State guide
Maryland
Maryland’s official state library agency is MSLA, and its current official materials highlight a statewide reading program, One Maryland One Book, rather than a statewide circulating book-club-kit catalog. For interlibrary loan, Maryland residents commonly use the statewide Marina/Search MD Libraries network through a local public library card, and local staff can try out-of-state borrowing when Marina does not fill a request.
Checked against official sources on October 4, 2026. Rules and links change; confirm with the office listed before you act.
- State library agency
- Maryland State Library Agency
- Statewide book club kit program
- MSLA’s current official materials highlight One Maryland One Book, a statewide book club, but I did not find a statewide public circulating book-club-kit or book-club-in-a-bag catalog on current MSLA pages.
- Interlibrary loan
- Maryland residents typically use the statewide Marina/Search MD Libraries system through their local public library card; patrons can place requests themselves or get staff help, and libraries may try borrowing from outside Maryland when needed.
Official resources in Maryland
Overview of MSLA and Maryland’s statewide public library network.
Accessible-library service page with eligibility, formats, and contact details.
MSLA page describing the State Library Resource Center’s statewide support role.
Official Maryland public-library page explaining Marina/SHAREit statewide requesting for patrons.
Official MSLA report noting One Maryland One Book as a statewide book club.
Key facts for Maryland
- Maryland has 24 public library systems serving more than 3.3 million residents.
- MSLA partners with Maryland Humanities to lead One Maryland One Book, a statewide book club.
- Marina is an online catalog of materials owned by all the public libraries in Maryland.
- Marina requests often arrive in 7-10 business days, though some take longer.
- Marina users need a library card number and are limited to three requests per business day.
- If Marina finds no result, local library staff may request the material from outside Maryland if possible.
Libraries that lend book club kits in Maryland
| Library | city | phone | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prince George’s County Memorial Library System C.R.A.B. Book Club Kits Prince George's County | Largo | Not published* | Community Raving About Books kits circulate for seven weeks on an adult card, limited to one kit per person, with 10 copies per tote. |
| Howard County Library System Book Clubs Howard County | Columbia | Not published* | Central book-club page for staff-led public discussions and help for patrons running their own clubs. |
| Enoch Pratt Free Library BYOB (Bring Your Own Book) Club Baltimore City | Baltimore | Not published* | Monthly public discussion at Southeast Anchor where readers bring any book, blog, or article they want to discuss. |
| Baltimore County Public Library Books and Conversation Baltimore County | Cockeysville | 410-887-7750 | Adult public book-club event page for a branch discussion group focused on sharing recent reads and recommendations. |
| Carroll County Public Library Adult Book Discussion Carroll County | Westminster | Not published* | Official system page listing adult discussion groups, including Silent Book Club and other recurring book discussions. |
* Not published: the official page doesn't list it. Call the office to confirm before you rely on it.
What to do next
- Search your local catalog first, then use Search MD Libraries/Marina with your library card if the item is not there.
- If your book group needs accessible formats, contact LBPD to see whether you qualify for free statewide service.
- For local book-club kits, check county systems directly; Maryland does not show a statewide public kit catalog on current MSLA pages.
Not seeing your library or county?
We list a library only when an official government page publishes its rules. If yours isn't in the table above, it may not publish them online yet. Here's what to use instead, in order:
- General Start with the statewide information above. It applies across Maryland, but cities and counties can add their own steps, fees or deadlines.
- Closest verified Nearest places where we have verified local data outside this state (distance from Maryland's population center, for comparison only):
- District of Columbia Public Library - Book Clubs, District of Columbia · about 19 miles
- District of Columbia Public Library - DC Reads, District of Columbia · about 19 miles
- Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, District of Columbia · about 19 miles
- Call to confirm Ask the official office. They have the current local rule, fee and form.Maryland State Library for the Blind & Print Disabled
Website →Phone: (410) 230-2424 (as listed on that page, checked Oct 4, 2026)Your city or county office: Local governments →Not sure who handles it locally? USAGov's free help line, 1-844-872-4681, or the Maryland page on USA.gov can point you to the right office. - Know the current info? Tell us and include a link to the official page. We check every tip before it goes up.
Helpful guides
- What is a library book club kit?
- How to borrow a book club kit from your library
- How to start a book club at your library
- Using interlibrary loan for your book club