Board Approves First Round of State Aid Grants
November 09, 2021
Matthew Perry
Communications Specialist
1-800-952-7403 x240
matthew.s.perry@state.ma.us
At its November Board Meeting, the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners (MBLC) approved 103 municipalities that met all requirements for certification in the FY2022 State Aid to Public Libraries program. State Aid program grants for FY2022 total $13 million, a $1 million increase over the amount given during FY2021. Libraries will receive half of their grant awards with the remaining amount released late spring.
A second group of municipalities meeting all requirements will be presented to the Board for approval during the December 2021 board meeting. At the January 2022 meeting, Commissioners will consider waivers for municipalities that do not meet the Municipal Appropriation Requirement (MAR). The MAR is funding from the municipality that supports the library. Any library with a disproportionate cut to its budget will go before the Board during the January 2022 board meeting to present information on the reductions and how the library will be funded in the future.
Funding from the State Aid to Public Library Program goes directly to support public library services. The reciprocity that comes with library certification in the State Aid program is often what patrons value most. It allows them to use any State Aid certified library in the Commonwealth and gives patrons access to more than 73 million items available through the shared library system.
More information about the State Aid to Public Libraries Program is available on the MBLC website.
About MBLC
The Board of Library Commissioners (mass.gov/mblc) is the agency of state government with the statutory authority and responsibility to organize, develop, coordinate and improve library services throughout the Commonwealth. The Board advises municipalities and library trustees on the operation and maintenance of public libraries, including construction and renovation. It administers state and federal grant programs for libraries and promotes cooperation among all types of libraries through regional library systems and automated resource sharing. It also works to ensure that all residents of the Commonwealth, regardless of their geographic location, social or economic status, age, level of physical or intellectual ability or cultural background, have access to essential new electronic information technologies and significant electronic databases.