “Once you learn to read, you will forever be free.” It is a quote that, in so few words, has a lot on its mind, and remains a forever thought-provoking statement. Not just within the backdrop of Black History Month or past and present civil rights movements, but in a far broader context: children, how they are exposed to literature, and what they take away. Starting in 2016, the Baltimore Ravens partnered with the Maryland Book Bank and set out w

Often, when we celebrate Black History Month, we reflect on the past. We acknowledge that any societal progress for the rights of Black people stands on the shoulders of giants who have paved the way. When I first began writing this blog, I researched some of those giants to learn about some Black figures from Maryland who may not be so well-known. There’s Frances Ellen Watkins Harper , born in Baltimore in 1825 and the first African-American woman to publish a short story. W

As of 2019, more than 67 million people in the United States speak a language other than English at home. Spanish accounts for 62% of that group, making it the most commonly spoken non-English language in the country. Maryland reflects this national trend. According to recent data from the Migration Policy Institute, a substantial share of Maryland’s children (those between the ages of 5-17) speak Spanish at home. While many of them feel confident speaking English, over 35,0

Happy holidays from the Maryland Book Bank! This time of year always brings an opportunity for reflection, and lately I’ve been thinking about an important concept for our MBB team: fostering a literacy ecosystem. When Kim Crout, our wonderful Program Director, first used that phrase, I wasn’t sure what she meant. A literacy ecosystem? What does that look like? Before we can define a literacy ecosystem, it’s important to first understand that reading is a complicated skil

One of my favorite parts of working at the Book Bank is getting to see thousands of book covers per day. The books we see range in color, size, texture, and shape, and the illustrations are incredible. The most classic children’s characters from picture books - Eric Carle’s very hungry caterpillar, Mo Willems’ Elephant and Piggie, and Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat - are colorful, creative, and loveable. They’ve become so beloved because of the way these characters enhance the

As I round out my fifth week working at the MBB, something that has continuously stuck out to me as a core principle of the Book Bank is the idea of books as a fundamental right. This concept is something that Kim, our lovely Program Director, is a huge advocate for: “Literacy is not a luxury. Books are a human right. They are the building blocks of equity, empathy, and opportunity. Access to books should never depend on a family’s zip code or income. Every child deserves

Happy October, everyone! I hope your spooky season is off to a great start. I’m Grace, the new Program Coordinator at the Maryland Book...

My name is Mac Ferrone, a senior at Loyola University Maryland who will graduate in May. Looking back over the semester and my college...

Looking at the U.S. as a whole, “One in four adults…have a disability,” while fostering a proper, inclusive environment for all people...

Since its founding over 20 years ago, the Maryland Book Bank has placed over a million books into the hands of children and adults across...

While we don’t get to choose where or when we’re born, where we start in life plays a huge role in shaping our future—especially when it...

Whether loading up the Bookmobile to transport books to students or filling up shelves at our physical location, the Maryland Book Bank...