Maryland’s Landmark “Freedom to Read” Decision: A Victory for Students and School Libraries

Last week, the Maryland State Board of Education made history by reversing the Harford County Board of Education’s decision to remove a young adult graphic novel from school libraries.

EveryLibrary was proud to have worked with the Maryland Library Association and a broad coalition of educators, parents, and civil liberties advocates to develop and pass the Freedom to Read Act in 2024. Our organization collaborated with the Maryland Library Association to raise awareness about the bill's importance to lawmakers and the public. 

This ruling marks the first time in Maryland's history that the state intervened to restore access to a banned book. It represents the first significant application of the state’s 2024 Freedom to Read Act, a law designed to protect students’ rights and preserve the independence of school and public libraries.

EveryLibrary applauds the Maryland State Board of Education for affirming that Flamer, a young adult graphic novel by author-illustrator Mike Curato, has a place on the shelves of its school libraries. A core tenet of the Mayland Freedom to Read Act (2024) is that no student should be denied access to literature due to “partisan, ideological, or religious disapproval." The local Harford County school board had previously said Flamer contained “sexually explicit” or “mature” content that they thought was inappropriate for younger students, and that it should not be available to any students without parental control. In interviews, the Board President acknowledged that the book “is recommended for high school-age students" but that no child should have access to it without "adult supervision.”

The Harford County situation highlights why this legislation matters. When local decision-making veers into censorship or when a small group acts behind closed doors to remove a book despite professional reviews and community input, state-level protections become crucial. Maryland’s new law ensures that appeals are transparent, evidence-based, and aligned with constitutional principles.

The law was crafted with input from librarians who witnessed firsthand how local book bans undermined both their professional integrity and the intellectual freedom of students.

The government can build a school, fund a school library, and set standards for its operation. But it cannot dictate what a student may think, learn, or believe. In Maryland, as in every democracy, the right to read is the right to think. A library’s purpose is to guarantee that readers can find and choose information freely, regardless of which party or administration is in power. By restoring Flamer to school shelves, the state reaffirmed that legitimate speech in a school library is the reader’s own act of inquiry.

EveryLibrary applauds Maryland’s leadership and the courage of its librarians and educators who helped craft and implement the Freedom to Read Act. Their work demonstrates that libraries serve as public trusts, not partisan tools. For librarians and library workers across Maryland, this decision should be a moment of pride and validation. Their leadership in shaping and implementing the Freedom to Read Act has positioned Maryland as a national model for proactive, rights-based policy that balances community participation with professional integrity.

EveryLibrary will continue to partner with library associations, civil rights groups, and right-to-read organizations nationwide to ensure that every reader, in every state, enjoys the freedom to explore ideas, stories, and perspectives without fear or prejudice.