News Release

After twenty five years with the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, Maureen Killoran, Head of the Public Library Advisory Unit and Government Liaison, has announced that she will retire from the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) in July.

During her career with the Board, Ms. Killoran worked on some of the most critical issues facing libraries including funding during times of economic crisis, library privatization, patron privacy rights and confidentiality laws, Internet safety issues, and library security. She created the first Massachusetts Library Legislative Day with the Massachusetts Library Association (MLA) twenty-four years ago and has worked tirelessly with the Legislature on behalf of the Commonwealth's libraries. She was instrumental in the passing of legislation in 1987 that created the Massachusetts Public Library Construction Program which has awarded over $300 million in grants to over 200 communities across the Commonwealth. "Maureen has been a champion of libraries and of patron rights. Everyone across the state knows, respects, and genuinely cares for Maureen. She will be greatly missed," said George Comeau, MBLC Board Chair.

Friends of Libraries and library trustees have also benefited from Ms. Killoran's efforts. She worked with the Massachusetts Library Trustee Association to create the Trustee Symposium which recently celebrated its 10^th year of providing workshops, networking, and information for library trustees across the state. Friends Sharing with Friends, an annual conference which provides an opportunity for Friends of Library groups from across the Commonwealth to meet and share experiences while learning about successful efforts and programs, was also started by Ms. Killoran. "There are so many things we will miss about Maureen: her commitment, her caring, and her tremendous talent are just a few of the qualities that make her special," said MBLC Commissioner and library trustee Frank Murphy.

Ms. Killoran also worked with former MBLC Director Keith Fiels to create the Public Library Advisory Unit which provides direct support, advice and contact regarding library administration and governance for hundreds of library trustees, directors, and municipal officials. Ms. Killoran has served on the consumer advisory boards of the Perkins Talking Book Library and the Talking Book Library in Worcester and was a member of the MLA's Legislative Committee. Current MBLC Director, Robert C. Maier commented on the effect of  Ms. Killoran's work, "Maureen's work has positively impacted the way libraries operate everyday. It touches every library user across the state. The MBLC, library patrons, and the library community owe Maureen our gratitude."

"I've been lucky," says Ms Killoran. "I've been able to combine the two things that professionally matter most to me: libraries and government.  And I've had the opportunity to work with people all over the state. I've always appreciated their different and valuable experiences and points of view. It has been an honor to work these many years with such talented people for the good of libraries."