News Release
DATE: July 12, 2012
Board Awards $1.4 Million in Federal Grants
At its July Board meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) awarded $1,436,999 in 37 grants to public, academic, school, special libraries and library networks across the Commonwealth under the Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
The MBLC offers LSTA grants to help libraries meet the diverse needs of the patrons they serve including Vital Aging for Older Active Adults in which libraries become centers for productive aging, lifelong learning and civic engagement, Science is Everywhere which helps public libraries develop innovative programs and strategies that promote interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), Libraries for Job Seekers which helps libraries meet the needs of today's jobseekers who need Internet access and career-related programming and workshops, and Conversation Circles which helps the Commonwealth's newest residents learn English.
The MBLC also offers grants to help libraries digitize important resources, increasing public access to these documents. Boston Public Library is using such a grant to digitize documents for institutions that are members of the Digital Commonwealth at no cost. Among the institutions benefiting from the grant are West Bridgewater Public Library which digitized its local history collection and Cape Cod Community College which digitized National Seashore records and historic deeds. To view some of these digitized collections please click here see http://mblc.state.ma.us/books/digital/index.php
Fenway Libraries Online (FLO) received LSTA grant to procure and maintain a new virtual catalog product for libraries across the state. Residents search the Virtual Catalog to find resources held in the automated networks and libraries across the state. This project is scheduled to be fully implemented by December 2014.
LSTA grants through the MBLC support literacy programs that benefit all ages, increase library access to underserved populations, preserve valuable historical documents and provide advanced automation services and staff training. Click here for descriptions of all LSTA programs, and see below for a list of this year's awardees.
| City | Library | Amount | Award |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abington | Abington Public Library | $7,500 | On the Same Page |
| Attleboro | Attleboro Public Library | $7,500 | Science is Everywhere |
| Barnstable | Marstons Mills Public Library | $15,000 | Serving Tweens and Teens |
| Billerica | Billerica Public Library | $7,500 | Reader’s Advisory |
| Boston | Boston Public Library | $147,350 | Open |
| Boston | Fenway Libraries Online | $821,320 | Virtual Catalog Implementation |
| Boston | Massachusetts Historical Society | $36,205 | Preservation of Library & Archival Materials |
| Boston | State Library of Massachusetts | $25,156 | Preservation of Library & Archival Materials |
| Eastham | Eastham Public Library | $2,500 | Preservation Survey |
| Easton | Ames Free Library | $7,500 | Next Chapter |
| Fitchburg | Fitchburg State University | $4,470 | Digitizing Historical Resources |
| Framingham | Framingham State University | $15,000 | Serving People with Disabilities |
| Halifax | Holmes Public Library | $7,500 | Serving People with Disabilities |
| Hanson | Hanson Public Library | $7,500 | Next Chapter |
| Haverhill | Haverhill Public Library | $15,000 | Serving Tweens and Teens |
| Hingham | Hingham Public Library | $12,100 | Digitizing Historical Resources |
| Kingston | Kingston Public Library | $7,500 | Science is Everywhere |
| Lenox | Lenox Library | $2,500 | Preservation Survey |
| Lowell | Umass Lowell Libraries | $29,954 | Digitizing Historical Resources |
| Marlborough | Marlborough Public Library | $12,500 | Conversation Circles |
| Mattapoisett | Mattapoisett Free Public Library | $15,000 | Serving Tweens and Teens |
| Merrimac | Merrimac Public Library | $7,500 | On the Same Page |
| Middleton | Flint Public Library | $7,500 | On the Same Page |
| New Bedford | New Bedford Free Public Library | $7,500 | Libraries for Job Seekers |
| North Andover | Merrimack Valley Library Consortium | $12,500 | Small Libraries in Networks |
| Palmer | Palmer Public Library | $2,500 | Preservation Survey |
| Pembroke | Pembroke Public Library | $2,500 | Preservation Survey |
| Pittsfield | Berkshire Athenaeum | $7,500 | Next Chapter |
| Reading | Reading Public Library | $7,500 | Science is Everywhere |
| Springfield | Springfield City Library | $17,000 | Open |
| Stoneham | Stoneham Public Library | $7,500 | Science is Everywhere |
| Sturbridge | Joshua Hyde Public Library | $7,500 | Science is Everywhere |
| Waltham | Waltham Public Library | $7,500 | Reader’s Advisory |
| Watertown | Watertown Free Public Library | $7,500 | Science is Everywhere |
| Wellesley | Wellesley Free Library | $12,500 | Conversation Circles |
| Weymouth | Weymouth Public Libraries | $2,500 | Preservation Survey |
| Worcester | C/W MARS | $113,444 | Small Libraries in Networks |